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Appointments Legal Advisor to General Dental Council 2010-
President Medico-Legal Society 2002-2004
Legal Assessor to the General Medical Council 1995-
Deputy Chairman of the National Health Service Tribunal 1995-2001
Gene Therapy Advisory Committee 1993-1998
Joint Head of Chambers 1990-2007
Deputy High Court Judge (Family Division) 1987-2004
Matrimonial Causes Rule Committee 1986-1990
Silk 1982
Recorder of the Crown Court 1982-2004
Degrees and other qualifications LL.B (London)
Trained Mediator
Professional associations Member FLBA (Former Treasurer and Acting Chairman)
Member SE Circuit
Fellow Royal Society of Medicine
Member Association of Women Barristers
President Jewish Family Mediation Register
Member Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists
Member Bar Musical Society Member Bar Yacht Club
Vice President Board of Deputies of British Jews 2003-2006 Member, Ethics and Jewish Genealogy Panel, of International Institute for Jewish Genealogy 2012
Practice Profile
Eleanor specialises in family law with particular reference to public law proceedings, private law children matters, surrogacy and adoption issues. Furthermore, she has a special interest in the medical issues which may arise from many of these cases including child abuse. She receives instructions from Local Authorities, parents and Children’s Guardians.
Throughout her career at the Bar and as a Silk, Eleanor has played a significant part in influencing the way in which the family courts approach cases involving children. This was hugely affected by the landmark Cleveland enquiry in which she was involved. Ultimately this led to the Children Act with its radical reforms of the law relating to children, their families, and the role of the state in families’ lives. Additionally, she was involved in the development of the first statute that was enacted concerning surrogacy and parental orders in relation to a landmark case in which she represented a couple who had had to use surrogacy to have their own genetic children.
She has a particular interest in Jewish family law and chairs the Family Law Group of the Board of Deputies of British Jews. She has represented Jewish, Muslim, and Asian clients in divorce proceedings and related matters and understands their particular concerns. Other areas in which she has been instructed include: private law matters, child abuse, and cases where couples are unmarried – particularly in relation to children.
Having had experience over many years of all aspects of law Eleanor decided to specialise in family law in the late 1980s. She was the first silk to join Alison Ball’s set 1 Garden Court, Family Law Chambers, in 1990, not long after its formation, and became joint head with Alison Ball. She has been involved in building the set through its expansion and helping it to focus on the development of its independently acknowledged expertise as one of the leading Barristers’ chambers specialising in family law and related matters. She stood down as joint head in 2007 but continues to practice from 1 Garden Court.
Reported cases
Eleanor has been involved in numerous cases – too many to list – most notably G v G [1985] 1WLR 647 (HL) and The Cleveland Enquiry. Other recent cases include:
In the Matter of M (a minor) [2011] EWCA Civ 317
In the Matter of K (children) [2009] EWCA Civ 987
In Re G (a child) (Adoption: Placement outside Jurisdiction) [2008] 1 FLR 1484 and [2008] 1 FLR 1497, [2008] 3WLR 853
Re P (Adoption: Leave provisions) [2007] 2 FLR 1069, [2007] 1 WLR 2556
Re W, Re A, Re B (Change of Name) [1999] 2 FLR 930
R v Cornwall CC ex parte E [1999] 1 FLR 1055
Re PJ (Adoption: Practice on Appeal) [1998] 2 FLR 252
Re B (Residence Order: Leave to Appeal) [1998] 1 FLR 520
Publications
Contributor to Jowitt's Dictionary of English Law
Seminars and lectures
Child Care Law and Practice (Chairman) 2011 and also gave a paper on The Law on current thinking in NAI Head Injury.
Private Child Law update (Chairman) 2011 for LexisNexis
Child Care Law and Practice (Chairman) 2010, similarly in earlier years.
Personal, including interests While Eleanor generally enjoys all aspects of her life she takes a particular interest in the arts, travel and genealogy. She is fluent in French and is married with two children and four grandchildren.
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