Practice Overview
Kate specialises in all areas of Family Law and Court of Protection work. Her work ranges from international abduction and child-trafficking, to transgender issues. She also deals with family finance and Schedule 1 applications. Kate has significant experience representing Local Authorities, Guardians, parents and grandparents.
Kate’s straightforwardness and approachability do much to put her clients at their ease in often very difficult circumstances. Her clear-sightedness is a key attribute when helping them through complex problems.
Kate is a qualified arbitrator for children matters.
Kate is happy to accept instructions for direct access work.
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Court of Protection
In her Court of Protection work, Kate has acted for Local Authorities and family members in cases where property or best interests issues are before the court in respect of vulnerable adults who lack capacity. She is regularly instructed by the Official Solicitor, as litigation friend, to represent the vulnerable and incapacitated in cases concerning their health, property and welfare.
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Children (Public Law)
Kate is highly experienced in a broad range of public children law. She has worked extensively in cases involving serious life-threatening injuries, complex conflicting medical evidence and post mortem evidence, factitious/fabricated illness, and sexual abuse. She is experienced at applications brought under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and with mental health issues and associated legislation.
Kate is also expert at acting in cases of child abduction, international consideration of requirements for the placement of children abroad, judicial review, Human Rights Act claims, human rights issues, Local Authority procedures, police investigation procedures, and child-trafficking cases. She frequently works on adoptions and wardships; as well as on cases involving forced marriage and transgender issues.
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Children (Private Law)
Kate practises in all areas of private law applications. Examples of her recent work include an internal relocation case and a case discharging findings made against a parent.
Kate has significant experience of representing clients in highly acrimonious contact and residence disputes.
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Family Finance & Property
Kate also practises in all areas of finance including ancillary relief, Schedule 1, TOLATA, child support co-habitation and inheritance claims.
She was recently successful in securing for a wife, beneficial entitlement in a trust worth over £6M.
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Domestic Violence & Injunctions
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International Family Law
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Arbitration
Kate is an arbitrator, qualified to take on children work.
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Notable Cases
AA (Withdrawal of Life-Sustaining Treatment: No Best Interests Decision), Re [2024] EWCOP 39 (T3)
F (A Child) (Care Order : Deprivation of Liberty) [2021] EWHC 3527 (Fam)
AA & BB (Children) (NAI - Fact Finding Hearing) [2021] EWFC B75
C (a Child : Care Proceedings) [2020] EWFC B46 (06 January 2020)
Re R-B (A Child No.2) [2019] EWFC 57
Re E (A Child) [2011] EWHC 3453 (Fam) - Miracle baby case
Re L & B (Children) [2010] EWCA Civ 1118 - Recusal
C v C (Ancillary Relief: Trust Fund) [2009] EWHC 1491 (Fam) [2010] 1FLR 337
