Sally Stone KC and Henry Lamb, instructed by Tony McGovern of Creighton and Partners Solicitors, represented the children through their Guardians, and John Thornton and Costanza Bertoni instructed by John Futter of Hunt and Coombs Solicitors, represented the fifth respondent, in the recent case of A Local Authority v MA & Ors [2026] EWFC 130.

This complex fact-finding hearing involved the salt poisoning of a very young child. On the child’s admission to hospital, the doctors noted that none had seen such a high level of salt before.  The expert nephrologist noted that it was one of the most complex cases he had ever experienced. The case centred on the court determining who contaminated the child’s formula with significant quantities of salt as the child lived in a multi-generational household together with extended family.