Year of Call
2020Areas of practice
Family finances, Children law (private), International family law, Injunctions / domestic abuse
“Thank you very much again. You did an amazing job and we would be glad to work with you again the future!”
Instructing solicitor
Biography
Jack is a specialist family barrister who practices exclusively in private family law including financial remedies cases (including TOLATA), private children law, international family law cases (including KA & Anor v B [2024] EWHC 2755 (Fam)) and injunctions (particularly where there are allegations of domestic abuse). He has experience of hearings from the initial directions appointments, or ex parte applications, right through to fact finds and final hearings.
Prior to coming to the Bar, Jack spent two years as a paralegal at a Legal 500 leading firm in the Thames Valley, where he worked on cases in all areas of private family law. He gained experience working on financial remedies cases ranging from High Net Worth cases (including those with complex business issues and international elements) to strictly needs driven cases. In addition, Jack assisted with TOLATA claims between cohabiting couples, as well as intervener issues and claims under the Married Women’s Property Act 1882. Jack also gained experience in dealing with private children cases including child arrangement applications and applications under the 1980 Hague Convention.
Jack is personable and remains calm under pressure. He provides reassurance and confidence to both lay and professional clients, explaining issues clearly and pragmatically outside the courtroom and championing their interests within it. Recent solicitor feedback was "Thank you so much! The client had very high praise for you too, she said you were brilliant! (and we obviously agree!)"
Family financial disputes
Jack is regularly instructed in financial remedy applications, and is growing his practice in this area. He has acted in numerous first appointments and FDRs, and is confident in advising clients about the likely outcome at trial and the merits of any proposed settlement. He is also able to advise where there is non-co-operation, or non-compliance by one of the parties, and to advise on enforcement if necessary.
Jack also has experience of TOLATA proceedings, particularly between cohabitants. He is happy to accept instructions to advise or represent clients in TOLATA cases.
Children law (private)
Jack has a busy children law practice, from 1st appointments and urgent hearings right through to fact finding proceedings and final hearings. He is very personable and good at managing clients in what are often very stressful and emotional hearings.
Jack has experience of acting in cases where there are extremely serious allegations, such as coercive and controlling behaviour, rape, domestic abuse, drug abuse and threats of violence. He has been successful in proving allegations at fact finding hearings, and at ensuring that the allegations are taken seriously when considering the best ongoing arrangements for children.
International family law
Jack acted in the case of KA & Anor v B [2024] EWHC 2755 (Fam) regarding the validity of a Nigerian adoption where the applicants were seeking recognition of the adoption at common law. He is currently instructed in another similar case (also concerning a Nigerian adoption but in a different state), and is familiar with the rules and procedure in these applications as well as effective questioning of expert witnesses.
Jack also has experience of representing clients in private children disputes where there is an application for leave to permanently remove children from the UK to another country, and of resisting such applications.
Jack actively welcomes instructions in cases which have an international element and is keen to expand his practice in this area.
Injunctions / domestic abuse
Jack is frequently instructed in applications for ex parte injunctions, particularly where there are allegations of domestic abuse. He is experienced at dealing with such applications on short notice and of obtaining interim relief.
Jack is also often sought out where an injunction has been made, and the person against whom it is made wishes to challenge it. He has a lot of experience of all hearings including final hearings, and is able to advise pragmatically about the likely outcome in court.
Instruct
To instruct Jack, please contact Jay Dorton.
Education
- University of Law LLM and BPTC, Distinction and Very Competent, 2020
- University of Law GDL, Commendation, 2019
- Indiana University (PA), BSc Sport and Business Administration, 2:1, 2015
Memberships
- Family Law Bar Association
Prizes
- Deans List, Indiana University (PA)
Notable Cases
KA & Anor v B [2024] EWHC 2755 (Fam): Jack acted for the applicants in an application to recognise a Nigerian adoption, successfully persuading the court that the adoption was valid and should be recognised in the UK.
N v A – Represented a mother in a 3-day fact-finding hearing. Jack was successful in proving allegations of rape, threats with a knife, physical violence to the mother and child, and coercive and controlling behaviour.
E v B – Represented a mother at a 2-day final hearing where there were allegations of drug use and domestic abuse. Contact was ordered in line with the mother’s proposal.
G v W – represented and advised a wife throughout financial remedy proceedings where there was deliberate non-engagement and non-compliance by the husband. The court endorsed the wife’s position leading to a 70-30 split of the known assets, in the wife’s favour.
N v N – acted for the paternal grandparents of a child in their successful application for a Special Guardianship Order