Year of Call
2013Areas of practice
Children law (private), Children law (public), Court of Protection
Biography
Kate is a family law specialist with a specialism in children law, both private and public, and a growing Court of Protection practice. She accepts instructions in all aspects of children law and CoP work, and is experienced at dealing with a wide range of applications and allegations.
Kate is a bright and accomplished advocate bringing a breadth of knowledge and experience to all of her work. She trained in all of Chambers practice areas, and her understanding of the law and procedure in different specialisms make her particularly suitable for cases where there is a cross over between jurisdictions. She uses the skills she has obtained from different areas across her practice, merging the advocacy skills of the criminal barrister and the forensic techniques of the civil team with the sensitive, empathetic approach of the family specialist.
Kate is charming, friendly, and builds strong working relationships with those who instruct her. She is always a popular choice with solicitors and clients, remaining calm and good humoured in very difficult cases but being unafraid to take a fierce approach in court.
Children law (private)
Kate undertakes all types of private children work, working with families to resolve issues relating to residence and contact for children after relationship breakdown.
Kate has extensive experience of obtaining protective orders (such as non-molestation orders and occupation orders) and is able to pick up cases at short notice, assimilate the facts and put forward strong legal arguments for the orders required.
Kate's civil property practice means that she is also very experienced at dealing with transfers of tenancy, and is a very good choice for cases where there are property issues to be resolved.
Once orders are in place (either following settlement or a hearing) Kate often advises on breaches of those orders and enforcement. She has experience of contempt and committal proceedings.
Children law (public)
Kate acts in public law children cases for local authorities, parents and other parties. She has experience of acting in cases where there are allegations of non-accidental injury, neglect and other abuse and accepts instructions in cases of factitious or induced illness and sexual abuse.
Kate's background in family and criminal law means that she is particularly good at dealing with fact finding hearings and dealing with sensitive allegations and vulnerable witnesses. She is skilled at cross examination.
Kate deals with all hearings in public law proceedings from interim care and supervision hearings to complex fact finding hearings, and lengthy final hearings. She is clear and straightforward in her advice and her advocacy.
Court of Protection
Kate has a growing Court of Protection practice which complements her children practice. She has experience in acting for P and local authorities, and in matters relating to personal welfare under s.16 of the Mental Capacity Act 2005, and challenges to deprivations of liberty under s.21A.
She is also building her experience in cases where the Court of Protection overlaps with care proceedings and her approach and personality make her ideal for this type of work.
Instruct
To instruct Kate for family or Court of Protection work please contact Jay Dorton.
Education
- LL.B.(Hons) Durham University
Memberships
- Family Law Bar Association
- Association of Women Barristers
Notable Cases
A v LA - represented a father in the pool of perpetrators in a NAI case concerning head injury and suspected shaking through fact-finding and final hearing.
F v LA - represented a local authority at a final hearing in which it was necessary to cross examine a very volatile and vulnerable mother.
W v LA - represented a local authority through fact-finding to final hearing in a case involving cross allegations by parents of sexual abuse and parental alienation and expert evidence from multiple medical professionals.