News & Resources
Case review: The Long Term Use of S20 Accommodation – Re S (A Child) and Re W (s.20 Accommodation) [2023] EWCA Civ 1
On 5th January 2023 in Re S (A Child) and Re W (A Child) [2023] EWCA Civ 1, the Court of Appeal provided important clarification on the interplay between s.20 and s.31 Children Act 1989, and the long-term use of voluntary accommodation of children under s.20 CA 1989.
Darren Howe KC – IFLA Accredited
Darren Howe is a very experienced family law KC who deals with some of the most complex cases that appear before the family courts. Darren has sat as a judge of the family court for in excess of 12 years, at all levels of court including the High Court.
Miss Hannah Mettam Appointed Assistant Coroner
Hannah was appointed as assistant Coroner for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire in February 2023 to support the Senior and Area Coroners across the full range of Coroner’s duties for the county, including presiding over inquests.
Is a foreign conviction, as a matter of principle, admissible and to be given presumptive weight in proceedings under the Children Act 1989?
Is a foreign conviction, as a matter of principle, admissible and to be given presumptive weight in proceedings under the Children Act 1989? The question of admissibility of a foreign conviction has not previously arisen in family proceedings.
Senate House Sprinters ran the Bedford Twilight 10k
On 3rd September 2022, the Senate House Sprinters (shufflers) ran the Bedford Twilight 10k to raise funds for Breast Cancer Now – a charity undertaking world-class research and life-changing care to those affected by breast cancer. Breast cancer has touched Senate House Chambers, its members and wider family over the years, so we wanted to raise awareness and funds to help make a change and to support those who have and continue to be impacted by it.
Re W-A Children: Foreign Conviction 2022 EWCA Civ 1118
Our Stuart Yeung and Samantha Dunn have been involved in the Court of Appeal of Re W-A (Children: Foreign Conviction) [2022] EWCA Civ 1118, which clarifies, for the first time in the family jurisdiction, that foreign convictions are admissible as evidence in family proceedings.
Senate House Chambers is extremely proud to be hosting an intern from the 10,000 Black Interns Initiative.
Senate House Chambers is extremely proud to be hosting an intern from the 10,000 Black Interns Initiative. 10,00 Black Interns is an initiative set up to offer an internship to young black people in the UK. It seeks to offer up to 2,000 internships each year for 5 consecutive years – hence the name 10,00 Black Interns. It was launched in 2021 following on from the pilot initiative 100 Black Interns. 10,000 Black Interns have partnered up with more than 700 firms from 24 different sectors, delivering internships across a range of internal business functions. Both the Law Society and the Bar Council have become partners with this initiative.
Our Hena Vissian has been appointed as Vice Chair for the Midland Circuit Women’s Forum
Our Hena Vissian has been appointed as Vice Chair for the Midland Circuit Women’s Forum and has also been shortlisted for ‘Family and child law junior of the year’ for The Legal 500 Bar Awards 2022. Members of Chambers would wish to share their huge congratulations on her appointment and in respect of this fantastic nomination.
Self Care and Compassion
Last year, 2020 was the year of the ‘be kind’ hashtag. Influencers and media outlets the world over were encouraging us all to take care of one another because each of us has our own private battles to face. This month of Saint Valentine, we consider the benefits of turning that compassion inwards and being kind to ourselves.
Recognising & Managing Stress
As humans, we all have a tolerance for managing stress. The terms eustress means stress which is positively managed by the body and mind to beneficial effect. Exciting or stressful events cause a chemical response in the body which gives us a little more energy and drive to do more and to motivate us in our task. Eustress is a helpful and positive product of a nervous system response to challenge. Without eustress, our well-being can actually suffer. It helps us stay motivated, work toward goals, and feel good about life.
Wellbeing & how to achieve it
The word wellbeing is so much more frequently heard these days in all sorts of situations. Advertisers promote the advancement of wellbeing by the use of their products, organisations are scrambling to be seen to promote the wellbeing of their employees, schools teach wellbeing as something to be nurtured, too. What does wellbeing actually mean?
2020 EWCA Civ 1382
In care proceedings concerning a three-year-old child, a judge had erred in his approach to, and analysis of, the medical evidence and findings of fact relating to a serious head injury suffered by the child. The judge’s conclusion that the local authority had failed to establish its allegation that the injury had been caused by […]
RE S (A CHILD) (FINDING OF FACT) [2020] EWCA Civ 1382
Grant Keyes represented a mother in care proceedings concerning a three-year-old child, a judge had erred in his approach to, and analysis of, the medical evidence and findings of fact relating to a serious head injury suffered by the child.
Chambers is delighted to announce its continued inclusion in the Legal 500 as a leading Family Law Set
We wish to thank our professional and lay clients for the kind acknowledgment of the services we always endeavour to provide them.
RE N (CHILDREN) (INTERIM ORDER/STAY) [2020] EWCA Civ 1070
Abigail Turner represented the Respondent Children in this matter. The court gave guidance on the practice in relation to the granting of short term stays in family proceedings.
RE H-B-S (CHILDREN) (DISCHARGE OF INTERIM CARE ORDER) [2020] EWCA Civ 1027
Grant Keyes resented the Respondent Children in this matter. A judge had been wrong to discharge interim care orders in respect of two children in the middle of the fact-finding process. The children had been correctly placed in foster care, and the judge had not been in a position to assess the risk of returning […]
Diversity Senate House Chambers
Events throughout the world recently have caused us (along with many other businesses and organisations) to reflect upon and review our approach to diversity.
Senate House Chambers are pleased to announce that they have been ranked in the Legal 500 United Kingdom
Senate House Chambers are pleased to announce that they have been ranked in the Legal 500 United Kingdom – the leading guide to law firms and solicitors for the 2nd year running. Congratulations to Michelle Christie, Lianne Murphy, Hannah Mettam and Daniel Sheridan who have each been recognised as leading juniors in their field by […]
Chambers is delighted to announce that we have been shortlisted as Chambers of the Year (Regional) at the 2018 Family Law Awards
Chambers is delighted to announce that we have been shortlisted as Chambers of the Year (Regional) at the 2018 Family Law Awards. Chambers could not have reached this incredible milestone without the invaluable support of all of our lay and professional client’s. We are also delighted to announce that two of our door tenants, John […]
Senate House Chambers are shortlisted ‘Regional Chambers of the Year’ at the Family Law Awards 2016
Senate House Chambers is delighted to report that we have been shortlisted for the very prestigious Regional Chambers of the Year Award at the 6th Family Law Awards. We are shortlisted against only three other sets, all of whom are large, well established and highly regarded city Chambers. We are honoured to be sitting amongst […]
March 2016
Members of Senate House will be joining in raising funds for essential legal services in Northampton. We would be most grateful for your support.
February 2016
Chambers is absolutely delighted to announce that our Nicola Jane Smith has been appointed as a District Judge. With a heavy heart in bidding her farewell from the Bar, we likewise wish her the very best of success in the next phase of career.
January 2016
Chambers is delighted to announce that our delightful door tenant, Mr Cyrus Larizadeh, received formal approval for appointment as Queen’s Counsel (QC). Full article refers: Her Majesty the Queen has approved the appointment of 107 new Queen’s Counsel (QC).
ED, Re [2015] EWFC B84 (29 May 2015)
Lucy Fairclough represented the local authority in care proceedings involving injuries sustained to a six-week-old baby including subdural haemorrhage and bilateral haemorrhages to the eyes in varying layers. Hannah Mettam represented the mother and Michelle Christie represented the father.
Northamptonshire County Council v AS and Ors (Rev 1) [2015] EWHC 199 (Fam)
Lianne Murphy represented a Mother in this landmark case. This was the first reported HRA damages claim, within care proceedings and was heard before Mr Justice Keehan. The local authority was ordered to pay damages of £17,000 to a child, the mother and the paternal grandparents under breaches of their Article 6 and Article 8 […]
Re: S, A, JA & J (Children) [2015] EWFC B116
Laura O’Malley appeared on behalf of the third respondent father when Care and Placement Orders were made in respect of the two younger children, ‘JA’ and ‘J’ and a Child Arrangement Order and a 12 month Supervision Order was made in relation to one of their elder siblings ‘A’ in a case of long-standing chronic […]
Re P (A Child) NCC v (1) LC (2) GA (3) P (A Child) (2015)
Grant Keyes appeared in proceedings where a placement order was made where a two-year-old boy’s needs could not be met by either of his parents who had abused drugs and exposed him to a chaotic lifestyle. It was held that long-term fostering did not have the same level of security.
C (A Child: Fact Finding: Delay) [2014] EWFC B72 (21 November 2014)
Michelle Christie represented the local authority and Abigail Turner appeared on behalf of the father in proceedings concerning a child who had sustained a vertical skull fracture. The Judge found that the injury was caused by an unfortunate and tragic accident and determined that the section 31 threshold criteria was not made out. The Judge […]
T (A Child: Fact Finding) [2014] EWFC B115 (12 September 2014)
Samantha Dunn represented a father in care proceedings whereby the Local Authority were seeking to prove that the child had sustained a non accidental inflicted head injury resulting in bilateral subdural fluid collections over the child’s cerebral hemispheres. The most likely mechanism of causation suggested by the experts was shaking. The expert evidence was challenged […]
Milton Keynes Council v A, B, X and Y (Muslim Children, Special Guardianship) [2014] EWFC B102 (14 May 2014)
Daniel Sheridan acted for the Children’s Guardian in care and adoption proceedings in the Family Court. These proceedings considered, inter alia, the need to look at special guardianship, as opposed to adoption, when care planning for children who, because of cultural or religious factors, could not be adopted.
In English law, an adoption order has the effect […]
B (A Child) [2014] EWCC B55 (Fam) 17 January 2014
Abigail Turner was involved in care proceedings involving allegations of shaken baby syndrome resulting in the Court confirming caution is to be taken when an unknown medical cause could be at play.
NCC v L & Another (2014) EWHC 4828 (Fam)
Samantha Dunn represented the Local Authority in care proceedings where the child was Latvian. The Mother was represented by Hannah Mettam and the child was represented through their Guardian by Lianne Murphy. The Court determined that a two pronged approach to determining whether the English courts held sufficient jurisdiction to determine care proceedings was appropriate. […]
OCC v B & T [2015] EWFC B73 (18 June 2013)
Daniel Sheridan acted for the Mother in care and adoption proceedings in the Family Court. The Mother was profoundly deaf. Prior to proceedings being instigated, professionals involved in working with the Mother had failed to conduct a proper assessment of the Mother’s communication needs.
So as to ensure that the Mother’s communication needs were met Dr […]
Senate House Chambers Seminars
Senate House Chambers is committed to the training and mentoring of our not only our own barristers but also of other legal professionals. Chambers regularly holds lectures, seminars and a variety of events across all of its Practice Areas.
All lectures, seminars and events are accredited for Continuing Professional Development (“CPD”) by the Law Society and […]