Rachael’s practice is primarily children law, both public and private, acting for Parents, Guardians, interveners, competent children and the Official solicitor.
Rachael is experienced in cases with complex evidence, international elements both in private and public law. This includes cases of physical, emotional and sexual abuse; death of children and serious injury cases. Serious domestic violence fact-finding; international abduction, forced marriage. She represents a wide range of clients including those of high net worth and the most vulnerable in society.
My approach
Rachael is extremely approachable and is able to put clients at ease whilst dealing with the most sensitive of issues. She is a tenacious advocate and will fight hard knowing when and how to do so, whilst remaining equally capable of taking a resolution based approach, in the clients’ best interests.
My work
Recent cases include,
NA v AH (Central Family Court 2015 Private Law): Autism – severely autistic child. International, Immigration, forced marriage and criminal issues – made for a complex case. Successfully fought for successful conclusion of child arrangement order avoiding local authority intervention.
LB K v A v B v C v Intervener v Child (2014) (Public Law) Instructed by a Local Authority on a direct access basis to represent a grandmother who wished to adopt the children and relocate them to Eastern Europe. Successful judgment on behalf of the maternal grandmother.
LB H v M v F v Intervener V child (2014) (Public Law) (Gee St Family Court) Successfully obtained an order facilitating the international adoption of the children to Australia.
B ( A Local Authority) v (1) RM, (2) MM and (3) AM [2010] Hedley LLJ Family Division and Court of Protection reported at (2011) 1 FLR 1635
Care proceedings relating to a 16-year-old girl of Moroccan heritage with diagnosis of severe learning difficulties, autism, possibly Malignant Tourette’s Syndrome – at risk of self-injury due to a catalogue of factors. Needed specialist nursing, with at least 2:1 nursing care. LA wanted a CO leaving her in residential placement 250m away from home costing in XS of £300,000 pa. contact and DOL’s issues Proceedings transferred to COP jurisdiction thereby giving less control to the LA and more control beyond 18 years to the court (gatekeeper) and the parents.
Successfully represented the Mother standing up to a very aggressive fight by the LA.
About me
Rachael was called to the Bar in 1998. She read Anthropology at Hull University, before heading to Japan to work for the Japanese Government. On her return to the UK she studied law at BPP in London and completed family law pupillage at Fourteen Gray’s Inn Sq before taking tenancy at Garden Court Chambers in London, where she practised for 15 years.
Rachael has the ability to grasp complex evidence and gets straight to the issues. She is a skilled communicator and wins the judges ear with her calm and reasoned approach.
What my clients say
“Rachael has assisted me in an exemplary manner and is very fair in her fee structure and generous of her time and guidance.” – Direct Access Client Private Law
“I was almost at the end of my tether until I found Rachael. She gave me advice in a way that I felt able to trust and understand and had no hesitation in explaining to me that my case was not appropriate to be dealt with under the direct access umbrella. She recommended an excellent solicitor who instructed Rachael as counsel in the case.” Direct Access Client Private Law
“Rachael was instructed by us as an intervener in a highly complex care case. She was instructed mid way and very quickly grasped the issues and complex evidence and law. Her handling of her professional client in the UK and lay clients in Australia was second to none.” – Direct Access Public Law – LA
- All Locations
- Greater Manchester
- London