FAMILY LAW: CHILDREN'S LAW
Mai-Ling's practice includes residence and contact disputes, including internal and international relocation, disputes between same sex couples, fact-finding hearings and cases of parental alienation and recruitment of children against a parent by care givers. Mai-Ling has particular expertise in issues relating to surrogacy and assisted reproduction cases in which issues of legal parentage arise. Mai-Ling has particular expertise in care proceedings involving allegations of non-accidental injury with complex medical issues or disputed medical evidence, sexual abuse (including false allegations of sexual abuse), factitious illness and vulnerable adults. She also has expertise in cases involving forced marriage, FGM and radicalisation. Examples of recent cases include fractures to an 8-week-old baby, life-limiting injuries to a 6-week-old baby, sexual abuse allegations including a paedophile ring and inter-sibling sexual abuse. Mai-Ling has recently undertaken a number of cases involving breaches of the Human Rights Act 1998. She frequently advises in family proceedings concerning immigration and nationality issues as well as international adoptions, transnational care and child placement arrangements
DIVORCE AND FAMILY FINANCES
Mai-Ling has a wide experience of financial remedies and appears in courts of all levels including the High Court. She has also been instructed in applications under Schedule 1 Children Act 1989 and Trust of Land and Appointment of Trustees act (ToLATA).
CROSS-BORDER FAMILY CASES
Mai-Ling is experienced in cases of international abduction, international adoption and the application of Brussels II Revised. She frequently advises in family proceedings concerning immigration and nationality issues as well as international adoptions, transnational care and child placement arrangements.
My work
ZH v HS & Ors (Application to Revoke Adoption Order) [2019] EWHC 2190 (Fam)
Application by a child's birth mother (ZH) to revoke an adoption order made in 2016 in relation to T, now aged 4.
PW and Others v Luton Borough Council [2017] EWHC 3028 (Fam)
The Legal Aid Agency was ordered to pay the claimants' increased costs which arose as a result of the LAA failing to make a decision as to the applicability of the statutory charge when it could and should have.
SW & TW (Human Rights Claim: Procedure) (No1) [2017] EWHC 450 (Fam)
Proceedings concerning two siblings and involving cross-applications for private law orders, an application by the local authority for public law orders and applications brought under section 7 of the Human Rights Act 1998 for declarations and damages. Clarified the correct procedure for HRA claims in family proceedings.
About me
Mai-Ling is a barrister focusing on the following areas: children's law, care proceedings, international family law, surrogacy and assisted reproduction, matrimonial finance and Court of Protection.
What my clients say
"Diligent and detailed in her preparation and presentation of cases." CHAMBERS UK, 2022 (FAMILY: CHILDREN)
"I was really happy and impressed with Mai-Ling's representation... I was feeling really overwhelmed and stressed and Mai-Ling really helped reassure and focus me." ANONYMOUS CLIENT, JUNE 2021
Professional & academic
EDUCATION
- Bachelor of Divinity, King's College London
- GDL, BPP School of Law
- BPTC, Inns of Court School of Law
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP
- Family Law Bar Association
- Association of Lawyers for Children
- Child Poverty Action Group
- Administrative Law Bar Association
- CoPPA