Davina has a thriving and specialist practice in all areas of family law.
Davina is frequently instructed in all areas of Children Act work, applications for child arrangements orders, specific issue orders and prohibited steps orders. Davina also represents parents and is especially sensitive and astute to the needs of clients when representing parents with learning difficulties, drug addictions and mental health problems. Davina also represents parents through the Official Solicitor and via a litigation friend.
My approach
Davina is well known for her calm approach and effectiveness in difficult situations, meticulous preparation, robust cross examination and ability to build rapport with clients, opponents and judges alike. Davina through her career has built a wealth of experience in representing various local authorities. Understanding the internal workings of a local authority has assisted Davina well in representing all other parties in public law proceedings.
My work
Davina has experience of cases involving the appointment of a 16.4 Guardian, dealing with implacably hostile parents, parental alienation and cases of sexual abuse. She is experienced in dealing with internal relocation and leave to remove from the jurisdiction cases and cases where religious upbringing and change of surname is an issue.
In public law children cases, Davina’s focus in recent years has been in representing Children’s Guardians and Children who are competent to give instructions. Her ability to digest complex material and succinctly put the case on behalf of the child well, has been credited many times over. Davina is often instructed in cases where the Children’s Guardian’s recommendations are in direct conflict with the Local Authority’s final care plans for children. Through thoughtful and skilful cross- examination, Davina has secured the return of children to their families where it has been appropriate to do so. Davina’s calm and approachable style has served her well in representing teenagers including in Deprivation of Liberty cases.
Davina has particular experience of cases involving non-accidental injuries, parental murder (including a parent being murdered during the course of proceedings), sexual abuse, systemic physical abuse over significant periods of time, factious illness cases, cases involving selective and elective mutism, cases where there are concurrent or previous criminal proceedings (including those which have attracted high media attention) and cases involving long standing issues of drug and alcohol abuse. Notably her skilful cross-examination, has led to professionals changing their position in the witness box
Davina has expertise in forced marriage protection and experience of cases involving both vulnerable adults and young teenagers.
Davina is experienced in injunctive proceedings under the Family Law Act 1996. Sitting as a trustee for various domestic violence organisations has assisted Davina in gaining a greater insight into the position both the victims and perpetrators find themselves in.
Reported cases
Re S (CHILDREN: PARTY STATUS) [2022] EWCA Civ 1717
About me
Away from court, Davina has presented seminars to solicitors and other legal professionals on a range of family law topics. Davina has sat as a trustee and director of a women's refuge and domestic violence service provider within north west London. She has also been a Trustee of WISH, an organisation in north west London working with survivors of domestic violence, forced marriages, young self-harmers and children suffering from neglect and abuse.