Family Law
Our Family Practice Group has a full range of skills and knowledge in every aspect of public and private law relating to families and children, both nationally and internationally, from the Magistrates Courts to the House of Lords.
We represent all manner of clients: local authorities, guardians, CAFCASS Legal, parents and other family members.
The practice group’s work includes:
- Divorce and ancillary relief
- Civil Partnership Disputes
- Children private law: disputes including abduction
- Children public law: care proceedings and adoption
- All forms of injunction work
- Inheritance Act disputes
- Cohabitee disputes
- Finance provision for children
- Professional Negligence claims arising from family cases
We have specialist teams in Matrimonial Finance and Child Care.
Written work can be transmitted via email or by disk and Chambers has in-house video conference facilities for meetings with solicitors, lay clients and experts.
We have a large number of practitioners with an extensive range of experience. We can therefore offer an appropriate substitute and draw on the strength and depth of the practice group if the individual of your choice were not available.
The practice group is committed to providing an efficient but personal, friendly and approachable service, be it at court, a conference or over the telephone. We regularly work side by side with experts such as valuers, pension specialists, accountants, social workers or medical professionals to ensure that we find the right solution for each client.
Members of the practice group have extensive experience of ancillary relief work at all levels and can provide expert help to solicitors appropriate to the degree of difficulty and complexity of the case.
Since the introduction of Graduated Fees in 2001, we have been committed to providing a comprehensive service in publicly funded work, in particular so that the most vulnerable members of society still have proper legal representation.
St John’s Chambers has Law Society External Continuing Professional Development Accreditation. Members regularly conduct seminars either in Chambers, at solicitors’ offices, or at other chosen venues, not just across the Western Circuit, as we are regularly instructed to appear on cases in London and other areas of the country. If you want any further information or help in producing a training programme, please contact our clerks.
Members have appeared in many cases which have been reported and details can be provided on request.
Recommendations
Legal 500 2007
St John’s Chambers’ Christopher Sharp QC is ‘the best QC on the Western Circuit’ according to one solicitor, ‘absolutely excellent’. Head of group, new silk, Susan Jacklin QC ‘has raised her game over the last few years and achieved some superb results’ with ‘a quiet, understated, manner which is very effective’. Nicholas Miller ‘gives excellent service and is easy to work with’ in high-value ancillary relief. Sheelagh Corfield ‘has often acted as a calming and focusing voice of reason when matters became heated’ in children cases. Catriona Duthie is a popular choice for her robust advocacy, and Kambiz Moradifar is ‘very good for his call’. Susan Hunter, ‘communicates very well; she helps to put clients at ease’. At the junior end, Andrew Commins, has ‘a charming client manner and excellent legal skills’.
Chambers UK 2008
Newly relocated to modern premises, St John’s Chambers in Bristol is one of the largest sets outside of London, both in general and as regards family law. Christopher Sharp QC* is ‘an absolute workhorse who leaves no pebble unturned,’ and is ‘good with figures in difficult ancillary relief cases.’ He covers all aspects of the law relating to children, and also deals with professional negligence claims arising specifically out of ancillary relief work. Head of the family practice group Susan Jacklin QC has a mixed family practice, within which the proportion of high net worth finance cases is steadily increasing. ‘A very high-quality performer who has been on the up since taking silk,’ she ‘has a grasp of cross-border complexities in family law that few can better.’ Catriona Duthie has a reputation for ancillary relief and private children law work that extends beyond the west of England. However, she tends to spend around two-thirds of her time on public law Children Act proceedings, proving ‘really feisty in a good way.’ Sources say that ‘underdogs in particular love her fearless determination.’ Similarly, Nicholas Miller is ‘the one you want if you’re expecting a dust-up and you need someone to really fight your corner.’ Miller specialises entirely in matrimonial finance, while Sheelagh Corfield covers the whole sweep of family law, tackling both finance and public and private children work. Drawing on her part-time experience on the bench, ‘she is very sensible, and you know the brief will be read properly.’ Susan Hunter is also well known in the public law demesne, although she handles finance work as well. ‘Determined and to the point,’ Hunter reportedly ‘never wastes time.’
