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.
St John’s Chambers continues to have the leading family team in Bristol Legal 500 2011
St John’s Chambers offers great depth of talent when it comes to family work. Chambers UK 2011
We represent all parties including intervenors and third parties as well as spouses and partners in financial claims, while in children cases our clients include: local authorities, guardians, CAFCASS Legal, and the Official Solicitor, as well as 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
Chambers UK 2012
- St John’s Chambers is a popular choice on the Western circuit because of its “good balance between junior and senior counsel and its really good range of personalities.” It houses the “splendid” Christopher Sharp QC, who is applauded as “one of the top silks in the West.” He is sought out for his vast expertise in high-value ancillary relief matters. Sources describe him as “exceptionally thorough, hard-working and excellent in terms of his presentation skills.” Another fantastic silk here is Susan Jacklin QC, who also focuses on complex and high net worth ancillary relief work. Sources report: “She is a very high-quality performer and top notch in terms of effective advocacy. She always goes the extra mile for clients.” The set was recently strengthened by Robin Tolson QC, who joined from Southernhay Chambers. “He is always excellent in human rights and childcare cases,” say sources. The set boasts a strong bench of impressive juniors. Nicholas Miller “is excellent with clients, as well as direct, pragmatic and knowledgeable,” say sources. He also comes recommended for his impressive cross-examinations skills, as does Catriona Duthie. She handles both public and private law children work and is particularly praised for her handling of complex childcare cases. Susan Hunter impresses observers with her handling of very big money cases, often acting against leading London counsel. Her practice also includes public law children work acting for parents, guardians and local authorities. Also recommended here is Sheelagh Corfield, whose broad practice covers ancillary relief, public and private law cases, and child abductions. Louise O’Neill enjoys a rising reputation for complex care cases. Sources say: “She always presents a case with great enthusiasm and skill.” She joins this year’s tables together with stablemate Andrew Commins, who is tipped as a future star on the circuit. He comes highly recommended for ancillary relief and cohabitation disputes. “He is my junior of choice – the most able of the next generation,” enthuses one source.
Legal 500 2011
St John’s Chambers has a “high calibre of senior and junior barristers”, which includes Susan Jacklin QC, who is “absolutely meticulous so that not a single page of evidence is ever left unscrutinised”, and Christopher Sharp QC, who are both “exemplars of legal wisdom and court craft”. Andrew Commins has a “steely yet deft approach”, is “outstanding for his call”, and has a “lucid and well-planned” advocacy style. Susan Hunter “defuses even the most stressful of situations with her dry wit and ability to empathise”, and is “extremely tenacious when warranted”. Lucy Reed has an “impressive ability to get to the crux of a complicated and messy dispute”. Robin Tolson QC, Catriona Duthie and Kambiz Moradifar are also recommended.
