Children Public Law

St John's Chambers is one of the foremost sets practising family law on the Western Circuit. Practitioners at the set are well known for their expertise in public and private child law. Interviewees regard this as 'one of the top leading sets in Bristol and the South West.' "

Chambers UK  2020
Family/Matrimonial

St John’s Chambers boasts an established and large Family Law team (including three Silks), which allows us to offer strength and depth of experience in all areas of children public law, advising and representing not only local authorities, parents and Guardians, but also competent children, adopters, foster parents, interveners and other interested parties such as health trusts or police forces.

Members of the team have vast experience across the full spectrum of public law and related matters, ranging from applications for care and supervision orders, placement and adoption orders, leave to apply to revoke placement or to oppose adoption orders, applications for foreign and domestic adoptions, forced marriage, FGM/c and radicalisation cases.

A large part of our work involves cases where there is a need for a fact-finding hearing and consequential applications between the criminal and family jurisdictions, and many of our cases involve complex medical and other expert evidence or international issues. Across the team, we are used to representing vulnerable people and acting for those with mental health difficulties and learning disabilities, whether directly or through the Official Solicitor.

We represent clients at all levels of tribunal covering the Western Circuit and beyond.

Public Access

Some members of the team are also available to act, where appropriate, for members of the public, under the Public Access scheme. Read more.

Publications and training

The team includes published authors, members who run their own Family Law blogs, and members who write regularly for Family Law Week, the Family Law journal and for other legal publications.

The team also offers a series of free CPD-accredited training events in Chambers, and members regularly conduct bespoke seminars at solicitors’ offices, or at other venues throughout the UK. Keeping up to date with family law and sharing knowledge is really important to us. For more information, please contact Elaine Jewell-Moore on 0117 923 4708 or email [email protected].

Contact the clerks:

T: 0117 923 4720
Email clerks

  • “St John’s Chambers has a lengthy roster of silks and juniors with invaluable expertise in a wide range of family and matrimonial matters. Members are particularly skilled at handling cross-jurisdictional matters for high net worth individuals, especially those concerning the division of assets as part of divorce proceedings. The barristers are frequently called upon to assist with the most complex public children mandates encompassing sexual abuse, brain injury and trafficking matters, and also take on private work such as Children Act proceedings. ‘St John’s is our first choice of chambers on the Western Circuit. What sets them apart is the breadth and depth of their membership,” one source says.’ “

    Chambers UK,  2021
    Family & Divorce

  • “Luke Hodgson is the practice manager for the family team and Elaine Jewell-Moore, the family law practice team leader, is described as ‘particularly great, prompt and efficient.’ “

    Chambers UK,  2021
    Family & Divorce (Client Service)

  • “St John’s Chambers is home to a large team of family barristers specialising in high-profile public and private family matters on the Western Circuit.”

    Chambers UK,  2021
    Family & Divorce

  • “The clerks are incredibly helpful. They will bend over backwards to help, including at extremely short notice in urgent cases.”

    Chambers UK,  2020
    Family/Matrimonial (Client Service)

  • “St John’s Chambers is one of the foremost sets practising family law on the Western Circuit. Practitioners at the set are well known for their expertise in high-value financial remedy work as well as public and private child law. Its members regularly engage in highly complex cases regarding domestic violence, sexual abuse and social care matters. Barristers at the chambers are also known for their experience in cross-border issues arising from financial remedy and child protection mandates. Interviewees regard this as ‘one of the top leading sets in Bristol and the South West.’ “

    Chambers UK,  2020
    Family/Matrimonial

  • “Home to a large contingent of specialist family barristers, who provide ‘great depth‘ across public and private children law cases, as well as all aspects of divorce and financial remedy work. Areas of specialism include international assets in finance cases, non-accidental injury matters involving complex causation evidence, and child maintenance, where Jody Atkinson is the key name to note.”

    Legal 500,  2020
    FAMILY AND CHILDREN LAW

  • “St Johns Chambers is one of the fore-front chambers offering counsel for Public Childcare. The clerks are particularly helpful and will go above and beyond to find cover for hearings at short notice.”

    Legal 500 client feedback