3PB welcomes three new family barristers

8th September 2022

3 Paper Buildings (3PB) is delighted to welcome three new family barristers to our ranks: two junior counsel from Senate House Chambers in Northampton: Kate Yeomans [2007 call] and Ayesha Bell-Paris [2012 call] are both starting today (pictured right and left respectively); and are joining new colleague Laura Scott [2001 call], formerly of Fourteen Chambers, who started at the national chambers two weeks ago. The trio are set to be joined in mid-October by Harriet Lavis, a private law children expert, from Guildford Chambers.

The new members will undertake work across the family law team's core practice areas of Alternative Dispute Resolution, Care and Adoption; Court of Protection; Finance; International Family; Private Financial Dispute Resolution; Private Law and Property. Their appointment takes the number of QCs, barristers and pupils in 3PB thriving team to 88.

Vanessa Meachin QC, Head of 3PB's Family Law Group said of the appointments, “We are delighted to welcome Kate, Ayesha and Laura as three outstanding family barristers and talented advocates. This further strengthens the breadth and choice of quality counsel for our burgeoning client base. 3PB and its Family Law Group have ambitious growth plans, and these latest appointments help us to deliver that plan.”

Kate YeomansKate YeomansCall: 2007

Family barrister Kate Yeomans practises focuses on children and domestic violence law and family finance disputes. She joins us from Senate House Chambers in Northampton. She acts on behalf of local authorities, parents, children’s guardians, competent children and intervenors in a wide range of cases covering chronic neglect; drug and alcohol abuse (including FDAC proceedings); adoption; Special Guardianship; inflicted injuries and domestic violence; child arrangements disputes; relocation and parental alienation cases.

Kate represents applicants and respondents at all stages of proceedings including multi-day fact-find and final hearings. She regularly drafts advice and produces threshold documents on behalf of clients.

Ayesha Bell-ParisAyesha Bell-ParisCall: 2012

Ayesha also joins from Senate House Chambers and is regularly instructed in divorce and separation cases following the breakdown of a relationship. She offers a holistic wrap-around service, whether that be resolving the arrangements for children or the parties’ financial affairs. Ayesha also has significant experience in care/public law proceedings and applications arising from the Family Law Act 1996. She represents local authorities, parents, extended family members, intervenors, cohabitees, divorcees, same sex couples, and children (both directly and via a Guardian).

Ayesha has also assisted clients at mediation, resulting in the resolution of matters without the need for proceedings to be issued. She has regularly been instructed in cases involving complex issues such as international relocation, parental alienation, substance misuse, mental health issues, domestic violence and non-accidental injury.

Laura ScottLaura ScottCall: 2001

Laura practises exclusively in children and domestic violence law and has over 20 years' experience representing parents, grandparents, children, guardians, extended family members and local authorities in all aspects of the law relating to children. She joins after twenty years' family law practice at Fourteen Chambers and Tanfield Chambers.

Formerly at two well-known London sets, Laura now lives in the Midlands and joined 3PB in August 2022. Laura has been consistently ranked as a top family law barrister by legal researchers at Legal 500, focusing on her public and private child care work and cases involving children where there are allegations or evidence of abuse.

 

To find out more, or to instruct Kate, Ayesha or Laura, contact their clerks Practice Directors Ian Charlton and Rob Leonard by emailing them on [email protected], [email protected] or by calling them on 0121 489 4333 and 01202 292102 respectively.