Esther Lieu 560x670

Esther Lieu

Year of Call: 2011
Email Address: [email protected]
CJSM: [email protected]
Telephone: 0117 928 1520

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Clerk Details

  • Clerk Name: Robert Leonard
  • Clerk Telephone: 0330 332 0773
  • Clerk Email: [email protected]

Private law

Esther is regularly instructed in applications for child arrangements orders, specific issue and prohibited steps orders, as well as injunctions, enforcement applications, fact-finding hearings and contested final hearings. In particular, she has experience in cases involving:

  • Alienating behaviours (and transfer of residence)
  • Domestic Abuse (to include coercive and controlling behaviour)
  • Drug and substance abuse
  • Mental health issues (to personality disorders, fabricated or induced illness (FII) etc.)
  • Disputed jurisdiction (within the U.K. and international)
  • Internal and international relocation

Notable cases:

Y v Y (2024)

Acted for mother in a three-day FFH. Findings made included findings of physical assault by the father of the mother and the children. The father’s allegation of parental alienation by the mother was not made out.

A v B v E (2024)

Acted for mother in private law proceedings in circumstances where she had been found (in public law proceedings) to have caused injuries to a non-party child, and her own children removed. Contact with her own children had since resumed and she now opposed the father’s application for lives with orders.

E v E (2023)

Successfully acted for maternal grandparents in their application for Non-Molestation Orders against their son in law, and a Child Arrangements Order (lives with) in respect of their grand-daughter.

H v H (2022)

Acted for M in 3 day FFH where findings made (on the mother’s allegations) that the father had: physically assaulted the mother (non-fatal strangulation), made false allegations to the nursery to undermine the mother, caused the children emotional harm and neglected the children’s needs whilst under the influence of alcohol.

W v W (2019)

Represented the father during a 3 day fact-find within a long-running application for child arrangements orders, and successfully defended him in committal proceedings brought by the mother.

B v B (2019)

Acted for the father in successfully opposing the mother’s application to relocate with the parties’ children who lived with her.

S v S (2019)

Acted for the father following the unlawful removal of his children by the mother to Scotland. Successfully obtained an interim order that the children be returned to England and successfully argued (against the mother) that England retained jurisdiction to hear the matter. The children were returned to the father’s care and he was ultimately granted a live with order in respect of both.

E v E (2018)

Represented the Children’s Guardian in an application by the father for a transfer of residence. A fact-find established that the mother had alienated the father from the children; subsequently the Guardian recommended a transfer of residence which was ultimately ordered by the court following a contested final hearing.

V v G (2017)

Acted for the father seeking child arrangements orders in respect of his daughter in a long running protracted matter in the High Court which included the appointment of r.16.4 Guardian, committal proceedings against the mother (she was found guilty of contempt), a finding of fact and the making of Interim Supervision Orders in respect of the child.

 

 

  • Recommendations

    'Esther is able to build an excellent report with clients in extremely difficult circumstances, making them feel well-supported throughout the process.  She is compassionate and approachable, as well as clear in her advice, and has excellent client care skills.'
    Legal 500 2025/Divorce and Financial Remedy/Leading Juniors/Western Circuit

     

    “None of this would have been possible without your help and support - I am thrilled with the result and will always be incredibly grateful to you.”

    Client

    “Thank you for everything - for all the practical guidance, sound advice and the perfectionism with which you always drafted the pleadings and documents, all of which brought L to this point.”

    Client

    “I have felt very well supported by you throughout your involvement in this case and could not have been more confident in your representation of me in the court room”

    Client

    “I just wanted to email to pass on my thanks as Esther has been fantastic and greatly helped with settling the financial case for the client as well a previously settling the children act case for another client as well.”

    Solicitor

    "Esther Lieu was outstanding, she was supportive and explained my options very clearly. She was very understanding and knowledgeable."

    Client

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