kara cann profile 560x670

Kara Cann

Year of Call: 2012
Email Address: [email protected]
Telephone: 01865 793 736

Download Full CV Add to Shortlist Link In With Me

How to use the Shortlist tool?

Clerk Details

Overview

Kara Cann is an experienced family law practitioner, known for her expertise in a wide range of complex family law matters encompassing both public and private law proceedings. Kara is committed to providing compassionate, client-centred legal representation, ensuring that each case is approached with sensitivity and a deep understanding of the emotional and psychological aspects involved.

Expertise

  • Family
    Add this expertise to your shortlist
    Care and adoption

    Kara has extensive experience in public law proceedings, representing parents, children (both through children's guardians and directly), local authorities, and intervenors. Her diverse caseload spans a wide range of issues, including:

    • Non-Accidental Injury and Child Death: Kara is regularly instructed to represent clients in cases involving serious allegations of physical harm to children, including those resulting in death.
    • Factitious or Induced Illness: She has experience in cases where caregivers intentionally cause or exaggerate illness in children, requiring careful analysis of extensive medical evidence.
    • Sexual Abuse: Kara has considerable experience in cases involving sexual abuse, including against children, acting for both alleged victims and respondents with empathy and professionalism.
    • Chronic Neglect: Kara is regularly instructed to represent clients where allegations centre on chronic neglect and its cumulative effect on children.
    • Deprivation of Liberty: She frequently represents clients in cases where children are at risk of being deprived of their liberty, whether through secure accommodation orders or otherwise.

    Kara has particular expertise in representing parents with learning disabilities or other cognitive needs. In cases where parents lack litigation capacity, she works closely with the Official Solicitor to ensure parents’ rights are fully protected, and they are provided with the support they need to fully participate in the legal process.

    Adoption Proceedings

    Kara represents prospective adopters, birth parents, and children in adoption matters. She is skilled in handling leave-to-oppose applications and non-agency (private) adoptions, often involving sensitive issues such as concerns about trafficking or the free giving of consent. Her careful approach ensures that all parties involved are given thorough legal advice and that the best interests of the child are prioritised.

    Injunction Applications

    Kara also represents clients in injunction applications within both care and adoption proceedings, acting for applicants and respondents. She handles these matters with sensitivity, recognising the urgency and emotional turmoil that often accompanies such cases.

    Private law children

    Kara’s private law practice encompasses all aspects of child arrangements and other section 8 orders, with a particular emphasis on the representation of child parties to such applications (either through their children’s guardian or directly).

    Her work includes proceedings involving complex allegations of domestic or other forms of abuse, including those involving alleged alienating behaviour. Many of her cases necessitate the instruction of experts.

    Kara has additional expertise in wardship proceedings and in applications pursuant to the inherent jurisdiction, including in cases of international abduction.

    In injunction proceedings, Kara represents both applicants and respondents in applications for both forced marriage and female genital mutilation protection orders.

    Approach and Commitment

    Known for her thorough and compassionate approach, Kara ensures that her clients are fully informed at each stage of their case. She explains the legal process in a clear and accessible manner, helping clients make empowered decisions. Her commitment to client welfare, combined with her legal expertise, has established her as a trusted advocate in family law.

    Recent reported cases 

    Felix (fact finding and welfare) [2024] EWFC 302 (B)

    Re S and T (care - final hearing – s91(14)) [2023] EWFC 194 

    S and T (care - fact finding - FII - emotional abuse) [2023] EWFC 195 

    A County Council v A Mother & Ors (Refusal to make a DOLS order) [2021] EWHC 3303 (Fam) 

    Y and Z (Separation of siblings) [2020] EWFC B59 

    E (care and placement orders) [2019] EWFC B13

     

<< /span> >