Clerk Details
- Clerk Name: Rob Leonard
- Clerk Telephone: 0330 332 0773
- Clerk Email: [email protected]
Family
Poonam Bhari appears in the Family Court and specialises in public law children cases where there are allegations of sexual abuse, non-accidental injuries, death of a parent. Poonam undertakes cases with an international element including forced marriage, validity of a marriage and child abduction cases.
Poonam acts for parents, children’s guardians, the Official Solicitor and local authorities in public law children cases. Poonam has represented clients with mental health and learning difficulties and clients from minority ethnic groups.
During 2000-2005 Poonam undertook criminal and immigration law cases. She represented the Home Office and appellants in immigration hearings before the tribunal in relation to both asylum and human rights claims.
Poonam undertakes voluntary work. She has reviewed cases for the Bar Pro Bono Unit. Poonam was a Trustee of Legal Action Group (Charity) from 2004 to 2016 and Chair of the Board of Trustees for over 10 years. Poonam has been an Executive Committee member of the Association of Lawyers for Children.
Poonam was a former schoolteacher and special educational needs co-coordinator before retraining as a barrister.
Reported Cases
- Oxfordshire County Council v A Mother & Ors [2022] EWFC 141
- Re S (vulnerable party: fairness of proceedings); A v A local authority and others [2022] EWCA Civ 8
- Re S (A Child) (Hague Convention 1980: Return to Third State) [2019] EWCA Civ 352
- S (Father) v D (Mother) [2019] EWHC 56 (Fam)
- HA (A Child : placement of a child abroad) [2019] EWFC B2
- M v F [2018] EWHC 1949 (Fam)
- Medway Council v MI & Ors [2017] EWFC 59
- Medway Council v MI & Ors [2016] EWFC 74
- Re B and E (children), [2015] EWFC B203
- Re M'P-P (Children), Re [2015] EWCA Civ 584
- A & Anor v A Local Authority & Anor [2014] EWHC 4816 (Fam)
- Birmingham City Council v Riaz & Ors (Rev 3) [2014] EWHC 4247 (Fam)
- Re O (A Child), Re [2012] EWCA Civ 1955
- Re O (A Child), Re [2012] EWCA Civ 1576
- Re C (A Child) [2009] EWCA Civ 72
Publications
- Provision of undertakings in response to defence under Article 13(b) of Hague Convention 1980 (S (Father) v D (Mother)) - This article was first published on Lexis®PSL Family on 28 January 2019.
- Experts: Maintaining and Expanding the Pool, Family Law February 2005. Co - Author: Dr Claire Sturge
- Transparency in Family Proceedings, The Circuiteer, Spring 2007, Issue 24
- Family Affairs - FLBA Newsletter - Occasional Contributor [1999 – 2006]
- Children Law UK Newsletter - Occasional Contributor [1999 – 2006]
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Recommendations Poonam Bhari is ranked in Legal 500 2025/Family: Children and Domestic Abuse/London Bar
Poonam Bhari is ranked in Legal 500 2025/Family: Children and Domestic Abuse/Midlands Circuit
'Poonam is pragmatic, methodical, and sympathetic and fights for clients. She puts clients at ease and makes them feel that they are being listened to.'
Legal 500 2024/Children Law (including public and private law)/London
'Poonam has a great eye for detail. She is empathetic with her clients and strikes up a rapport with them. She is particularly in demand in dealing with clients with vulnerabilities.'
Legal 500 2024/Family: Children and Domestic Violence/Midlands Circuit
Poonam Bhari is ranked in the Legal 500 2023/Children Law (including public and private law)/London edition.
Poonam Bhari is ranked in the Legal 500 2023/Child Law (public and private)/Midlands Circuit edition.
‘Poonam is a brilliant and effective communicator, not just on a professional level with Instructing Solicitors and the other parties but also with the lay clients and any relevant support networks that they have.’
Legal 500 2022/Child Law (public and private)/Midlands Circuit
‘Her client handling is excellent.’
Poonam Bhari is ranked in the Legal 500 2022/Children Law (including public and private law)/London edition.
Legal 500 2021/Child Law (public and private)/Midlands
‘A superb advocate.’
Legal 500 2021/Children Law (including public and private law)/London
‘A strong family law generalist.’
Legal 500 2020/Family and Children Law/Midlands‘Outstanding with clients and an excellent advocate.'
Legal 500 2020/Children Law (including public and private law)/London
"A family law specialist"
Legal 500 2018/19/Family and Children Law/Midlands
"An empathetic advocate"
Legal 500 2018/19/Children Law (including public and private law)/London
‘‘Thank you Poonam and thank you so much for your hard work and advice this week’’
Social worker
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Related Articles
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3PB’s family law team remains at the top of its league in the Legal 500 2025 edition, achieving top tier in the Midlands for Family: children and domestic violence and for Family: divorce and financial remedy as well as top tier in the Western circuit for Family: children and domestic violence. The Western team’s family finance barristers are awarded tier 2. The team has achieved a total of 56 rankings across 4 Circuits (in London,...
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3PB is proud to announce that family barrister Poonam Bhari (pictured here) has been re-appointed by The Lord Chancellor to the Family Procedure Rule Committee (FPRC). Poonam has been re-appointed for a further 3 years from 28 February 2024, alongside solicitor Graeme Fraser and fellow barrister Rhys Taylor. Poonam Bhari is a family law barrister, called in 1999, specialising in public and private family law cases involving children. Poonam is based at 3PB's Inner Temple...
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3PB’s Family Law team now tops 3 categories in the Legal 500. The team has been awarded TOP TIER – in the Midlands, for Family: children and domestic violence and for Family: divorce and financial remedy as well as TOP TIER – in the Western circuit for Family: children and domestic violence. The Western team’s family finance barristers are awarded tier 2. 36 of our family barristers have been awarded a total of 51 rankings...
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Poonam Bhari (pictured here), specialist family barrister at 3PB Barristers (3 Paper Buildings) has written for The Barrister on the possible effects that backlogs in family dispute resolution cases can have on both the families involved and the overall structure of family law proceedings. In her article, published in the June/July issue, Poonam highlights the significant backlog of cases within the family courts and explores how early resolution and out of court settlements could help...
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