Family News

3PB Family team boosted with latest recruit

6th February 2018

3PB has recruited family law barrister James Legg from Northampton Chambers to work from its flagship London office in Temple. James represents local authorities, parents, guardians and prospective special guardians in care proceeding and frequently appears in proceedings involving vulnerable clients, cross-examination of expert witnesses and jurisdictional issues. James also has an extensive private family practice work covering applications for Child Arrangements Orders, Prohibited Steps Orders and Specific  Issue Orders, including matters of residence, contact,...

3PB's Elizabeth McGrath QC shortlisted for 'Barrister of the Year' by the Birmingham Law Society Legal Awards

5th February 2018

Elizabeth McGrath QC of 3PB's family team has been nominated in the 'Barrister of the Year' category by the Birmingham Law Society Legal Awards. The awards have been showcasing the very best of the region’s legal talent since the inaugural event in 2002. Firms and individuals practicing in the West Midlands were invited to submit nominations in one of the 13 award categories. The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on Thursday 8th...

3PB Family Barrister Emma Harman on the lessons learned from A Local Authority v G (Parent with Learning Disability) [2017] EWFC B94

19th January 2018

The recent case of A Local Authority v G (Parent with Learning Disability) [2017] EWFC B94 has highlighted the importance that all families in which one or more of the parents has a learning disability are given the support that they require to be able to care for their children. However, the judge in this case found that this obligation does not extend to support that is tantamount to substituted parenting. To read Emma's full...

3PB’s booming London team has been joined by senior barrister Poonam Bhari from rival chambers St Phillips. Poonam is well known nationally as a leading family barrister. She has appeared at all levels of court - from the FPC to the Court of Appeal -  acting on legally-aided and privately-funded childcare cases including where there are allegations of sexual abuse, non-accidental injuries, death of a child or parent and non-compliance with contact orders. Poonam was involved in the first proceedings...

3PB's Family Law team proudly sponsors the Family Law Awards 2017

30th November 2017

3PB’s Family Law team was one of the proud sponsors of the Family Law Awards 2017 that took place yesterday at the Ballroom South Bank in London. Over the past 7 years, the Family Law Awards have firmly established themselves as a highly prestigious event, celebrating the success and achievements of family lawyers and the vital contribution that they make to society. This year’s ceremony was attended by over 500 guests drawn from across the...

Amy Beddis has joined 3PB’ growing family team. Amy is a specialist family practitioner with an emphasis on private law children and financial work. Throughout her career Amy has worked with Government departments, local authorities, housing associations, charities and social enterprises alongside businesses from the private sector and brings her breadth of knowledge and experience to her career at the bar. Private Law Amy is regularly instructed in all aspects of children matters and has built...

Hamish Dunlop, Head of 3PB’s Family Law Group, led by Nigel Dyer QC, and instructed by Hughes Paddison of Cheltenham, has represented the respondent Hugh Owens in the groundbreaking Owens v Owens divorce case. The Court of Appeal earlier ruled that the appellant Tini Owens would not be granted a divorce despite an unhappy relationship. The Court refused to overturn the trial Judge’s finding that the respondent’s behaviour had been tantamount to ‘minor altercations of...

Nicola Frost, writing for Family Law Week, explains the implications of a Hague Convention decision. The CA unanimously held, "anticipatory retention" is a concept that must be recognised by the Convention. By a 2:1 majority (Black LJ dissenting on this particular point) it was further held that "communication" of an intention to retain children (prior to the end of an agreed, extended stay) is not necessary. As such, the mother's conduct surrounding an application for British...

3PB family barrister Rachael Goodall analyses the Court of Appeal's judgement in the appeal of JS v RS [2017] EWCA Civ 408, concerning the division of matrimonial assets following the dissolution of a marriage. Rachael's analysis takes account of the jurisprudential relationship between Miller v Miller and McFarlane v McFarlane. Please click here to read Rachael's article.

Hannah Bush has joined 3PB Barristers’ growing  team in Birmingham. Hannah specialises in financial remedies as well as Children Act work. She has substantial experience of representing individuals, local authorities, parents, children and third parties at all stages of proceedings. She has particularly strong experience of dealing with vulnerable clients and in those cases where domestic violence is alleged. Called to the Bar in 2007, Hannah started her career at St Philips Chambers in Birmingham...

3PB Family Barrister Andrew Lorie was led by Ruth Henke QC on the reported finding fact hearing Re: R-T. The case, before HHJ Moradifar, arose following the hospitalization of a comatose, seizing two and half year old child, found to have life-threatening levels of carbamazepine in his blood. Please click here to view the full report.

3PB Family has added 3 new barristers to its rapidly expanding specialist team. Oliver Thorne (2005 call), formerly of King’s Bench Chambers, will be based in Bournemouth; while Kara Cann (2012 call) joins the family team in London from 1 Gray’s Inn Square. Oliver and Kara join recent family team recruit Matiss Krumins (2008 call) who joined the set’s Birmingham Chambers last month from Birmingham City Council. Oliver Thorne was called to the Bar in...