Free Hybrid Seminar – Domestic Abuse Update: Protecting victims and their children

The Hybrid Seminar will be covering updates relevant to those practising in public and private family law considering the protections available for domestic abuse victims and their children  and will in particular focus on:

• The protections available under Part 3 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (Domestic Abuse Protection Notices and Domestic Abuse Protection Orders), and provide an overview of how these fit with the existing framework for protective orders under the Family Law Act 1996
• The removal of the presumption of contact in cases of domestic abuse
• Removal of Parental Responsibility in cases of domestic abuse
• Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Programmes and the RESPECT scheme.
• Istanbul Convention: brief over-view of international standards and the UK’s implementation to date.

Speakers

Hannah Rought-Brooks (Chair), Barrister, Garden Court Chambers
Hannah specialises in public law children work and represents local authorities, parents and guardians. She has a particular interest in representing vulnerable parents with complex needs, including mental health problems and disabilities, and has represented parents with a disability through the Official Solicitor. She takes extra care of clients for whom the litigation process presents a particular challenge, or who are particularly anxious at court. Hannah ensures that instructing solicitors receive prompt and useful feedback following hearings, both orally and in writing. She also conducts all private law children matters and domestic violence matters under Part IV of the Family Law Act 1996. Hannah has strong client-care skills and tries to bring to her practice empathy and compassion.

Lorna Cservenka, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers
Lorna practices in public and private law children work. Lorna is instructed in applications for non-molestation orders and occupation orders in cases involving serious physical and psychological harm and coercive control. She also has experience of cases involving Female Genital Mutilation Protection Orders. Her practice includes representing children via their Children’s Guardian under r16.4 of the Children Act 1989 in private family law cases, including fact-finding hearings and contested final hearings. She is experienced in special guardianship and adoption applications. Lorna has worked as a family law solicitor specialising in public law family work for 23 years before joining the bar. She is experienced in representing Children’s Guardian’s, separately represented children, parents, and other family members in public law family cases

Sophia Rolt-Smith, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers
Sophia is a specialist family lawyer who is instructed in public and private Children Act proceedings. She regularly acts in cases involving complex allegations of abuse and other welfare issues. Sophia is instructed on applications for non-molestation orders, occupation orders and transfer of tenancy applications involving allegations of domestic abuse, including sexual abuse, physical abuse, psychological abuse and coercive and controlling behaviour. She accepts instructions at all stages of proceedings.

Reserve your online ticket
If you have booked an online ticket, we will send joining details to all those who have signed up on the day of the event. If you have not received the link by 2pm on Wednesday 4th March, and it is not in your junk inbox, please email webinars@gclaw.co.uk.