Free Webinar – Child Abduction: A Practical Guide to the Law & Defending Claims

This seminar will consider recent updates in how to defend against accusations of child abduction where they are removed from or to the UK and are at grave risk of harm. Across this highly specialist and ever-evolving area of law, speakers will:

• Discuss what to do when a party asserts that there is a risk of domestic abuse should the court order a child to be returned
• Offer practical examples of what to do when a child objects to a return, and
• Explore complexities which arise when there are also ongoing protection appeals brought under the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002.

Speakers:

James Holmes, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers 
James Holmes specialises in Children’s Law, Court of Protection and International Family Law. He has developed a particular expertise complex public law matters, including those dealing with; death of/catastrophic injuries to a child, shaken baby, sexual abuse and trauma, non-accidental injury cases, fabricated induced illness, forced marriage, female genital mutilation and abandoned spouse cases. James has also been instructed in matters in the High Court concerning the use of special advocates and material proceedings and transfer of jurisdictions. He has also developed a thriving International Family Law practice, regularly being instructed in cases involving international abduction; the transfer of jurisdictions; permanent and temporary relocation; and recognition of orders from other jurisdictions.

Maggie Jones, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers 
Maggie Jones is a very experienced family law practitioner. She acts for parents and children in both public and private law cases. She is well known for her tenacity, for working with both vulnerable and difficult clients, and for dealing with complex cases. Maggie has also developed a practice dealing with adoption proceedings, particularly adoptions with a foreign element, and enjoys working closely with immigration practitioners on some of these cases.

Natasha Shotunde, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers 
Natasha Shotunde has a wide-ranging practice encompassing family law and public inquiries. She is highly experienced in private and public law children matters and international family law cases. She has significant expertise in representing parties in applications for Forced Marriage Protection Orders and FGM Protection Orders in the High Court and Family Court. Natasha’s international family law practice includes child abduction and child relocation cases. She is highly experienced in both Hague and non Hague child abduction cases. She has represented parties in standalone applications, as well as linked care proceedings. She has particular knowledge of Forced Marriage and FGM and asylum, having focused on this subject academically.

Rehab Jaffer, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers 
Rehab Jaffer is an experienced family practitioner. She regularly appears in the High Court on Deprivation of Liberty matters, and she has represented parents in the Court of Appeal on public law NAI matters. Her experience representing young and vulnerable victims of human trafficking and modern slavery in asylum appeals and in public law claims lends itself well to her trauma informed practice in public children law.  Rehab’s international family practice is invaluably benefited by having been the judicial assistant to Moylan LJ (and King LJ).  She has extensive experience representing individuals in private children applications, and is regularly instructed in care proceedings in the Family Court and High Court for local authorities, parents, and children separately represented or through their children’s guardian. 

Reserve Your Online Ticket
Complete the form below to reserve your place. Joining details will be sent on the day of the event. If you have not received the link by 2pm on Thursday 4 September, please check your junk inbox. If it is not there, contact us at webinars@gclaw.co.uk.