News & Views

Keep up-to-date with the latest news and insights from Garden Court Chambers.

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News & Views

Family Law | Friday 12 July 2019

Family Law Update: Family Justice Council interim guidance on special guardianship

Written by Victoria Burgess of the Garden Court Chambers Family Team.

Family Law, Children Law | Thursday 11 July 2019

Family Law Update: Uncertain perpetrator cases – the correct approach

Written by William Tautz of the Garden Court Chambers Family Team.

Family Law | Tuesday 2 April 2019

Family Law Update: When should a ward of court be permitted to attend a foreign trial to give evidence?

This case concerns two boys, X who is 12 years old and Y who is 8 years old. Both were wards of the court. The application was for X to travel to India to answer a witness summons is

Family Law | Tuesday 2 April 2019

Family Law Update: “Reporting restrictions: when are they useful?”

This case concerns the making of a reporting restrictions order in relation to the birth parents of a young child.

Family Law | Tuesday 2 April 2019

Family Law Update: ‘Placement in Ghana: proportionality, human rights and the guardian’

This case concerns a decision as to whether the child, ‘A’ should be placed in Ghana with extended family members or remain in the UK in the care of his foster carer.

Family Law, Children Law | Thursday 10 January 2019

Natural family in Ghana, securing Article 8 rights

Rebekah Wilson acted for the Appellant, Monifa Walters-Thompson acted pro bono for the fourth respondents and Maggie Jones acted for the Respondent Children’s Guardian.

Children Law, Divorce and Family Finances, Family Law | Monday 17 December 2018

Family Law Update: Civil restraint orders

Written by Lyndsey Sambrooks-Wright of the Garden Court Chambers Family Team.

Children Law, Family Law | Monday 17 December 2018

Family Law Update: The recognition of foreign adoptions

Written by Kathryn Cronin of the Garden Court Chambers Family Team.

Children Law, Family Law | Monday 17 December 2018

Family Law Update: Teenagers, secure accommodation and the relevance of consent

Written by Mai-Ling Savage of the Garden Court Chambers Family Team.

Family Law, Children Law, International Family Law | Thursday 1 November 2018

High Court hears failed asylum seeker’s daughter ‘at FGM risk’

Garden Court's James Holmes is instructed by Suffolk County Council.

Family Law | Wednesday 31 October 2018

Placement of a child outside their natural family

Amina Ahmed explores the test used in deciding the correct balance for a child's growing up in his culture of origin or in proximity with his family in the UK.

Family Law, Children Law | Tuesday 30 October 2018

Appeal in care proceedings involving rival Special Guardianship Order contenders: a foster carer and extended family members in Ghana. Appeal allowed.

Rebekah Wilson instructed for the Appellant. Maggie Jones instructed for the Respondent Children's Guardian.

Family Law, Children Law | Tuesday 18 September 2018

The London Infant and Family Team & The New Orleans Intervention Model

In England two local authorities – Croydon and Tower Hamlets – have been trialling the New Orleans Intervention Model, a relationship focused intervention for families involved in care proceedings. King's College London are currently undertaking a random

Family Law | Tuesday 18 September 2018

Statutory Charge: Care Costs and Human Rights Act Applications

The following guidance applies when making an HRA application: make a separate and standalone application, and keep costs of pursuing the HRA claim separate from the care case.

Family Law | Tuesday 18 September 2018

Beware drafters of threshold documents

Lessons can be learnt from two recent cases regarding the phrasing of a) threshold documents and b) the court’s findings in relation to threshold.

Family Law | Friday 10 August 2018

Garden Court Chambers welcome Lyndsey Sambrooks-Wright and Monifa Walters-Thompson to the Family Team

We are delighted to announce that Lyndsey Sambrooks-Wright and Monifa Walters-Thompson have joined the Family Law Team at Garden Court Chambers.

Children Law, International Family Law, Family Law | Wednesday 1 August 2018

Court of Appeal allows first successful appeal against Female Genital Mutilation Protection Order

Sarah Forster appeared on behalf of the mother and James Holmes, who was also instructed at first instance, appeared on behalf the local authority led by Hannah Markham QC.

Family Law, Children Law | Tuesday 15 May 2018

Family cases and Deprivation of Liberty

There have been two important recent cases which have considered issues of deprivation of liberty and young people subject to care proceedings.

Family Law | Tuesday 15 May 2018

Is it time for a protocol on international kinship assessments?

With Brexit looming and a rise in the number of care applications, the issue of international assessments has a sharper focus. It is time for a protocol on international kinship assessments which will significantly aid in a more robust case management.

Family Law, Children Law | Tuesday 15 May 2018

What is confidentiality and does it matter anymore?

Sections 97(2) and (6) of the Children Act 1989 make it a criminal offence for anyone to publish material likely to identify a child involved in proceedings under the Act. The prohibition only lasts until the end of the proceedings - Clayton v Clayton [20