John’s large family law practice has developed over the years into a specialist practice which focuses exclusively on proceedings concerning children. He is a popular and experienced practitioner who is recommended in successive editions of the Legal 500.
Areas of Expertise
- All aspects of public law children work.
- Acts on behalf of local authorities, parents, relatives and children's guardians.
- Instructed in complex cases involving allegations of physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect and/or emotional abuse.
- Specialist expertise in cases involving complex medical evidence.
Reported & Notable Cases
- M v M [2010] (Lawtel 28 April 2010). Respondent in appeal against refusal to permit instruction of expert where serious violence found by Court but Father continued to deny such violence.
- Re R [2009] Family Law 1130. Appeal against ruling that threshold not crossed in respect of newborn despite findings of neglect of older child.
- Re B [2007] Family Law 895. Determining that parent cannot care for child at 'finding of fact' hearing in advance of final care plan.
- Re B [2006] 2 FLR 1071. Respondent in appeal against findings of abuse following police investigation in which ABE guidelines for interviewing children not followed.
- Kirklees v S [2006] 1 FLR 333. Appeal against order requiring Local Authority to facilitate contact to newborn 7 days per week.
- Re D [2005] EWCA Civ 825. Respondent in appeal against findings of sexual abuse.
- Kirklees MBC v Brent [2004] 2 FLR 800. Designated Local Authority when child placed with relatives out of area.
- Re O and N; Re B [2003] 1 FLR 1169. Lead House of Lords authority on threshold criteria and approach to future risk in ‘uncertain perpetrator’ cases.
- Re B [2002] 2 FLR 599. Death of baby. Appeal against findings contrary to medical evidence.
Publications
- Ensuring Equal Protection for Siblings [2010] Family Law 505
- ‘Shocking’ Abuse followed by a ‘Staggering’ Ruling: Re MA [2010] Family Law 166
- Farewell to the Cogent Evidence Test: Re B [2008] Family Law 859
- The Designated Local Authority in a Care Order [2004] Family Law 511.
- Child Protection in the Court of Appeal [2002] Family Law 817.
- The Threshold Test and the Unknown Perpetrator [2000] Family Law 260.
Seminars
- February 2011: "An analysis of Re SB [2010] 1 FLR 1161 and its implications for Local Authorities."
- March 2010: Zenith Family Group. Rudding Park Full Day Seminar. Speaker: “Violence in the Family: Are the Courts taking Unacceptable Risks with Vulnerable Children?”
- February 2010: Zenith Family Group Seminar: Speaker: “Threshold Criteria: Case Law Update”
- May 2009: Zenith Family Group Seminar. Speaker: “Adoption Law – Case Update”.
- March 2009: North Eastern Circuit FLBA. Full Day Seminar. Speaker: “Children Law Update”.
- January 2009: York & North Yorkshire Family Justice Council. Full Day Seminar. Speaker: “The Burden of Proof”
What delegates say about John's seminars:
"fantastic presentation - clear & incisive."
"a really useful practical look at Re SB - John's knowledge of his subject is legendary."
- "a "formidable advocate", combining his "high-calibre" advocacy with "encyclopaedic" knowledge." Legal 500, 2011
