John is the head of Zenith Chambers highly regarded family law team.
He was a solicitor for 29 years before transferring to the Bar in 2007. In 1993 he was a founding Partner of Jones Myers, the first specialist family law practice in the north of England. During his time as a solicitor John established a reputation as one of the leading Child Care lawyers in the region and was a prominent member of the Law Society's Children Panel for over 20 years.
As a solicitor he represented a wide range of clients including parents, local authorities and Childrens' Guardians in public and private law proceedings, often instructed in particularly complex cases.
Since his move to the Bar, John has continued to develop his practice in the public and private law domains. He has appeared on a number of occasions in the Court of Appeal and as leading Counsel for local authorities and parents in care proceedings. His recent cases include such complex issues as Fabricated/Fictitious Illness, shaking injuries and cases with an international element.
In his private law practice John has a particular interest in international relocation and abduction issues on which he has written and lectured extensively.
Reported Cases
- Re F [2010] - A Court of Appeal decision on international relocation which attracted considerable national publicity.
- Gull v Gull [2008]1 FLR 232- A Court of Appeal decision considering whether a term of committal was excessive
- Re G [2005] 2 FLR 166 - A Court of Appeal decision on removal from the jurisdiction and the assessment of the impact of refusal on a mother.
North Yorkshire CCv SA[2003] 2 FLR 849 - Represented both parents in the Court of Appeal decision which established the "real possibility" test for inclusion in the pool of potential perpetrators.
Publications
Former Consulting Editor of Hershman and McFarlane's ‘Children Law and Practice’
Lectures
John has delivered numerous seminars on a variety of private and public law issues throughout the region. He is much in demand as a guest speaker for family law organisations such as Resolution.
Recent seminar topics include:
- The New Family Procedure Rules 2010
- International Relocation
- Public Law Update
- Training courses for local authorities
- "Faultless, fluid, flawless precise and to the point." Legal 500, 2011
- 'A “highly recommended junior” who has “particular skill in representing local authorities”' Chambers & Partners 2012
- “a tenacious advocate who knows children law inside out.” Chambers & Partners 2012
