‘Ruth is a force of nature. She quickly grasps the most complex matters – absorbing the paperwork like a sponge. She goes the extra mile in court to pursue points for her clients, and her advocacy is slick, persuasive and, when needed, fiery.’
Legal 500, 2024

Experience

Year of Call: 1994
Year of Silk: 2021

Education

University College Cork, Ireland BCL
London School of Economics, LLM
London Metropolitan University, CPE
Inns of Court School of Law, BL
BL (Irl) Kings Inns, Dublin 2004
DeMontford University (Sports Law) 2014
Qualified Family and Commercial Mediator (2004)
Qualified Collaborative Lawyer
Qualified Arbitrator (2022)

Languages

Working knowledge of French and Irish

Profile

Ruth’s practice is primarily in children and Court of Protection work.  She also undertakes sports law cases and disciplinary tribunal work including advising stars of the rugby world.  The unusual breadth of her practice is reflected in the variety of her reported cases. The bulk of her work, including Court of Protection, was for many years primarily in the Family Division.

Ruth deals with all aspects of private and public family law – both domestic and international – including:

  • Abduction and other unlawful movement of children and adults;
  • wardship and Inherent Jurisdiction cases ( publicity/privacy cases and stranded spouses);
  • complex disputes concerning children and vulnerable adults;
  • complex care proceedings.

 

Ruth has particular experience in representing high profile families and individuals and of representing very religiously-observant families and families embroiled in political and cross-jurisdictional issues, sometimes with their own Governments.

Ruth is known for being a good judge of when cases can be settled without ever entering a court room but still achieving optimum results; and when to achieve the best outcome for children by fighting proportionately and fairly, whenever court is unavoidable.


Ruth is dual qualified in the Irish Republic and has rights of audience before the Irish courts.  She also is instructed as an expert witness in Irish and European family law cases.

Ruth has lectured for the London Safeguarding Children’s Board, the Counter Terrorism Unit at the Met Police (SO15), Gresham College; and the Family Law Bar Association. Her academic lecturing included five years as a lecturer in human rights at the University of London and lecturing at LSE and other academic institutions.  She has also trained the Irish Judiciary on diversity and ethnic issues and trains students and junior barristers in advocacy at Middle Temple.

Outside work Ruth enjoys spinning, film, wine, music, family and is more than a little fanatical about rugby generally and Munster in particular.

 

Professional Memberships

FLBA
ALC
COPBA
ALBA
Bencher for Middle Temple, Inn of Court

Directories

‘Ruth is a force of nature. She quickly grasps the most complex matters – absorbing the paperwork like a sponge. She goes the extra mile in court to pursue points for her clients, and her advocacy is slick, persuasive and, when needed, fiery.’
Legal 500, 2024

“Ruth is the best advocate I have ever worked with and she is great with clients. She works exceptionally hard and, no matter what her schedule, she will always make time for you.”
Chambers and Partners, 2024

“A joy to instruct as she really gets stuck in and makes her arguments forcefully. Every point she makes, she just builds and builds upon to create a compelling submission.”
Chambers and Partners, 2023

‘Ruth is a force of nature and an incredible strategist. Her advocacy style is punchy, considered and direct, and she never left a stone unturned.’
Legal 500, 2023

“A good fighter who is powerful in the courtroom and empathetic towards clients.” “She articulates powerful arguments in a persuasive manner. She is 100% ready to deal with the pressures presented in cases, and has the ability to think two steps ahead.” “Ruth has a natural, easy rapport with clients which puts them at ease.”
Chambers & Partners, 2022

“A formidable advocate who provides punchy thinking, she deserves her elevation to silk this year.”
Legal 500, 2022

Experienced family and Court of Protection practitioner who has expertise in sensitive matters. She is praised for the strength of her advocacy and for the tenacity she shows on behalf of her clients in court. Her expertise includes the representation of very high-profile families, and she is proficient in cases concerning international issues.

Strengths: “Holds her own in complex cases and fights her client’s corner. She wants to achieve the best result for the children involved in the case.” “Concentrates on the bigger points and puts her whole heart into both legal aid and private cases.”

Recent work: Represented a father during High Court proceedings in his mission to retrieve his children who had been abducted from London to Ukraine by their mother, the daughter of a high-profile Ukrainian politician and entrepreneur.
Chambers & Partners, 2021

‘Is a QC in disguise as a junior. She works relentlessly hard on her cases, and fights her clients’ corner. She is unique in her approach in children matters and takes no prisoners. She is creative at coming up with solutions and strategies for complex cases and never switches off from cases.’
Legal 500, 2021


Experienced family and Court of Protection practitioner who has expertise in sensitive matters. She is praised for the strength of her advocacy and for the tenacity she shows on behalf of her clients in court. Her expertise includes the representation of very high-profile families, and she is proficient in cases concerning international issues.

“Clients love her warmth, personality and grit.”
Chambers & Partners 2020

‘Is a tenacious advocate who fights hard for clients.’
Legal 500, 2020

“A real fighter and a feisty advocate, who is someone you’d want on your side in court.” “She is exceptionally bright and very on the ball.”
Chambers & Partners 2019

‘Superbly prepared.’
Legal 500, 2019

“She fights her client’s corner really hard, distils the most important issues and knows what the judge is looking for. She’s very, very quick on her feet and so well experienced that she knows what to push for.”
Chambers & Partners 2018

“Quick on her feet and fantastic at client care. She’s always best in a fight; she sees the client’s interests and goes for it.”
Chambers & Partners 2017

26/11/21
[2021] EWHC 3231 (Fam)
10/05/18
[2018] EWCA Civ 1372
06/03/17
[2017] EWHC 441 (Fam)
02/04/13
[2013] EWHC 796 (Fam); [2014] Fam Law 22
28/11/11
[2012] 1 FLR 1259 : [2012] Fam Law 399; [2011] EWHC 3255 (Fam)
13/10/11
[2012] 2 FCR 325; [2011] EWCA Civ 1774
08/07/11
[2012] 1 FLR 23; [2011] EWCA Civ 796
21/06/11
[2012] 1 FLR 125; [2011] EWHC 1530 (Fam)
25/05/10
[2010] EWCA Civ 946
10/07/09
[2009] EWCA Civ 959; (2010) 1 FLR 895
18/05/09
[2009] EWHC 935 (Fam); [2009] 2 FLR 852
11/02/09
[2009] 2 FLR 1513; [2009] EWHC 1735 (Fam)
31/07/06
[2006] EWHC 2022 (Fam); (2007) 1 FLR 295 : (2006) HRLR 36 : (2007) UKHRR 164 : Times, August 21, 2006
16/03/06
[2006] EWHC 510 (Fam); (2006) 2 FLR 701 : Times, April 21, 2006
16/12/05
[2005] EWHC 2956 (Fam); (2007) 1 FLR 399
21/09/04
[2004] EWCA Civ 1397; (2005) 1 FLR 469