‘Chris is an exceptional advocate and always has the ear of the court. His submissions are informed, well-researched, and his ability to get to the heart of the issues in cross-examination is always impressive.’
Legal 500, 2024

Experience

Year of Call: 2009

Qualifications

Law with French Law (LLB), UCL 2008
Certificat Supérieur en Droit, Université Panthéon-Assas (Paris II) 2007

Languages

French
German

Profile

Chris specialises in complex public law proceedings and deals with cases involving the most serious allegations of child abuse, including physical, sexual and psychological harm. He often appears against leading counsel either on his own or where he is led. He has particular expertise in dealing with lengthy and contentious fact-finding hearings, especially those that involve complicated and conflicting medical evidence. He is equally skilled in cases that require technical legal arguments: in 2019, he successfully represented the appellant in the leading Court of Appeal case on uncertain perpetrators of abuse. Chris also receives instructions in high-conflict private law matters.


Children: Public Law

In recent years, Chris has focused on cases where children have sustained alleged non-accidental injuries. He is instructed in proceedings brought because of unexplained fractures, bruising and head injuries, particularly where children have sustained skull fractures, intracranial bleeding and so-called “shaken baby” cases. He combines excellent client-care skills with robust advocacy. Through his thorough knowledge of the facts of a case, he is able to get to the heart of the issues in cross-examination and challenge expert evidence effectively, including expert medical evidence. In recent work, he has persuaded the court to exonerate clients of wrongdoing and secured the rehabilitation of their children to their care, including where the Court has found that the s.31(2) threshold conditions for making public law orders were not satisfied, resulting in the end of the proceedings. When acting for local authorities, Chris is able to review the totality of the evidence to plead the case realistically and persuasively. He values a collaborative approach to the litigation.

Chris represents local authorities, parents, interveners and children in heavily contested fact-finding and welfare hearings, and is regularly instructed to act for vulnerable clients, including separately represented children and those who lack litigation capacity, represented through the Official Solicitor. He is known for his empathetic and supportive approach whilst also delivering robust and realistic advice. Chris has undertaken training in the cross-examination of vulnerable witnesses and child witnesses.

Children: Private Law

Chris is regularly instructed in applications for child arrangements orders, specific issue orders and prohibited steps orders. Equipped with a wealth of experience of acting in public law proceedings, Chris is ideally positioned to act in the most contentious cases involving expert evidence and where there are allegations of drug and alcohol abuse, mental health difficulties, and physical, emotional and sexual abuse.  Recent cases in which Chris has been instructed have involved allegations of parental alienation and intractable hostility as well as cases where there is a need for a fact-finding hearing in respect of allegations of rape and sexual abuse of children.

Court of Protection

Chris acts in cases relating to the health, welfare and deprivation of liberty of vulnerable adults, bringing his experience and approach in Children Act work. He is able to advise and provide representation in matters relating to community care law and in cases involving disputes over medical treatment. Chris appears across the country in contested interim and final hearings as well as in cases where there is a need for fact-finding.

International

Chris is regularly instructed in private and public law proceedings brought under the Children Act which have an international element.  This includes applications for leave to remove children from the jurisdiction on a temporary and permanent basis, to Hague Convention countries and non-Hague Convention countries.  Chris’ practice includes international adoption matters arising in public law proceedings.

Professional Memberships

Family Law Bar Association
Association of Lawyers for Children

Directories

“He has a real eye for detail and can pick cases up at the last minute.”

“Brilliant in negotiation and someone who makes fantastic submissions when he’s in court. He knows the facts of the case inside out.”

“Extremely impressive, very well prepared and always good in court. He is very thorough and tenacious, but also very pragmatic and open to negotiation.”
Chambers and Partners, 2024

‘Chris is an exceptional advocate and always has the ear of the court. His submissions are informed, well-researched, and his ability to get to the heart of the issues in cross-examination is always impressive.’
Legal 500, 2024

“Friendly and approachable outside of court, but tough once inside it, he certainly knows the difference between a good point and a bad one.”
Chambers and Partners, 2023

‘Chris is extremely conscientious and thorough. He is also an excellent advocate.’
Legal 500, 2023

“Committed to client care of the highest standard. He has a pragmatic approach but deals with clients in a sensitive and friendly way. He prepares cases very thoroughly and has a real attention to detail.”
Legal 500, 2022

“Attention for detail. Very clever. Passionate. Caring.”

“Stands out amongst children practitioners as technically strong with a fine reputation amongst judges.”
Legal 500, 2021