Family

PARTICULAR SPECIALIST INTEREST:

Jane acts for Local Authorities and Guardians as well as parents in complex Children Act and adoption cases and appears regularly in the High Court and County Court. She has acted in a number of Court of Appeal cases. The work she undertakes involves cases of the most serious nature including allegations of serious physical injury, serious sexual abuse and factitious illness by proxy. She is regularly instructed in cases involving parents and children suffering from learning difficulties, serious psychological problems and forms of mental illness and has a growing interest in cases involving mental illness and special educational needs.

Jane appears regularly in cases involving other jurisdictions, immigration issues, and religious and cultural complexities as well as undertaking child abduction cases. She has experience of applications made under the Inherent Jurisdiction and Human Rights legislation and has also advised in relation to proceedings before the Care Standards Tribunal.

Jane also undertakes private law children’s cases, including applications involving removal of children from the jurisdiction and has lectured on the Bar Vocational Course at Manchester Metropolitan University, helping to devise the course’s Child Law option in 1999/2000. She is a regular speaker at seminars and other training events.

NOTEWORTHY CASES:

Re A and Others(Minors) (Child Abuse: Guidelines 1991) 1 WLR 1026, 1992 1 All ER 153,1992 1 FLR 439
Cheshire County Council v. M 1993 1 FLR 463, 1993 Fam Law 207, 1992 156 LG Rev 1029
Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council v. D 1995 1 FLR 873,1995 Fam Law 405
Re P (Section 91 (14) (Guidelines) Residence and Religious Heritage)1999 2 FLR 573
Re D and K (Care Plan : Twin Track Planning)1999 2 FLR 872
BBC v Rochdale BC 2007 1 FLR 101
S (A child acting by the Official Solicitor) v Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council and The Independent Reviewing Officer 2008 EWHC 3283 (Fam) 2009 1 FLR 1090

WHAT THE DIRECTORIES SAY:

2003 "Recommended for children and care cases". - Legal 500
2004 "Recommended for children cases". - Legal 500
2005 "Recommended for children cases". - Legal 500
2006 "An expert and popular child law practitioner" - Legal 500
2007 "An expert and popular child law practitioner" - Legal 500
2008 "expert in care and child abuse cases." - Legal 500

ASSOCIATIONS:

Family Law Bar Association
Former Chair and Vice Chair of Child Concern
Member of BAAF