Public Law Children

Chloe regularly appears in public law children matters and has experience in representing Local Authorities, parents, children and interveners in a range of hearings, including interim removal hearings, multi-day fact finding hearings and final hearings. She has advised and represented parties on cases involving the following issues:

• Non-accidental injuries
• Fabricated induced illness (FII) allegations
• Neglect
• Sexual abuse
• Domestic abuse
• Substance and alcohol misuse
• Mental health
• Clients with learning difficulties / capacity issues
• Jurisdictional issues
• Psychological and psychiatric evidence
• Non-accidental head injuries (NAHI) / shaken baby allegations (as junior counsel)

Chloe is also regularly instructed in Deprivation of Liberty applications in the High Court (under the inherent jurisdiction).

Court of Protection – Health and Welfare

Chloe is regularly instructed by the Official Solicitor, ALRs, family members, and Local Authorities; including in deprivation of liberty cases and section 21A applications.
Due to her background in family law, Chloe has a particular expertise in cases where there is a cross-over with family law issues. She often deals with transitional cases for young people in the care system who are moving under the jurisdiction of the Court of Protection and is regularly instructed in cases that involve issues of forced marriage.
Chloe is also happy to advise on Court of Protection matters at any stage of proceedings.

domestic abuse and Injunctions

Chloe has experience in obtaining protection orders in Forced Marriage and Female Genital Mutilation cases, as well as responding to applications for such orders. Chloe has dealt with cases that have followed care proceedings, and cases in which the inherent jurisdiction of the court is invoked.
Chloe has experience at handling these cases and understands the sensitive cultural contexts in which they often arise. She provides a thoughtful and empathetic approach when dealing with these matters.

Re RN (Deprivation of Liberty and Parental Consent) [2022] EWHC 2576 (Fam)

Chloe recently represented a father in the case of Re RN (Deprivation of Liberty and Parental Consent) [2022] EWHC 2576 (Fam)

She successfully opposed the Local Authority’s application for declarations under the inherent jurisdiction to authorise the deprivation of liberty of a 12-year-old girl in her father’s home, arguing that parental consent operated to render the child’s arrangements lawful. The High Court decided: “It follows from all that I have said that the restrictive care arrangements in place for RN are a proper and lawful exercise of parental responsibility. This amounts to a valid consent, with the consequence that the second limb of the established three stage test for what amounts to a deprivation of liberty is not met. In such circumstances, this Court need not make any High Court declaration authorising them. They are rendered lawful by the parental consent.”

F v M (Appeal: Fact Finding: Domestic Abuse: Adequate Reasons) [2023] EWFC 48

https://caselaw.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ewfc/2023/48

Knowles J was concerned with an appeal by a father of two children with whom he sought contact from findings of domestic abuse made against him – including anal and vaginal rape and coercive and controlling behaviour. Chloe appeared on behalf of the mother and successfully opposed the appeal.

• Justice First Fellowship
• Legal Action Group
• Family Law Bar Association
• Resolution
• Chambers representative for Middle Temple
• Advocate (Formerly the Bar Pro Bono Unit)
• Young Legal Aid Lawyer Committee Member
• Access to Justice Foundation Yorkshire Committee Member