Public Law Children

Jess regularly represents local authorities, parents, children and interveners in all forms of public law children work and she has completed the Family Law Bar Associations’ Vulnerable Witness Training.

Jess is frequently instructed in cases involving complex matters either as sole counsel or with leading counsel. Jess regularly represents local authorities in finding of fact hearings and at final hearings with issues relating to serious sexual abuse, domestic abuse, substance and alcohol misuse, non-accidental injury and forced marriage.

Jess is experienced in applications to authorise the deprivation of a child’s liberty and frequently appears in the High Court for such cases.

Private Law Children

Jess frequently acts for parents and 16.4 Guardians in complex cases involving allegations of controlling and coercive behaviour, serious sexual and domestic abuse, alienating behaviours and cases involving complex legal issues regarding a parents’ litigation capacity.

Jess routinely deals with applications for child arrangements orders; specific issues orders, prohibited steps orders, non-molestation orders and occupation orders.

Financial Remedy

Jess accepts instructions in Matrimonial Finance cases and is keen to develop a practice in this area.

Court of Protection – Health and Welfare

Jess has a busy Court of Protection practice which includes preparing and advising on s.21A applications in addition to dealing with all matters within the Court of Protection falling under s.15/s.16 of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

Jess has experience acting for all parties within Court of Protection proceedings including local authorities, integrated care boards and the Official Solicitor and with providing advice at all stages of proceedings.

ERYC v M [2026] EWHC 181 (Fam) Jess was led by Jacqueline Thomas KC in this case which is a significant judgment providing helpful and clear guidance on the scope of the zone of parental responsibility in providing valid consent for what would otherwise be a deprivation of liberty of children aged under 16 years old. A full case summary can be found here – https://spirebarristers.co.uk/2026/02/11/eryc-v-the-mother-ors-2026-ewhc-181-fam-parental-responsibility-in-providing-valid-consent/

Re DW [2026]

Jess represented a local authority in a nine-day finding of fact hearing concerning allegations relating to sexual harm, domestic abuse and emotional harm in public law proceedings. At the conclusion of the hearing the Court made the findings sought.

G v IS [2026]

Jess represents the applicant in protracted private law proceedings in which there are multiple serious cross-allegations made by each of the parties. The respondent lacks litigation capacity and, as such, the case has required careful case management in order to ensure the six-day finding of fact hearing could be conducted in a fair way to all parties.

Re AT [2024]

Jess represented the Children’s Guardian in a Finding of Fact hearing, and in the subsequent Final Hearing under separate proceedings, concerning the same family. Within the case, the Local Authority sought findings of non-accidental injury whereby a baby had sustained a serious head injury and was shaken.

Re LL [2024]

Jess was instructed by the Children’s Guardian in a case in which there was disagreement between the Local Authority and the Guardian about the final care plan for a child. The case involved complex issues of mental health disorders, alcohol misuse and domestic abuse in the form of controlling and coercive behaviour. Following her cross-examination of the social worker about the adequacy of their assessments Jess secured an adjournment of the proceedings for her client, which resulted in further assessment of connected carers and resulted in a final placement within the family.

G and J [2023]

Jess was led by June Venters KC, and they represented a Father faced with the most serious of allegations arising out of the death of his baby, aged teen weeks at the time. The case was listed for a lengthy composite final hearing spanning over four weeks and the court heard from numerous medical experts and lay witnesses. The client instructing June and Jess was particularly vulnerable and had the benefit of an intermediary.

• Vulnerable Witness Accredited
• The Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn
• North Eastern Circuit
• Recipient of the Felicity Ann Goddard Scholarship (Gray’s Inn)

• Legal 500 2027 - Leading Junior (Tier 4) - Family: children and domestic abuse
• Rising Star - Legal 500 2026 
• Rising Star - Legal 500 2025 - 'An impressive junior who knows her brief inside out’