Our work covers all areas of family law, with particular expertise in the following areas:
Call: 2007
'Alex is always very well prepared and well appraised of the legal framework and case law relevant to the matter he is dealing with. His written documents are clear and comprehensive and he is an effective advocate.'
The Legal 500 UK Bar 2024
Alex joined Harcourt Chambers in 2010 having spent the previous three years working as a county court advocate during the “credit crunch” – when the courts were overwhelmed with the wide-ranging and often tragic human consequences of that crash. He advocated in well over a thousand repossession hearings during that time, with emotions at court frequently at their most raw, and the experience quickly began the process of shaping Alex into the advocate he is today.
Since joining Chambers Alex has gained a wealth of experience that has refined that process, representing all sides in family disputes to gain the necessary insight to protect his clients at every turn. His approach is humane and sensitive. His written work is focussed and persuasive. His advocacy is powerful but measured, and highly effective as a result.
Alex’s personable and approachable manner ensures that he gets on well not just with clients and solicitors, but opponents and Judges alike to ensure the smooth running of a client’s case. He is the man to have beside you in a tight spot.
To instruct Alex or for more information…
Call: 020 7353 6961
Email: clerks@harcourtchambers.co.uk
Alex is regularly instructed on all sides of public law cases and is an experienced handler of all types of care hearings including contested applications, fact-findings, and final hearings. These cases frequently include the more serious and complex issues such as fractures and inflicted injury, sexual abuse, poisoning and even death.
Alex is used to absorbing large quantities of paperwork including meticulous preparation of extensive medical records and is well versed in the cross-examination of experts and medical professionals.
Appeal by mother from the dismissal of applications to discharge placement orders and for the instruction of an independent social worker. Appeal dismissed.
Alex appeared on behalf of the Applicant Local Authority in this an application by father for disclosure of various pieces of information in relation to public law proceedings.
Involving multiple injuries to a baby with no explanation
Involving multiple rib and shoulder fractures to a pre-mobile child
Involving multiple leg fractures in a toddler
Involving the suspected poisoning of a child, where it emerged mid-trial that the hospital had missed an underlying condition
Involving a baby who had died from shaking.
Involving a family member accused of making a child unwell for the purposes of seeking medical attention.
Alex is an experienced private law children advocate, who recognises the need to avoid multiple unnecessary hearings when heavy costs are being incurred on all sides. Alex’s sensitive but practical and solution-based approach to these kinds of disputed tends to ensure that costly final hearings, where parents are pitted against one another to the detriment of the child, are avoided.
Involving multiple allegations of violence made at the point of separation as a method of delaying contact
Involving the gradual alienation of a child from the other parent to the point that therapy was required before contact could be re-started
Involving the repeated and sustained breaches of contact orders resulting in the need for enforcement proceedings and an application for transfer of residence
Involving an application to prevent any contact between a parent and child until the child was an adult, due to sexual crimes committed by the parent.
Alex is regularly instructed in cases where there is a significant foreign element that runs the risk of undermining the orders made by the court in this country.
Alex is particularly experienced in cases which involve placement of children abroad, recovery of children from Hague or non-Hague convention countries, Wardship applications where children are made wards of the High Court, and cases involving the transfer of proceedings to different jurisdictions.
Involving a child who was taken to Australia following a final hearing in order to sabotage the court’s orders
Involving a family who fled the country when it became clear to them that a Local Authority was shortly to issue care proceedings
Involving children who were Slovenian nationals, born in Slovenia and whose family lived in Slovenia, who were taken into care and placed for adoption in the UK
Involving a family split between London and Rome, and cross-jurisdictional disputes over where the case should be heard and where the children should live in the meantime.
Alex is most frequently instructed at the crucial FDR stage of finance proceedings where clients have an opportunity to resolve their dispute without a costly final hearing.
Alex is quick on his feet, not easily outmanoeuvred, and is equally ready to deliver robust arguments in court or robust advice outside it.
Although Alex has a good track record of resolving clients’ cases at this stage, he does not shy away from a fight if needed and his wealth of cross-examination experience from across the range of his expertise means that clients can be sure their case at final hearing is pressed in the strongest terms.
Involving multiple foreign assets and businesses, as well as sustained failure to comply with orders for disclosure
Involving a spouse who assets were all held in an offshore trust, who therefore sought to have them discounted from the ‘pot’
Involving grandparents who had invested heavily in the marital home for the benefit of their grandchildren, seeking to recover that investment upon the sale of the home following the parents’ divorce
"A star in the firmament."
Solicitor
Acting for the successful respondent local authority, Nick Goodwin KC led Alex Perry in N (Children: Revocation of Placement Orders), Re [2023] EWCA Civ 1352 a parent’s appeal against the dismissal of an application…
We are delighted to have been ranked as a top tier set in The Legal 500 where Harcourt is described as an ‘…an excellent set. They have a great number…
Alex Perry appeared on behalf of the Applicant Local Authority and Emma Gatland, instructed by Reeds Solicitors, appeared on behalf of A (a child) the Third Respondent acting through their…