Damian Broadbent

Damian routinely acts for parents in complex private law disputes. He has had particular success in cases involving allegations of alienating behaviours and domestic abuse. Damian has experience dealing with cases involving:

• Child arrangements orders.
• Specific issue orders and prohibited steps orders, including using such orders to limit a parent’s exercise of their parental responsibility.
• Non-molestation orders and occupation orders.
• Fact-finding hearings.
• Domestic abuse.
• Alienating behaviours.
• Intractable hostility.
• Enforcement orders.
• Contempt and committal proceedings.
• Costs.
• Appeals.
• Cases involving a local authority or which become care proceedings.

Notable Private Law Children cases

Damian represented a mother at a final hearing. In 2023, when not represented by Damian, the court made findings against the mother of parental alienation and transferred the child into the care of the father. At the final hearing in 2025 the child remained with the father and the court appointed expert psychologist and children’s guardian both recommended that the child remain with the father and have very limited contact with the mother. Damian challenged the father, guardian, and expert’s evidence during the final hearing and persuaded the court that the child should return to the mother’s care immediately.

At a later hearing the court made orders which had the effect of limiting the father’s parental responsibility in relation to travel, medical decisions, and education. The published judgment is awaited.