Our work covers all areas of family law, with particular expertise in the following areas:
Call: 1993 / Silk: 2015
"Damian's advocacy is impeccably prepared, unhurried and delivered with calm authority. He is the perfect foil for agitated opponents and as a result is popular inside and outside of a courtroom. Clients love his good-humoured expertise and experience and he is a go-to for complex children matters."
The Legal 500 UK Bar 2022
Damian is a leading family law specialist, listed in the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners. His appointment as Queen’s Counsel is a recognition of excellence in written and oral advocacy in the higher courts.
He provides sound, practical advice in all aspects of family law, conducting skilful negotiations to achieve consensual outcomes and undertaking robust advocacy in court when necessary. He is known for his devastating cross-examination and focused submissions. The breadth of his experience in both child and financial family law applications is welcomed by clients seeking a holistic solution to the problems of relationship breakdown. In silk, he has developed considerable expertise in appellate advocacy.
Damian will provide early neutral evaluations and act as a private FDR judge for parties with children and financial disputes who wish to avoid the court process. He is also a Recorder sitting as a judge in the Family Court and sits as a Deputy High Court Judge in the Family Division.
To instruct Damian or for more information…
Call: 020 7353 6961
Email: clerks@harcourtchambers.co.uk
Damian has considerable expertise in applications for financial remedy following relationship breakdown, notably where complexities arise due to the nature and value of the parties’ assets and sources of income (e.g. private businesses or family trusts), an international element and/or third-party intervention. He is experienced in cases involving nuptial agreements, cohabitation, child maintenance and civil partnerships.
Financial relief after overseas divorce.
Variation/Judgment summons
Damian has been recognised as a leading expert on international children law. He often represents clients in the difficult and sensitive area of international child abduction, international relocation and international adoption. He has co-authored the leading textbook Relocation: A practical guide, now in its second edition.
International relocation.
International adoption.
Damian also brings his forensic skills to domestic private law cases, particularly where serious allegations are raised against a parent or in cases of alleged parental alienation. He also has particular expertise in applications for internal relocation, having appeared in the leading Court of Appeal authority of Re C.
Internal relocation.
Damian’s child-care practice encompasses the most complex and sensitive cases including those involving alleged radicalisation, serious injury or death, sexual exploitation, the youth or incapacity of a parent and/or issues of publicity, non-disclosure and public interest immunity.
Damian advised and represented the Clinical Commissioning Group for Somerset in protracted High Court litigation relating to breaches of the Adoption Agencies Regulations 2005 (AAR 2005) – specifically a failure by its Agency Decision Maker to adhere to the regulations relating to the provision of medical reports from the Agency Medical Adviser. In this final judgment, it was decided by the President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane, that although breaches of AAR 2005, reg 15/17 had occurred, an application for a declaration as to the validity of existing placement orders or adoption orders was not required or appropriate, because (a) such orders remained valid unless and until overturned and (b) in most cases where these occurred, there would rarely be a health issue, both significant yet unknown to the ADM and/or the court, that could undermine the orders’ validity.
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Damian will provide early neutral evaluations and act as a private FDR judge for parties with children and financial disputes who wish to avoid the court process. He is also a Recorder sitting as a judge in the Family Court and sits as a Deputy High Court Judge in the Family Division.
Damian is qualified to accept instructions directly from members of the public under the Direct Access Scheme in appropriate circumstances.
"His advocacy is measured and certain, and leaves the listener entirely convinced of his argument. He is incredibly effective, and clients feel completely reassured." "He always prepares meticulously and is a measured as well as forceful advocate."
The Legal 500 UK Bar 2021
"A leading expert on international children law."
The Legal 500 UK Bar 2019
"Is a measured and confident advocate and is always calm and collected."
The Legal 500 UK Bar 2019
"Has an enormous amount of gravitas."
The Legal 500 UK Bar 2018
"He has a commanding court presence; when he speaks, judges listen."
The Legal 500 UK Bar 2018
"Unfailingly charming; he has total command over clients and the courtroom."
The Legal 500 UK Bar 2017
Nick Goodwin QC appeared on behalf of the Applicant, Somerset County Council, and Damian Garrido QC on behalf of the Clinical Commissioning Group for Somerset, in protracted High Court litigation…
Damian Garrido QC has accepted an invitation to join the editorial board of The Family Court Practice (Red Book), published by LexisNexis. The Red Book is regarded as the definitive…
The following talks took place on Monday, 25 January 2021:
Jason Green – Lessons learned from recent cases on remote hearingsEdward Bennet & Paige Campbell – International child abduction updateSian…