Our work covers all areas of family law, with particular expertise in the following areas:
Call: 2012
'Eleanor is outstanding. She has an excellent manner with clients and is willing to go above and beyond to try and get the best results. She is thorough in her preparation, and in court, she is robust and able to manage difficult opponents.'
The Legal 500 UK Bar 2025
Eleanor was called to the Bar in 2012 and worked in the City for two years before completing a specialist family pupillage.
During her studies Eleanor volunteered with Reprieve, working in North Carolina with the Centre for Death Penalty Litigation. She has also volunteered for the National Centre for Domestic Violence and as a community mediator for Camden Council.
Eleanor accepts instructions in all aspects of family law, with a particular emphasis on public and private children work. Eleanor is experienced in representing a wide range of clients including parents, children and the Local Authority. Eleanor is adept at representing vulnerable clients and has assisted with a number of cases through the Official Solicitor in both public and private cases. Eleanor is skilled at managing complex fact finding hearings and has experience cross examining and representing children in such cases.
To instruct Eleanor or for more information…
Call: 020 7353 6961
Email: clerks@harcourtchambers.co.uk
Eleanor has wide ranging experience in public law cases acting for children, parents and the Local Authority. Eleanor has a collaborative and pragmatic approach and works well with professional and lay clients alike. She is well equipped to represent vulnerable clients, including those requiring an intermediary and those without litigation capacity where the Official Solicitor is involved.
Her experience working as an in-house advocate for a Local Authority equips her with additional knowledge and skills which assist in representing parents, children and Local Authorities alike.
Eleanor has expertise in complex fact finding hearings and cross examination of subject children, including those involving inter sibling sexual abuse. Eleanor has also regularly appeared on behalf of intervenors, including where there have been allegations of serious non accidental injury.
In addition to regular County Court appearances Eleanor has appeared in a number of High Court cases, including representation of a parent where the child had died.
Appeal by mother from specific issue order giving father “over-riding parental responsibility” in three respects, including schooling.
Appeal by father against interim care orders made in respect of three children.
Eleanor has significant expertise in representing parents in private law matters, ranging from contact and who the child lives with to holiday arrangements to change of surname or school. Eleanor has also appeared on behalf of rule 16.4 guardians. Eleanor is adept at providing robust representation and works collaboratively with her professional and lay clients to ensure a strategic approach to case management from the outset.
Eleanor has experience representing parents where there are serious allegations of domestic violence and sexual abuse. She regularly appears in fact finding hearings or complex final hearings.
Eleanor is qualified to accept instructions directly from members of the public under the Direct Access Scheme in appropriate circumstances.
‘Eleanor has a strong but poised advocacy style. She is a safe pair of hands.’
The Legal 500 UK Bar 2025
'Eleanor is meticulous, very knowledgeable, and can quickly grasp the salient points of a case. She is extremely approachable, and very helpful. She responds quickly to any queries and the standard of her written work is excellent.’
The Legal 500 UK Bar 2023
"Intelligent, insightful and able to manage difficult opponents and clients."
The Legal 500 UK Bar 2022
"Eleanor is an unflappable advocate who instils confidence in the client immediately and maintains that confidence throughout the case."
Solicitor
On 12 July 2024, the Court of Appeal published their decision in T-D (Children: Specific Issue Order) [2024] EWCA Civ 793. This case concerns the use of Specific Issue Orders to…
Simon Miller led Eleanor Howard, they represented the First Respondent local authority in J & Ors, Re (Children: Interim Removal) [2023] EWCA Civ 1266 an appeal by the father against…