Our work covers all areas of family law, with particular expertise in the following areas:
Call: 2000
‘Margaret has great attention to detail, is a great negotiator, goes the extra mile, is brilliant at drafting and great on her feet. She is also a strong and brilliant advocate.'
The Legal 500 UK Bar 2025
Margaret was called to the bar in 2000 after a civil service career in Whitehall and in recruitment consultancy for the public sector.
She accepts instructions in all aspects of children law and resolution of property issues on relationship breakdown including TOLATA applications and inheritance claims under the 1975 Act. She also appears in the Court of Protection.
Her background and experience have enabled her to assist in cases where clients are finding it hard to focus on central issues, or where distress or inability to cope with proceedings is causing especial difficulty.
Margaret trained early in her career as a mediator, and later as a collaborative lawyer. She qualified soon after the launch of the IFLA scheme as a family finance arbitrator. She uses the skills she has developed in her ADR practice to enable clients to consider all their options and to weigh up carefully how they want to proceed whether through litigation or out of court processes. She welcomes being brought in early in cases to assist and advise and to enable continuity of representation.
She regularly lectures on both children and financial issues for a wide range of audiences and is happy to contribute to larger events.
To instruct Margaret or for more information…
Call: 020 7353 6961
Email: clerks@harcourtchambers.co.uk
Margaret has extensive experience of representing local authorities, parents, and children’s guardians in a range of public law proceedings.
Application for care & placement orders in relation to child born in November 2023, issued following concerns about the parents’ ability to care for her.
Final hearing of care proceedings, in case concerning alleged parental alienation.
Making of care and placement orders.
Disclosure of judgement following fact finding to inform whether there should be a local child safeguarding review.
Exoneration of parents in case of alleged non-accidental injury.
Remote hearing – use of intermediary.
Need for care and placement orders and contact after final orders made.
Interim removal of a child in an unusual dispute over religious upbringing.
Margaret advises and represents clients in all aspects of private law proceedings, and has particular interest in cases where there are highly contested issues of fact to resolve and/or where concerns over potential alienation of children arise.
Alienation case where parent able to make changes to effect restoration of relationship with child after removal.
Numerous cases for direct access clients to achieve cost effective and child focussed resolution in intractable disputes.
Frequent representation of Guardian in Rule 16.4 cases.
Margaret undertakes advice and representation in all areas of family centred financial disputes including where family business or settlement issues are involved. She also advises and appears in TOLATA disputes.
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Definition of ‘need’
Margaret is qualified to accept instructions directly from members of the public under the Direct Access Scheme in appropriate circumstances.
Margaret is a strong advocate, very experienced in her cross-examination and detail-orientated. She is very supportive and willing to assist.’
Legal 500 UK Bar 2024
'Margaret is meticulous in her preparation, and she always calls before the hearing to ensure the scope of the brief is fully understood, and strategy can be discussed. Her written documents are always prepared promptly in advance and to a high standard. She is fearless in her pursuit of her case and is highly dedicated.’
Legal 500 UK Bar 2023
Margaret Styles, instructed by Simon Jones of Penman’s, represented the child by her guardian in Coventry City Council v XX & Ors [2024] EWFC 249 (B); proceedings for care and…
Join Harcourt Chambers and Milsted Langdon on 21st May at 5:30pm for an illuminating webinar on the importance of valuations in matrimonial finance cases.
In this exclusive session we…
Margaret Styles, instructed by Jackson West, appeared for the First Respondent Mother in Warwickshire County Council v The Mother & Ors [2023] EWHC 399 (Fam) a final hearing of care proceedings. This alienation case is…