Martha Gray
Call: 2012
"Organised, thorough and very personable: always a pleasure to work with."
The Legal 500 UK Bar 2021
Our work covers all areas of family law, with particular expertise in the following areas:
Call: 2012
"Organised, thorough and very personable: always a pleasure to work with."
The Legal 500 UK Bar 2021
Martha specialises in cases concerning children and vulnerable adults in the Family Court and the Court of Protection, many with an international dimension. Martha regularly represents family members, public authorities and the Official Solicitor in both courts.
Since January 2020, she has been an editor of the Court of Protection Law Reports.
To instruct Martha or for more information…
Call: 020 7353 6961
Email: clerks@harcourtchambers.co.uk
Martha has extensive experience of complex public children work including cases of non-accidental injury and human rights claims. She has particular skill in cases involving incapacitated or learning disabled parents.
A case concerning the extent of any legal obligation under the Vienna Convention to notify foreign consular authorities of an application for an adoption order in relinquished babies cases with a view to identifying the birth father and/or wider family.
Care proceedings involving parents and children with learning disabilities.
Care proceedings in a case of long-running and chronic neglect.
Complex fact finding in a case involving the death of a young child.
A high profile case in which the father had murdered the mother and disclosure of DNA profiles taken from the crime scene was sought in order to establish the children’s paternity.
Martha has extensive experience within the private law field including cases involving relocation, surrogacy and assisted reproduction and mental health issues.
A large part of Martha’s practice involves cases with an international element. She is currently instructed in a high profile case concerning two missing children which has attracted national media attention. She is regularly instructed in international abduction, forced marriage and stranded spouse cases in the High Court. Martha also has experience of international public law cases involving such issues as radicalisation, sex trafficking, international adoption and the placement of children abroad.
A case concerning the extent of any legal obligation under the Vienna Convention to notify foreign consular authorities of an application for an adoption order in relinquished babies cases with a view to identifying the birth father and/or wider family.
Complex international care proceedings concerning the appropriate legal framework for the placement of a child with family members in Bangladesh.
Public law proceedings in which the court was invited to make findings of international child trafficking.
Highly unusual factfinding in a child abduction case involving children declared missing, which led to the making of summary return orders under the court’s inherent jurisdiction and publicity orders.
Much of Martha’s work is at the interface between family and Court of Protection jurisdictions including applications under the inherent jurisdiction, medical treatment cases and cross-border issues. Her Court of Protection practice is focussed exclusively on health and welfare disputes concerning vulnerable and incapacitated adults. She has experience of a wide range of cases involving disputes regarding residence, care, contact, deprivation of liberty and serious medical treatment including end of life care. Martha regularly speaks at conferences and seminars and writes widely in the field, editing and contributing to the Court of Protection Law Reports and other publications.