Mavis Amonoo-Acquah
Call: 2013
"Bright, knowledgeable and approachable, she is an accomplished advocate with a polite and calm manner which appeals to the court."
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Our work covers all areas of family law, with particular expertise in the following areas:
Call: 2013
"Bright, knowledgeable and approachable, she is an accomplished advocate with a polite and calm manner which appeals to the court."
Partner
Mavis’ practice encompasses all areas of Family Law – in particular Private Law, International Law, Surrogacy Law and Public Law Children. Her practice also includes High Court work.
As an advocate, Mavis conveys an air of calm – which always puts clients at ease, whilst maintaining an authoritative presence within the courtroom.
Her meticulous preparation coupled with her robust written and oral advocacy, regularly achieves positive outcomes for her clients. With each case, Mavis seeks to provide considered and realistic advice as early as possible within proceedings, to ensure the strongest possible position can be put forward for every client.
Prior to her career at the Bar, Mavis assisted with UNICEF and UN-commissioned research projects on International Children Law at the Coram Children’s Legal Centre. In addition, her experience as an advocate began with successfully conducting cases as a volunteer advocate with the Free Representation Unit, School Exclusions Project and Philadelphia Employment Advocacy Project. Mavis also worked as an English teacher in Peru and South Korea.
Mavis is passionate about widening access to the legal profession and is regularly invited to speak in schools and at careers conferences as part of social mobility programmes.
Mavis is a keen traveller, musical theatre enthusiast and long-suffering Arsenal supporter.
To instruct Mavis or for more information…
Call: 020 7353 6961
Email: clerks@harcourtchambers.co.uk
Mavis has considerable experience in Private Law work including applications for Child Arrangement Orders, Prohibited Steps Orders, Special Guardianship Orders and Specific Issue Orders. Her work in this area often involves highly contentious disputes where issues of parental alienation, significant harm and allegations of domestic abuse arise. Mavis has also acted in proceedings regarding both international and internal relocation.
Mavis’ international practice encompasses cases regarding the movement of children – most notably, Hague and non-Hague abduction and international relocation. She also has experience of proceedings relating to the recognition and enforcement of orders (pursuant to Brussels II Revised), wardship and jurisdictional disputes.
As a Pegasus Scholar, Mavis undertook a period of secondment working for Vorzimer Masserman – a leading Fertility Law Firm in Los Angeles, where she advised the firm’s UK clients on issues pertaining to UK Surrogacy Law and obtaining Parental Orders. She thus has a thorough working knowledge of both UK Surrogacy Law and Californian Surrogacy Law.
Mavis has a keen interest in Surrogacy Law reform; she has published two articles on this subject matter, spoken at conferences and co-drafted the Bar Council’s response to the Law Commission’s 2019 Consultation Paper.
Mavis also has a significant interest in modern family arrangements and Fertility Law. She has assisted on residence disputes arising from informal surrogacy agreements, and applications seeking declarations of parentage following fertility treatment.
Within care proceedings, Mavis acts for parents, guardians, grandparents and Local Authorities and has particular experience representing vulnerable parties. Within her practice, Mavis has been instructed on a wide spectrum of matters, concerning serious physical harm, sexual abuse, mental health issues, chronic neglect, applications for leave to oppose adoption orders and jurisdiction disputes.
Mavis represents clients at all stages of financial relief proceedings, from First Appointment through to contested Final Hearings. Her previous work has also involved TOLATA applications and cases concerning the admissibility of foreign marriages and divorces in English Law.
Mavis is qualified to accept instructions directly from members of the public under the Direct Access Scheme in appropriate circumstances.
"Bright, knowledgeable and approachable, she is an accomplished advocate with a polite and calm manner which appeals to the court. Her cross examination is tenacious and well prepared and her written advocacy masterful. She offers clients realistic advice, rather than just what they want to hear, and refuses to be deflected by other advocates or witnesses in her pursuit of the best outcome."
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