Our work covers all areas of family law, with particular expertise in the following areas:
Call: 1996
‘He is a very experienced and eloquent advocate.’
Legal 500 UK Bar 2021
Simon is a children law specialist, having practised exclusively in children matters for more than 20 years since pupillage. He represents local authorities, parents and children’s guardians at all levels of court up to and including the Court of Appeal on a wide range of matters including cases of neglect, serious injury or death, sexual abuse and factitious illness.
In private law matters, Simon typically handles cases involving disputes over contact, alienation and domestic violence. He has also represented clients on matters of this kind where there is an international dimension to the case.
Simon has also been involved in matters in respect of international adoptions, Court of Protection and mental health review tribunals. Other unique cases of interest have involved sperm donation, Jehovah Witnesses, human rights, and applications under the inherent jurisdiction.
To instruct Simon or for more information…
Call: 020 7353 6961
Email: clerks@harcourtchambers.co.uk
Simon has specialised in children law for more than 20 years. He appears regularly for a number of local authorities, as well as parents and children’s guardians in cases have relating to complex medical issues including bruising, fractures (vitamin D), head injuries, sexual abuse, factitious illness, and the death of children.
In addition, he has also provided representation on cases involving domestic violence, chronic neglect, drugs and/or alcohol abuse, learning disabilities and mental health issues.
Simon has also undertaken pro bono cases.
Order of Judd J authorising a local authority to proceed with an adoption favoured by the parents without first assessing the paternal grandmother as a potential carer.
An important case which examined the approach to be taken when an English child is accommodated under an interim care order in a placement in Scotland that has not been approved by the Scottish Ministers for the provision of secure accommodation and is subject to deprivation of liberty orders.
Fact-finding. Acting for the children. Mother and Father represented by QCs. Maternal grandparents representing themselves.
Three-week fact-finding hearing into serious head and brain injuries to a six-month-old baby at the hands of the mother and/or father.
Simon has significant experience of cases featuring parental hostility to contact and alienation, domestic violence and cases with an international element.
Abduction case in which the court was persuaded to refuse to return 2 children under Art. 13(b) and considered the correct approach in such a case where there have been findings in welfare proceedings, including a change of residence to the applicant father, in the requesting state.
Application by Trust seeking a declaration that it is no longer in AH’s best interests to receive ventilatory support and treatment. A previous judgment in this case had been set aside by the Court of Appeal for procedural reasons.
"An experienced, well-prepared and forensic advocate."
The Legal 500 UK Bar
"A very eloquent advocate, who can hold his own against silks."
The Legal 500 UK Bar 2018
Simon Miller and Martha Gray, instructed by Simon Bruce (Solicitor) of Dads House Family Law Clinic, represented pro bono the family of AH in the Court of Protection before Mrs.…
Frances Judd QC, Nick Goodwin QC and Simon Miller were recently in the High Court before MacDonald J. in Re M (Deprivation of Liberty in Scotland) [2019] EWHC 1510 (Fam) an important…