Our work covers all areas of family law, with particular expertise in the following areas:
Call: 2008
"It is a good result for him... Thank you for representing my client so ably."
Solicitor
Vicky practises in all areas of children law. She has a particular interest in public law matters and combines a forensic approach to preparation and advocacy with the ability to support and nurture vulnerable clients through the gruelling process of court proceedings. Wherever possible, Vicky likes to provide continuity to the same client, and advice and support between hearings as required.
To instruct Vicky or for more information…
Call: 020 7353 6961
Email: clerks@harcourtchambers.co.uk
Vicky has extensive experience in all areas of public law proceedings from initial hearing to final hearing and appeal. She represents all parties, but with a particular focus on representation of local authorities and parents; which has served her well in developing a shrewd tactical understanding of how her opponents’ case may be pitched. Her areas of expertise include: NAI, sexual abuse, chronic neglect, domestic abuse, FDAC cases, Forced Marriage Protection Orders, Secure Accommodation Orders, designation disputes and cases with an international element.
Appeal by mother against a care order made in respect of her 9 month-old son.
Vicky was instructed by Oxfordshire County Council in this application for care and placement orders in relation to 14 month old child.
Appeal by local authority against dismissal of application for a care order.
Representation of a vulnerable young mother facing the removal of her baby daughter on a care plan of adoption. Following a successful application to adjourn the final hearing and instruct an independent toxicologist and tricologist to interpret hair-strand test results, the Local Authority withdrew its application for a placement order, and the proceedings concluded with the child remaining in the mother’s care. [2018]
Representation of a father from initial hearing to final hearing in care proceedings where the Local Authority was seeking to remove his severely disabled child from a specialist residential school / care facility where he was both thriving and having a substantial amount of contact with his family, to place the child in foster care. Following a contested final hearing the proceedings concluded on the basis of a final care order with the Local Authority agreeing to change its care plan to enable the child to remain at the existing provision for the foreseeable future. [2019]
Again from initial hearing through to final hearing, representation of a couple facing allegations of serious physical and emotional abuse of their emotionally fragile teenage child. Following a successful application for forensic interrogation of the child’s electronic devices, and extensive sifting of the material obtained, the focus of the case switched and it was accepted that the child’s presentation was attributable to issues associated with online grooming. A final care order was agreed between the parties with a plan for the child’s future return home pursuant to a support package. [2020]
Representation of a Local Authority in complex care proceedings involving parents and children with learning difficulties, an unrepresented intervener with borderline litigation capacity, and a range of allegations including NAI burn injuries and abrasions, sexual abuse and neglect. [2020]
Vicky advises and represents clients in all aspects of private law proceedings.
Representation of a parent in FLA 1996 and CA 1989 proceedings involving allegations of substance misuse and domestic abuse which concluded by consent at an interim stage on the basis of agreed safeguarding mechanisms and conditions being built into the final order. [2019]
Representation of the child at final hearing in long-running proceedings involving allegations of parental alienation. The point had sadly been reached where the children’s guardian was making a recommendation for ‘no direct contact’ between the father and her child, and the judge concluded the proceedings on that basis. [2019]
Acting for a father in proceedings where the unrepresented mother had serious mental health difficulties. Proceedings were concluded in the absence of the mother on the basis of the father’s recognition of the value of the children’s ongoing contact with their mother, and commitment to facilitating this in a supervised setting for the foreseeable future. [2019]
Representation of a parent in proceedings involving a dispute over the extent to which a child was allergic to the hair dander of the parents’ respective pets, which included expert evidence on this issue.
In Re J (Care Plan for Adoption) [2024] EWCA Civ 265 Jonathan Sampson KC, leading Vicky Reynolds, was instructed by Shazia Rana of Duncan Lewis Solicitors for the Appellant mother…
Vicky was instructed by Oxfordshire County Council in Re T (care and placement orders) [2023] EWFC 106 a case which included consideration of the reasonableness and appropriateness of a bespoke 24/7 support package…
Vicky Reynolds was instructed by local authority and David Marusza was instructed by Brethertons for the mother in Re A (care – judgment on appeal) [2023] EWFC 84. This case was an…