Victoria is a knowledgeable and established practitioner in public children law. She appears for children through their guardians, parents from all corners of society, local authorities and other intervening parties.
Victoria offers empathetic but realistic advice.
She brings skilful cross-examination of witnesses, including experts, to these acutely difficult cases.
Victoria has appeared in proceedings raising issues of significant gravity, including fabricated or induced illness, non-accidental injury, forced marriage and sexual abuse. Victoria regularly works with vulnerable clients and those with mental health difficulties and has completed advocacy and the vulnerable training.
She is frequently instructed when authorisation of restrictions upon a child’s liberty is sought under the Inherent Jurisdiction of the High Court. Her knowledge of the Court of Protection enables her to be an effective advocate in cases involving transition from the DoLs list.
Victoria’s practice in recent times includes cases involving questions of whether children should give evidence, separately represented children, and successfully resisting an application for permission to appeal to the Court of Appeal.
Notable Public Law Children cases
A LA v X & Y and Ors (No 4: Welfare and Reporting of Judgments) [2025] EWFC 126Care proceedings concerning 2 children aged 15 & 10. Parents found to have caused them significant harm & care orders made. Held that the parents should not be identified.
Re J (A Minor) [2016] All ER (D) 152 (Oct)Victoria represented the local authority in this application for a reporting restriction order following care proceedings. Hayden J decided that the mother should be prevented from speaking in the media about any aspect of ‘gender dysphoria or gender identification’ in so far as they related to the child.
