Congratulations to our finalists in this year’s Lexis Nexis Family Law Awards

We are delighted to announce that Harcourt Chambers and a number of our members have been shortlisted as finalists in the prestigious 2025 Lexis Nexis Family Law Awards in the following categories:

Family Law Junior Barrister of the Year – Sian Cox

Family Law Young Barrister of the Year – Ferdinand Holley 

Family Law Commentator of the Year – Anna Yarde

Family Law Case of the Year – 
(Re R and C (Adoption or Fostering) [2024] EWCA Civ 1302); the Court of Appeal overturned the trial judge’s decision not to grant placement orders, emphasising that it is the court’s responsibility to set the framework for post-adoption contact at the placement order stage. The court highlighted the evolving concept of open adoption, where maintaining birth family connections, especially sibling relationships, is considered beneficial for the adopted child’s welfare.

Nick Goodwin KC, then later Jonathan Sampson KC, and Alicia Collinson were instructed by Local Authority solicitor for the successful Appellant. Alex Forbes was instructed by Sills and Betteridge for the Third and Fourth Respondents (by their children’s guardian).

Family Law Case of the Year – 
S (through his litigation friend, Mr James Netto) v F & M [2025] EWHC 439 (Fam) and subsequent appeal; this high profile case concerns a 14 year old boy (S) currently in Ghana, having been taken there by his parents who deceived him into thinking it was a short trip to see family when the parents’ intention was in fact to leave him there to attend boarding school. On appeal the President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane, held that the High Court’s decision to leave S in Ghana was flawed.

Rob George KC, instructed by International Family Law Group, acted for S both at trial and at appeal.

To view the full list of finalists please click here.