The 1980 Hague Convention on Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (commonly referred to as the “1980 Hague Convention”) is designed to protect children from the harmful effects of wrongful removal or retention and establish procedures to ensure the prompt return of abducted children to the states of their habitual residence.
Members of our International Family Law Team regularly appear in the High Court and on appeals in this area of law and have an established reputation as leaders in the field. We have a wealth of experience and are regularly instructed to represent applicants, respondents, parents, children, Cafcass Guardians, family member and local authorities.
We are able to provide advice and assistance in relation to every aspect of practice and procedure, including: whether is it is appropriate to commence proceedings on a without notice basis, applying for and obtaining Tipstaff orders, contents of statements and evidence, defences which may be available, applications for joinder of children to applications, part 25 applications for expert assessments including assessments on a parent’s mental health or expert opinion of foreign law, protective measures, and the impact of other international instruments such as the Brussels II revised regulation and 1996 Hague Child Protection Convention.
Featured cases:
- A Mother v A Father & Anor [2024] EWHC 2643 (Fam)
- A and B (Children: Return order: Article 13(a) defence: 1980 Hague Convention) [2024] EWHC 2473 (Fam)
- The Father v The Mother & Ors [2024] EWHC 2425 (Fam)
- C (1980 Hague Convention: Child Objections) [2024] EWHC 1875 (Fam)
- M v F [2024] EWHC 1689 (Fam)
- Smolik, Elena (A Child) (Re Senior Courts Act 1981) [2024] EWHC 920 (Fam)
- A Father v A Mother [2024] EWHC 1149 (Fam)
- Re A (Article 13b, Ukraine) [2023] EWHC 3524 (Fam)
- A Father v A Mother [2024] EWHC 352 (Fam)
- V (Article 21 of the 1980 Hague Convention – fact finding), Re [2023] EWHC 2983 (Fam)
- K v E [2023] EWHC 2890 (Fam)
- Z (A Child) (1980 Hague Convention), Re [2023] EWHC 2696 (Fam)
- D (A Child), Re (Abduction: Child’s Objections: Representation of Child Party) [2023] EWCA Civ 1047
- AB v CD [2023] EWHC 1670 (Fam)
- A Mother v A Father & Ors [2023] EWHC 2059 (Fam)
- Y (A Child) [2023] EWHC 583 (Fam)
- Y (A Child) (Abduction: Romania: Art. 13(b)) [2023] EWHC 1676 (Fam)
- TMS v AVS [2023] EWHC 1620 (Fam)
- Re V and W (Hague Return Order, Lithuania) [2022] EWHC 739 (Fam)
- AA v BB & Ors [2022] EWHC 2322 (Fam) (12 July 2022)
- Re NY (A Child) [2019] UKSC 49: Supreme Court decision (Rob George)
- Re S (Hague Convention 1980: Return to Third State) [2019] EWCA Civ 352 (Edward Devereux KC, Naomi Scarano, and Mehvish Chaudhry)
- Re S [2018] EWCA Civ 1453 (Edward Devereux KC and Edward Bennett)
- Re P (A Child) (Abduction: Consideration of Evidence) [2018] 4 WLR 62 (Nick Goodwin KC, Aidan Vine KC and Edward Bennett)
- Re F (Return Order: Appeal) [2016] EWCA Civ 1253, [2017] 4 WLR 4 (Mehvish Chaudhry)
- Re M (Republic of Ireland) (Child’s Objections) (Joinder of Children as Parties to Appeal) [2016] Fam 1 (Court of Appeal) (Mehvish Chaudhry)
- Re D (Children) (Child Abduction: Practice) [2016] 4 WLR 62 (High Court) (Edward Bennett)
- Ciccone v Ritchie [2016] 4 WLR 60 (High Court) (Edward Devereux KC)
- E v B (Case C-436/13) [2015] Fam 162, (Court of Justice of the European Union) (Edward Devereux KC)
- In re LC (Children) (Reunite International Child Abduction Centre Intervening)[2014] 1 AC 1038 (Supreme Court) (Edward Devereux KC)
- In re K (A Child) (Reunite International Child Abduction Centre Intervening) [2014] 1 AC 1401 (Supreme Court) (Edward Devereux KC and Mehvish Chaudhry)
- In re L (A Child) (Custody: Habitual Residence) (Reunite International Child Abduction Centre Intervening) [2014] AC 1017 (Supreme Court) (Edward Devereux KC)
- In re E (Children) (Abduction: Custody Appeal) [2012] 1 AC 144 (Supreme Court) (Edward Devereux KC)
- In re S (A Child) (Abduction: Rights of Custody) [2012] 2 AC 257 (Supreme Court) (Edward Devereux KC)
- X v Latvia (no. 27853/09) (European Court of Human Rights) (Edward Devereux KC)
