Private & Public Law Proceedings

Harcourt’s leading level of expertise in public children law makes us ideally placed to undertake the complex and sensitive private law cases that intersect with public law proceedings. We are increasingly finding that cases starting off as private law proceedings end up in the public law arena and our members have extensive experience of such cases. Cases have included issues of serious domestic violence, physical and sexual abuse of children and the emotional harm caused by intractable disputes and parental alienation.

The Private Law Team at Harcourt regularly act in cases which require the forensic scrutiny of disclosure from public law proceedings. Our breadth of knowledge on Local Authority procedures and powers enables us to give detailed and strategic advice on the issues surrounding section 7 reports, section 37 reports and section 47 investigations.

Cases of this nature often require the skilled cross-examination of a range of expert evidence, which our members can provide to the highest of standards. We can offer our clients continuity of representation and bespoke advice at each and every stage of their proceedings whether they be in private law children or public law children proceedings.