Since the enactment of the Children Act 1989, more than 30 years ago, Harcourt has been at the forefront of the development of Public Children Law. We are now widely recognised as one of the leading Chambers in the country in the field, with members appearing in the most significant cases at all levels. Our members also publish and lecture widely across the spectrum of issues routinely engaged in these acutely difficult and sensitive cases.

Our public law specialists have reached the highest levels in the profession: we are home to some of the country’s leading Silks, and former members have been appointed to the senior judiciary – Judd J and Baker LJ were both public law specialists when with us at Harcourt. Many of our team bring their experience of sitting as part time judges (Deputy District Judges, Recorders and Deputy High Court Judges) to their advocacy. Our reputation is built not only on our skill as advocates, but also on our ability to provide an efficient and approachable service to our professional and lay clients.

We provide a broad expertise in these cases, recognising that they each engage and require a range of skills from every advocate: technical legal ability (including children law but also the many other related areas), an understanding of social work practice, an ability to empathise, understand and work with vulnerable clients, and insights into controversial areas of medical science. Every case is complex, and our barristers have the experience and expertise to apply a bespoke approach to every case. We all appear for every kind of party to Public Law Children proceedings: Local Authorities, parents from every corner of society, children through their Guardians, children directly, alleged perpetrator children, the Official Solicitor, grandparents and other relatives, foster carers, adopters, and other intervening parties, such as the Secretary of State, health authorities, police authorities, and representative charities and organisations. We are particularly proud of our reputation for vigorously advancing our clients’ cases, whoever they may be, and whatever accusation they bring or face, fearlessly and in the finest traditions of the independent Bar.

As a group we embrace information technology and paperless working. Our specialists were involved in the first entirely paperless public law trial held before a High Court Judge and we are familiar not only with the evolving technology but also with conducting complex paperless litigation.

For help and advice please contact our clerks.

Our clerking team is renowned for its friendly and pro-active approach.


Call: 020 7353 6961
Email: clerks@harcourtchambers.co.uk

Public Law Children barristers

Nick Goodwin KC

Call: 1995 Silk: 2014

John Vater KC MCIArb

Call: 1995 Silk: 2012

Karl Rowley KC

Call: 1994 Silk: 2013

Damian Garrido KC

Call: 1993 Silk: 2015

Julia Cheetham KC

Call: 1990 Silk: 2015

Aidan Vine KC

Call: 1995 Silk: 2016

Jonathan Sampson KC

Call: 1997 Silk: 2020

June Rodgers

Call: 1971

Alicia Collinson

Call: 1982

Sara Granshaw

Call: 1991

Simon Miller

Call: 1996

Matthew Brookes-Baker

Call: 1998

Ruth Cabeza

Call: 1998

Oliver Wraight

Call: 1998

Cecilia Barrett

Call: 1998

Andrew Leong

Call: 1998

Edward Kirkwood

Call: 1999

Helen Little

Call: 1999

Margaret Styles MCIArb

Call: 2000

Craig Jeakings

Call: 2000

James Turner

Call: 2001

Jason Green MCIArb

Call: 2001

Alex Forbes

Call: 2003

Alison Williams

Call: 2004

Frances Harris

Call: 2005

Kit Firbank

Call: 2005

Matthew Stott

Call: 2005

Lucy Fairclough

Call: 2005

Chloe Wilkins

Call: 2006

James Dove

Call: 2006
Hannah Mettam

Hannah Mettam

Call: 2006

Alex Perry

Call: 2007

Siân Cox

Call: 2008

Stephen Crispin

Call: 2008

Mehvish Chaudhry

Call: 2008

Vicky Reynolds

Call: 2008

Daniel Sheridan

Call: 2008

Emily Rayner

Call: 2009

Victoria Flowers

Call: 2009

David Marusza

Call: 2009

Annie Sayers

Call: 2009

Justine Ramsden

Call: 2010

Anna Yarde

Call: 2012

Maria Scott-Wittenborn

Call: 2012

Martha Gray

Call: 2012

Elisabeth Wickham

Call: 2012

Eleanor Howard

Call: 2012

Emma Gatland

Call: 2013

Oliver Powell

Call: 2013

Mavis Amonoo-Acquah

Call: 2013

Curtis Ball

Call: 2015

Hannah Windmill

Call: 2016

Kate Ferguson

Call: 2016

Natasha Miller

Call: 2017

Fazeela Ishmael

Call: 2018

Paige Campbell

Call: 2018

Adam Kayani

Call: 2019

Alana Hughes

Call: 2019

Thomas Braithwaite

Call: 2021

Sarah Hayward

Call: 2021

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