Helen acts for Local Authorities, parents and the children in Private and Public Law proceedings. She was a Local Authority Social Worker for 12 years so has a particular interest in and knowledge of childcare work. She has experience of community care work, and recently appeared in LLBC v TG, JG and KR [2007] EWHC 2640 (Fam), in which McFarlane J gave guidance in the developing area of the law concerning the protection of vulnerable adults.

Helen also practices employment law. Before she was called to the bar she worked for UNISON, the public sector union for five years. As a Legal Officer she instructed Counsel in strategic cases such as the Preston part time workers pension claims.

Helen was junior counsel for the UNISON Claimants in the EAT in an ongoing multiple claimant Equal Pay case against Cumbria County Council, the largest equal pay claim in local government to date with around 3000 claimants (Cumbria County Council v Dow and others (No 1) [2008] IRLR 91 and (No.2) [2008] IRLR 109). Her employment experience lies mainly in representing claimants.

Conversational German

Helen is an experienced trainer and has devised and delivered training in both the family and employment fields for various bodies.