BA Jurisprudence (Oxon)

Louise is a Family Law specialist, with particular expertise in children cases. She is experienced in cases involving:

• serious non-accidental injury involving complex and disputed medical evidence
• sexual abuse, including false allegations of sexual abuse
• cases with an international element, including abduction, child-trafficking issues and placement of children abroad
• adoption, including private adoptions
• serious domestic violence, including forced marriage and honour-based violence
• intractable contact and residence disputes
• disputes between same-sex couples over contact and residence.   

Louise is instructed on behalf of a number of different Local Authorities, parents and Guardians in cases ranging from Emergency Protection Order applications and Secure Accommodation Order applications, to Wardship proceedings. She has experience of Public Interest Immunity hearings in the Crown Court as well as Education Act hearings. Many of her cases have involved parallel criminal and immigration proceedings. This wide-ranging experience enables Louise to provide advice about case management at an early stage, which can often be influential in the final outcome of proceedings.

Louise practises at various court levels, from the Family Proceedings Court to the Court of Appeal, where she has appeared on her own as well as with a leader. Louise frequently provides urgent advice on appeal when necessary.

Louise's cases regularly involve mental health issues, and she is often instructed on behalf of parents lacking capacity and being represented through the Official Solicitor. She also has experience in the Court of Protection, which compliments her family law work.

Louise enjoys working with a wide variety of lay and professional clients, and has much experience of communication through interpreters. She believes in the importance of establishing rapport at the earliest opportunity and in taking a team approach to achieve the best outcome for her clients.       

Coversational French, basic Japanese and Mandarin

RE J (COSTS OF FACT-FINDING HEARING) [2009] EWCA Civ 1350 (2010) 1 FLR 1893

Running and travelling, often at the same time