Clerking team

Paul Laverty
Paul Laverty

Senior Clerk - Family and Court of Protection

Dan Johnson

Children Law Clerk

Elizabeth Fagan

Junior Family Clerk

Lucy is a specialist family law barrister providing advice and representation in all aspects of children law and family finance matters. Her practice involves representing local authorities, children and parents in public law proceedings as well as handling private law disputes between parents in respect of child arrangements and the financial consequences of relationship breakdown.

Within public law proceedings, she regularly deals with the most serious of allegations including sexual abuse, FII, substance misuse, chronic neglect, domestic abuse and serious injury to children.

Within private law proceedings, Lucy routinely deals with complex and/or acrimonious private law children applications, including cases involving allegations of sexual assault or domestic abuse. She has also represented clients in a number of international and internal relocation cases.

Lucy is very experienced in handling all aspects of divorce and Financial Remedy Proceedings.

Lucy represents a broad spectrum of clients bringing the same professional approach to clients with a high level of assets, as to those with more modest means.

Lucy combines practical, sensible advice with a determination to get the best outcome for the client.

Children (Public and Private law)

Public Law

Public law proceedings – care proceedings including child injury cases. Brain injury, shaking injuries, and other “non accidental” physical injury and neglect. Sexual harm, CSE and grooming cases and emotional harm.

Lucy is instructed to represent local authorities, parents and guardians, and is careful to give tactical advice on the best approach to a case as well as the law.

Lucy also has significant experience of Special Guardianship applications, Secure Accommodation Orders and Deprivation of Liberty applications. Lucy is approachable and down to earth and recognises the importance of giving clear advice that is easy to understand.

Private Law

Lucy deals with all aspects of private law child arrangement order applications including shared parenting and removal from the jurisdiction cases, intractable disputes about contact including parental alienation cases and cases where mental capacity may be relevant.

Family finance

Lucy handles all aspects of divorce and Financial Remedy Proceedings. Lucy also gives advice and represents clients in cohabitation disputes between unmarried couples pursuant to the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996. She is also able to advise in respect of claims brought under Schedule 1 to the Children Act 1989.

Professional Memberships

  • Family Law Bar Association
  • Northern Circuit
  • Middle Temple

Education

  • LLB (Hons), University of Manchester
  • Bar Vocational Course, Manchester Metropolitan University