Getting in line with Article 5
The Court of Appeal’s determination on the judgment of Mrs Justice Lieven in Re J [2024] EWHC 1690 (Fam). Our pupil barrister Beronique Addington...
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Beronique continues to build a strong and varied practice in both public and private children work following successful completion of a family law pupillage under the supervision of Natalia Levine.
Throughout her ‘first-six’ Beronique had a varied pupillage confidently drafting and shadowing cases in both public and private family law proceedings, including interim care order orders; special guardianship applications; leave to oppose adoption applications; contested final hearings; finding of fact/determination hearings; and dispute resolution appointments. She also observed financial dispute resolutions and final hearings with senior practitioners in the Matrimonial Finance team.
Prior to commencing pupillage, Beronique developed a strong background in Family Law, having previously worked as a High Court Judges’ Clerk to a senior Judge of the Family Division, Mr Justice Hayden. In her role, she observed and assisted in high level public/private family and Court of Protection matters including:
- FII
- Child sexual abuse
- Special Guardianship applications
- Child Arrangements Applications (including the return of children to countries at war)
- Abduction/Hague Convention Proceedings
- Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 – applications for parental orders
- Non-accidental injury
- Overlaying
- Coercive and controlling behaviour
Beronique’s personable approach meant she excelled in working with solicitors, barristers and chambers clerks, as well as others in the senior judiciary; often being trusted to assist vulnerable witnesses, litigants in person and protected parties in the High Court.
Alongside completing the Bar Training Course, Beronique completed a Masters degree evaluating both the courts and police’s ability to identify and adjudicate upon coercive and controlling behaviour in intimate partner relationships.
Children (Public and Private law)
Public Children (Care)
Beronique has gained a wealth of experience having represented the Local Authority, Parents and Children’s Guardian in care proceedings in applications such as:
- Urgent Interim Care Order applications
- Case Management and Issue Resolution Hearings
- Part 25 Applications for Expert Instruction
- Leave to oppose adoption applications
- Contested Final Hearings
- Representing a parent lacking capacity to conduct litigation
Private children
- The making, variation and enforcement of Child Arrangements Orders
- Applications for Non-molestation Orders & Occupation Orders
- Domestic Abuse Protection Orders
- Determination of finding of fact hearings
- Finding of fact hearings – including allegations of domestic abuse, coercive control and alienating behaviour
- Applications concerning the appropriateness of s.91(14) of the Children Act
- Acting for the s.16(4) Children’s Guardian
- Private Law Pathfinder Decision Hearings
- Special Guardianship Orders & variation of final child arrangements orders involving Special Guardians
- Private Law proceedings which have developed into care proceedings
Beronique has gained further experience in providing advice on permission to appeal findings following a finding of fact hearing.
Education
- BTC, Very Competent, BPP University, London (2021)
- Masters of Laws, Outstanding, BPP University, London (2021)
- Law LLB, 2:1, University of Kent (2020)
Awards
- Winston Churchill Scholarship, Middle Temple
- Access to the Bar Award, Middle Temple
