Clerking team

Suzanne Heron

Lead Clerk, Family and Court of Protection

Jayne Harper

Family and Court of Protection Clerk

Curtis Russell

Family and Court of Protection Clerk

Hollie welcomes instructions in all areas of family law including public and private children and matrimonial finance proceedings, having successfully completed a specialist family law pupillage under the supervision of Andrew Lord.

Throughout her pupillage, Hollie gained a firm grounding in all stages of proceedings including first hearings or appointments, contested applications, multi-day findings of fact and final hearings. She has been immersed in proceedings from all parties’ perspectives: local authorities, parents, children and intervenors. She is proficient in drafting all types of court documents, including case summaries, openings, skeleton arguments, submissions and orders.

Hollie is personable and has a down-to-earth but pragmatic manner, allowing her to build a natural rapport with clients and negotiate effectively with other parties. She has a practical and issue-focussed approach to cases, allowing her to quickly get up to speed and identify the issues at the heart of a matter.

Prior to pupillage, Hollie worked as an advocate appearing in the Employment Tribunal. In that role she gained experience in settlement negotiations between Claimants and Respondents including at Early Conciliation. She also conducted Alternative Dispute Resolution and Judicial Mediation, Final and Remedy hearings.

Hollie also previously volunteered for a charity as an independent advocate for vulnerable adults.

Children (Public and Private law)

Hollie has recently been instructed in a variety of matters including:

Public Children (Care)

  • Acting on behalf of applicant local authorities in all stages of care proceedings; from case management and emergency contested interim removals through to IRH and contested final hearings.
  • Hollie has acted on behalf of local authorities in cases involving:
    • arguments between multiple LAs regarding designation
    • contested applications for s34 contact
    • contested applications for ISW assessment
  • Acting on behalf of local authorities for secure accommodation orders and appearing in the High Court in Deprivation of Liberty (DOLs) proceedings.
  • Acting on behalf of parents at all stages of proceedings; including for Part 25 applications for expert, psychological and/or cognitive assessments.
  • Hollie has successfully obtained Forced Marriage Protection Orders in favour of applicants.

Private Children

  • Representing both applicant and respondent parents at all stages of proceedings: from FHDRA, DRA, multi-day findings-of-fact, through to final hearings.
  • Representing parties at permission hearings, pre-trial review, ground-rules hearings and urgent hearings for applications regarding contact variation and proceedings involving a 16.4 Guardian and local authorities.
  • Representing both applicants and respondents in obtaining and opposing Prohibited Steps, Exclusion, Enforcement, Occupation and Non-Molestation (including Ex-Parte) Orders.
  • Hollie has dealt with proceedings involving allegations of domestic, sexual, financial and honour-based abuse, female genital mutilation (FGM) and transnational marriage abandonment.

Family finance

Hollie is frequently instructed to advise in conference and writing on behalf of both applicants and respondents at all stages of matrimonial finance proceedings.

Hollie has most recently dealt with proceedings involving;

  • spousal periodical payments involving capitalisation;
  • pension sharing claims;
  • intervenor claims;
  • conduct arguments under Section 25(2)(g) MCA 1973;
  • arguments of matrimonial and non-matrimonial property both domestically and overseas.

Hollie, whilst compassionate, is commercially minded and has successfully negotiated final orders at FDR, bringing proceedings to an early conclusion.

Education

  • Bar Professional Training Course (with Masters in Laws), BPP Manchester
  • LLB (Hons), Bachelor of Laws in Law, University of York

Memberships

  • The Honourable Society of Middle Temple
  • The Family Law Bar Association