Eight new tenants for SJB
We are delighted to announce that eight new barristers are joining Chambers on successful completion of their pupillage. All have been approved by the...
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Katy’s practice covers all areas of family law with a particular focus on financial remedies, private and public children, and Deprivation of Liberty cases. Katy also accepts instructions in the Court of Protection (Health and Welfare) which has enabled her to enrich her family practice, particularly in cases where questions arise as to the capacity of a party in family proceedings.
Katy joined Chambers as a tenant in October 2024 following successful completion of her pupillage under the supervision of Simon Crabtree.
Since obtaining tenancy at Chambers, Katy has continued to receive recognition by those who instruct her:
“Having instructed Katy on two matters recently just want to let you know how impressed colleagues and I have been. Katy prepared a beautifully crafted position statement succinctly addressing the issue that the court was being asked to address. Katy put the clients at ease during the hearing and then provided prompt and detailed feedback following the hearing. I am delighted to see that Katy has joined Chambers as a tenant. She is a great asset to the Family Law Team and I look forward to instructing her again.” – Head of Child Care Legal for Tameside MBC, 2024
Katy was called to the Bar in 2022 having achieved the top ‘Outstanding’ grade on the Bar Practice Course for which she received the Certificate of Honour Award from Middle Temple. To complement her professional training, alongside the Bar Course Katy completed a master’s (LLM) qualification in International Human Rights Law and Medical Law and Ethics for which she achieved a ‘Distinction.’
Children (Public and Private law)
Private Law
Katy represents applicants and respondents across all areas of private children law, undertaking all manners of hearings including FHDRAs, DRAs, directions hearings, fact-finding hearings and final hearings.
Within days of being “on her feet” Katy represented a client at a Dispute Resolution Appointment which took the form of a ‘Young Person’s Day in Court’ as part of the new investigative approach private law pathfinder pilot. Katy was commended by her instructing solicitors for her preparation and drafting, robust client management, and collaborative approach with the other party to narrow the issues and secure a positive result.
Katy is no stranger to the intricacies and dynamics of private children work and the sensitivity and resolve required to guide lay clients through the family justice system. Prior to pupillage, Katy gained invaluable experience as a Paralegal at one of the UK’s largest specialist private family law firms where she was held in high regard by clients and colleagues.
Public Law
Katy acts for local authorities, parents, guardians and intervenors across all stages of public law children proceedings. She has experience dealing with very vulnerable clients including clients with mental health and/or cognitive functioning difficulties.
Katy is currently acting as a led junior in a complex non-accidental injury case which includes brain and catastrophic head injuries, fractures, retinal haemorrhages, and corneal injuries. She appeared with leading counsel at a three week finding of fact for which she played a vital role in the preparation, including a forensic analysis of sizeable bundles of medical evidence, police material, and telephone records, and her contribution to lengthy written submissions dealing with issues of perpetration.
During her pupillage, Katy gained extensive experience of preparing complex non-accidental injury cases including fatal injuries and serious head injuries, including her contribution to the preparation of a case before the High Court bench involving issues of child trafficking, forced marriage, and honour-based violence where Ginnette Fitzharris was led by Frances Heaton KC.
Family finance
Katy represents applicants, respondents, intervenors, and other interested parties in matrimonial finance and divorce cases across all stages of proceedings.
Katy recognises the benefit to clients of having counsel’s input on the strategic planning of a case, particularly in advance of any substantive and/or interim applications being made, and pre- and post- hearings in financial remedy cases. She is therefore committed to making herself available to advise clients in conferences and will be flexible as to her attendance remotely or in person, subject to the wishes and feelings of each client.
Katy has gained experience in the financial remedies court in cases with the following features (non-exhaustive):
- Arguments of matrimonial and non-matrimonial property
- Conduct arguments under section 25(2)(g) MCA 1973
- An imbalance of copper-bottomed assets and consideration of Wells v Wells (2002)
- Complex trust arrangements
- Intervener claims
- Business interests of high net value
- Material non-disclosure
- Enforcement
- Applications to set-aside a final order
- Proprietary estoppel claims
Further, Katy also accepts instructions in respect of applications for financial provision for children pursuant to Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989.
Prior to joining Chambers, Katy gained invaluable experience as a Paralegal at one of the UK’s largest private family law firms specialising in financial work where she was held in high regard by clients and colleagues.
Court of Protection
Katy is instructed to act on behalf of local authorities as well as acting for P in health and welfare matters such as section 16 and 21A MCA 2005 disputes.
Katy gained considerable experience in the Court of Protection during her pupillage with Simon Crabtree and enjoyed numerous opportunities of shadowing Eleanor Keehan, including in the Royal Courts of Justice.
Awards
- Certificate of Honour awarded by the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple (2023)
Education
- BPTC, University of Law (2022): Outstanding
- Medical Law and Ethics LLM, University of Law (2022): Distinction
- International Human Rights LLM, University of Law (2022): Distinction
- LLB Law (Hons), Keele University (2018): 2:1
Memberships
- The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple
