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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Tim is a Family Law barrister. He recently completed pupillage under the supervision of Lucinda France-Hayhurst and Kerry Holt. Tim welcomes instructions in Family Law cases across all areas. He regularly appears in courts all across the Northern Circuit as well as in North Wales, the Midlands and the North Eastern Circuits.
He has acted frequently in complex children law cases taking many matters through to fact finding and composite final hearings. These include numerous local authority adoption cases and novel situations including stepparent adoption. He has notable skill in drafting persuasive and effective position statements, case summaries and skeleton arguments. Tim’s oral advocacy is also noted for being impressive given his relatively short period of practice, and has been commended in the High Court.
Tim also appears in disputes between separated couples in financial remedy, child arrangement and non-molestation applications. He understands how fraught such situations can be, giving sound advice to clients and staunchly promoting their interests as necessary.
Tim has invaluable experience in what is required to represent vulnerable clients and how to help them navigate the complex and intimidating nature of proceedings. He has completed the Vulnerable Witness Training course. He understands the need to work well with professional and lay clients, working through what can be the most difficult, emotional and challenging periods of their lives. He is also trained to sensitively cross examine vulnerable witnesses to ensure they give their best evidence before the court.
Coming from a background in Scots law and subsequently qualifying in England and Wales, Tim has a broad experience of the law across the differing jurisdictions of the UK. He has also studied both public and private international law, and is knowledgeable about cross jurisdictional family law, refugee and asylum law, and international criminal law.
Children (Public and Private law)
Public Children
Tim frequently represents local authorities, children and parents in public law matters. Despite his recent call, Tim already regularly appears in final hearings in cases involving FII, substance abuse, domestic abuse and international elements. Having completed the vulnerable witness advocacy course, Tim is qualified to undertake cross examination of vulnerable adults. He has recently appeared in the High Court where he was commended by Mrs Justice Morgan DBE in her judgment for the quality and persuasiveness of his advocacy.
Tim also represents local authorities and clients at emergency removal hearings at short notice, successfully negotiating contact arrangements to ensure parents retained a sufficient level of contact with newborns. He is able to quickly identify outstanding information required in proceedings and incorporate time for disclosure into case timetabling while weighing up the cost of any delay.
Tim also accepts instructions to give formal written advice on matters. He has a unique insight due to his cross jurisdictional educations to advise on matters involving other jurisdictions.
Private Children
Tim represents parents and children in private law proceedings, including under the Pathfinder Pilot, arguing for clients’ desires under both interim and final child arrangements orders. He recently successfully obtained a Prohibited Steps Order for a client preventing the other parent from removing their child from the jurisdiction, successfully arguing the risks of any prospective removal to Iran warranted safeguards. Tim’s background in other jurisdictions assists him in cases where the foreign or international law is a component requiring research, analysis and application.
Tim has also regularly acted for clients seeking non-molestation orders, successfully arguing that such orders are necessary. He is experienced in representing vulnerable clients who are the victims of domestic abuse, appreciating the difficulties they may have participating in proceedings where they may have to indirectly interact with their abusers. Tim understands the creative approach that must be taken to protecting clients in these situations, especially where there are children involved and overlapping contact arrangements.
Family finance
Tim has an eye for detail and analysis, enabling him to untangle complex corporate and personal finance structures in financial remedy proceedings. Regularly acting in FDR and final hearings, Tim skilfully identifies the true marital acquest before arguing whether or not an individual case should be assessed on need.
In the first two weeks on his feet, Tim undertook a pro-bono brief in a two-day final hearing, supervised by Samantha Hillas KC. He successfully obtained a settlement significantly in the favour of his client despite being against notably more senior Counsel. He has an aptitude for detailed assessments of parties’ financial positions while keeping a holistic overview of the assets in dispute.
Tim has also acted in several cases where parties have been non-compliant and even obstructive in their disclosure. He is not afraid to argue for Unless Orders and Committal Proceedings in such cases, skilfully resolving issues where other parties have attempted to derail proceedings. Tim appreciates that a detailed and concise written note is an extremely effective tool and often can help influence a case prior to even attending court.
Tim accepts briefs for hearings at all stages of financial remedy proceedings.
Education
- Vulnerable Witness Advocacy Training
- LLB (Hons) Scots Law (First Class), University of Glasgow
- LLM International and European Union Law (Distinction), Erasmus University Rotterdam
- Graduation Diploma of Law in England and Wales (Commendation), Cardiff University
- Bar Training Course (Very Competent), Cardiff University
Awards
- The Sir Elihu Lauterpacht Scholarship – the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn
Memberships
- The Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn
- The Northern Circuit
- Family Law Bar Association
- Court of Protection Bar Association
- Child Concern
