Tim is in his second six of a specialised Family Law pupillage under the supervision of Lucinda France-Hayhurst and Kerry Holt. Tim welcomes instructions in Family Law cases.
In the first six months of his pupillage, Tim attended hearings at all stages of proceedings involving parents, local authorities, the Official Solicitor and children. He has predominately gained insight into public law family cases and challenges against standard authorisations in the Court of Protection. Tim has witnessed complex children law cases including numerous local authority adoption cases and novel situations including stepparent adoption. He has gained experience drafting orders, position statements, case summaries and skeleton arguments.
During his pupillage, Tim has gained invaluable experience in what is required to represent vulnerable clients and how to help them navigate the complex and intimidating nature of proceedings. 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.
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 also has studied both public and private international law, and is knowledgeable about cross jurisdictional family law, refugee and asylum law, and international criminal law.
Prior to joining Chambers, Tim worked at two of the most prominent law firms in South Wales with areas of focus being public law and property disputes. He worked on the team representing bereaved families from Wales on the UK Covid-19 Public Inquiry, ensuring attention was given to the concerns of the families who lost loved ones during the pandemic.
Children (Public and Private law)
Since starting his second six, Tim has represented clients in both public and private law adoptions. He has already appeared in a final hearing for an adoption case representing the applicant local authority, successfully obtaining both a final care order and placement order. He has also represented 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 has also represented parents 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.
Similarly, Tim has 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 also has a keen interest in matrimonial finance. Since starting pupillage, he has shadowed on matters where difficult situations between parties with insufficient assets to meet all parties’ needs has required creative and difficult negotiations to resolve.
Recently, Tim has represented a pro-bono client in a final matrimonial finance case and been praised in the judgment for his service to the client and contribution to the proceedings.
Education
- 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
