Senior Clerk - Family and Court of Protection
Senior Clerk
Assistant Senior Clerk (Children)
“Natalia is articulate, intelligent and fierce on her feet.”
Legal 500, 2025 (Children and Domestic Violence)
“Natalia has a clear eyed focus on trying to resolve problems in Court of Protection cases.”
Legal 500, 2025 (Court of Protection)
Strengths: “She’s very good on her feet in court.”
Chambers UK Bar, 2025
Natalia is a prominent and well-respected barrister with significant specialist expertise in children law (both public and private), adult social care, and Court of Protection.
With a practice that spans over 17 years, she is known for her exceptional and meticulous approach to cases, providing those that instruct her with a superb professional ally. Her established client base continues to grow year-on-year, and she is instructed by many of the leading solicitors in their field.
She routinely works on complex child care cases where there is extensive medical evidence and allegations of violence and abuse. Natalia combines tactical acumen with first-class judgment to deliver an outstanding service to Local Authorities, Parents, Guardians, and the Official Solicitor.
Trusted, astute, and with an exceptional advocacy style, Natalia is a barrister of considerable standing. Her court work is predominantly on the North and Northern Circuit, and she regularly appears on her own against experienced Silks.
Her High Court experience includes cases involving medical treatment, inflicted injuries, adoption, relocation (international elements), and significant sexual abuse. Due to the complexity of her work, many of the cases she is instructed on are lengthy.
Called to the bar in 2007, she undertook pupillage at Parklane Plowden Chambers (Leeds/Newcastle) before joining St John’s Buildings in 2022.
Natalia is accredited to receive instructions directly from members of the public through the Public Access Scheme.
She always enjoys delivering training seminars on topical children law and court of protection issues. Many of the requests for bespoke training come from her existing client-base and have included topics such as “The necessity of Finding of Fact hearings”; “Court of Protection v Inherent Jurisdiction”; and “Assessment of Parents with additional needs in care proceedings.”
Natalia undertakes a wide range of public law children work at an exceptionally high standard. As an “accomplished advocate who is strong on her feet” [Legal 500, Child Law, 2023] she routinely appears in public law proceedings in the High Court and Court of Appeal.
Those who instruct her regularly comment on Natalia’s abilities as a “strategic thinker”, “looking at the end result we want to achieve” [Legal 500] and the fact that she “comes up with innovative and practical suggestions to move the case forward” [Chambers UK Bar].
Her legal acumen, combined with her excellent relationship-building skills, makes her a popular choice with clients and professional colleagues.
Natalia has a thriving national private children law practice which sees her instructed by many of the leading firms and individuals specialising in this often demanding area of law. She is considered as being “articulate, intelligent and fierce on her feet”. [Legal 500, Children and Domestic Violence, 2025].
Over the years she has represented a diverse range of clients through a variety of children law disputes, including specific issues around relocation, parental alienation, and medical treatment.
Many of the cases she is instructed on involve complex medical evidence relating to non-accidental injury, addiction, or mental health issues. Her ability to quickly grasp complex evidence and craft persuasive legal argument is what sets her apart.
Natalia regularly advises and appears on behalf of public authorities and individuals in relation to health and social care disputes. Natalia’s expertise spans across several areas, such as disputes relating to the provision of care or services under the Care Act 2014, the Children Act 1989 and the Mental Health Act 1983.
Natalia’s expertise as a barrister specialising in both Court of Protection and care proceedings is hugely beneficial given the knowledge overlap, particularly in relation to proper Care Act Assessments.
Natalia is often instructed to advise in relation to Age Assessments both pre proceedings and during proceedings.
Natalia has been involved in some very complex cases involving the use of the inherent jurisdiction to protect vulnerable young adults in particular where questions arise as to whether the individual has capacity and whether the circumstances amount to a Deprivation of Liberty.
Natalia has been involved in and has a particular interest in medical treatment cases. Her experience in this field extends to both children and adults, for which she is instructed to represent either the Local Authority or child.
This work can be emotionally demanding, yet despite this, Natalia approaches these cases in a calm and methodical manner.
Natalia is a prominent and highly regarded Court of Protection barrister at the top of her field. Consistently ranked in the legal directories for the calibre of her work, Natalia is described as an “exceptionally talented barrister” [Legal 500, Tier 1, Court of Protection] who has a “brilliant eye for detail” and has “a clear eyed focus on trying to resolve problems in Court of Protection cases”.
Her practice involves advising and representing parties in respect of both Property and Finance, as well as Health and Welfare matters. She is regularly instructed by the Official Solicitors, hospitals, ICBs, family members and Local Authorities.
She does not shy away from difficult cases and is noted for her “fantastic ability to manage challenging clients” [Legal 500, Court of Protection]. She is regularly instructed in cases where a ‘finding of fact’ hearing is necessary before final declarations can be made, and where there are allegations regarding the mismanagement of funds.
“She is a strong advocate with a focus on complex child care cases. She frequently handles cases involving violence and abuse allegations, usually accompanied by extensive medical evidence.” Chambers UK Bar 2024
“A compelling, dynamic and eloquent advocate who is dedicated to her clients. An excellent performer in court.” Legal 500 2024 (Children and Domestic Violence)
“Natalia has really excellent interpersonal skills when in court and when dealing with her lay clients.” Legal 500 2024 (Court of Protection)
“She is a strong advocate with a focus on complex child care cases. She frequently handles cases involving violence and abuse allegations, usually accompanied by extensive medical evidence.” Chambers UK Bar 2023
“Recommended Expert.” Legal 500 2023 (Court of Protection)
“An accomplished advocate who is strong on her feet. She is very personable, and provides robust advice to clients.” Legal 500 2023 (Child Law)
“She has very well-honed court skills but with an ability to retain an equally high level of people skills.” “She goes above and beyond to make clients comfortable.” “She is commanding in the courtroom and my go-to for Children Act work.” Chambers UK Bar 2022 – Band 3 Family (Children)
“Natalia is an exceptionally talented barrister. She is very highly respected by other solicitors, opponents, the Official Solicitor and the Judges who sit in the Court of Protection. Natalia’s case strategy is well thought-out and she brings with her a very level-headed approach. She is confident on her feet.” Legal 500 2022 Tier 1 – Leading Juniors – Court of Protection
“A junior with a good legal brain. She is determined and very thorough.” Legal 500 2022 Tier 3 – Child Law (Public & Private)
“She’s a strategic thinker.” “She comes up with innovative and practical suggestions to move the case forward.” “She’s super with the client and very straightforward. She gives the hard advice when needed.” Chambers UK Bar 2021 – Band 3
“Natalia grasps a case quickly but thinks things through carefully. She is good at formulating a strategy, looking at the end result we want to achieve. Natalia explains things well to clients and makes sure they understand the advice being given.” Legal 500 2021 – Tier 3 – Child Law (Public and Private)
“Professional and lay clients adore her; she has a fantastic ability to manage challenging clients.” Legal 500 2021 – Tier 1 – Court of Protection
“A very experienced and well-respected counsel in Court of Protection matters.” Legal 500 2020 – Tier 1 – Court of Protection
“A strong advocate with a focus on complex child care cases. Her caseload comprises alleged non-accidental injuries, usually accompanied by extensive medical evidence, and contested adoption cases on behalf of parents and relatives.
Strengths: “She puts people at ease as soon as she walks in the room.” “An accomplished advocate specialising in children matters.” “Natalia is sensible and pragmatic in her approach but is also highly robust as a litigator which is warmly received by the clients and solicitors she advocates for.” Chambers UK Bar 2020 – Band 3
“She has a brilliant eye for detail” and “is well known for her Court of Protection practice, and she has particular expertise in health and welfare cases.” Legal 500 2018/2019
“Intelligent and a safe pair of hands in court.” “I instruct Natalia because she is approachable at all times and able in all court scenarios, whether children or domestic violence. She is able to communicate with all clients appropriately.” “I instructed Natalia on a case where she did not get the bundle until after 5.00pm the day before the hearing with no brief. She got to grips with the issues and the measure of the respondents and prepared a really good written opening. Despite being advised the evening before that the matter could possibly proceed by instructions, her advice was that we fight so she clearly doesn’t shy away from conflict when it’s appropriate. As it happens, the matter did settle, with the order Natalia advised was required. The other barristers, who have had the conduct of the case throughout were astounded when they heard how little time she had had to prepare.” “Natalia is an approachable, popular and extremely capable advocate who is regularly instructed by both parents and Local Authorities. She is certainly one to watch for the future.” “Natalia is completely on top of her game. She is always my first choice in all children matters. Her knowledge of the law, particularly with regards to relocation matters, is second to none and she goes above and beyond what I could ever expect in helping me to best present my client’s case prior to final hearing. She is always available in the run up to hearings and without fail every single client has given 100% positive feedback. I would recommend her to anyone.” Legal 500 2017
