Neil is an experienced and busy family law specialist. Known for straightforward and practical advice delivered in a reassuring client focussed manner. He is a persuasive advocate and effective cross examiner. He is regularly instructed in complex and difficult proceedings relating to children. Clients value Neil’s ability to quickly grasp the central issues and focus on what matters in a case.
Children (Public and Private law)
Public Law
Neil appears in all manner of Public Law applications representing parents, children, local authorities and intervenors. He is well respected with regards to his detailed legal knowledge and astute management of complex and intractable cases.
Neil has over many years dealt with a vast array of complex findings of fact hearings and is experienced in cross examining expert witness’. He brings valuable expertise to cases involving: child death; serious inflicted and non-accidental injury; child sexual abuse/exploitation; child trafficking; intra familial abuse; and fabricated/induced illness.
Many of his cases involve clients with intricate psychological or psychiatric issues, chronic addictions, and disabilities. He is trained in cross examination of vulnerable witnesses and known for sensitively and effectively managing such clients and witnesses.
Tricky and unusual cases he has been instructed in include: the murder of one parent by the other; familial involvement in serious organised crime; and religious radicalisation of children by family members.
Private Law
Neil has broad expertise in all types of Private Law disputes. His experience covers representing parents and most notably children (16.4) in difficult disputes regarding all manner of family arrangements.
He has been involved in complex cases concerning allegations or findings of serious domestic violence, sexual abuse, drug misuse, alienation, and parents who are implacably hostile or suffer psychological or psychiatric issues. He has dealt with a number of complex enforcement applications.
Neil has a wealth of experience dealing with injunctive relief applications under the Family Law Act.
Neil is also instructed in schedule 1 applications for financial relief for children.
Neil advises and represents parents in applications for relocation (both internal and international) and child abduction (Hague and non-Hague) along with enforcement and recognition of orders (Brussels II revised).
Cases
D (A Child: Placement Order) [2022]
Neil was led by Aidan Vine KC for the appellant grandmother in the Court of Appeal against a placement order. Lord Justice Peter Jackson applied the Supreme Court’s decision in Re H-W to an adoption case – “Adoption can only be approved where it is in the child’s lifelong best interests and where the severe interference with the right to respect for family life is necessary and proportionate. The court must therefore evaluate the family placement and assess the nature and likelihood of the harm that the child would be likely to suffer in it, the consequences of the harm arising, and the possibilities for reducing the risk of harm or for mitigating its effects. It must then compare the advantages and disadvantages for the child of that placement with the advantages and disadvantages of adoption and of any other realistic placement outcomes short of adoption.” The appeal against the placement order was allowed. The judgment is available here.
RE AA (Children) & 25 Ors [2019] EWFC 64
Neil was led by Cyrus Larizadeh KC in this complex multi-handed public law litigation, representing a parent. This was one of the largest public law family case that has been litigated. There were 15 care cases heard together by Sir Mark Hedley relating to grave sexual abuse allegations in respect of children. Sir Mark Hedley decided the principle of whether there was a power for the Family Court to stop a case at half time and if so the test for it to be exercised, and also considered the approach to exoneration of a person who has been the subject of an allegation that could not be proved against them.
Family finance
Neil has a solid matrimonial finance practice and advises and represents clients in all aspects of financial remedy applications and in cases involving significant family wealth. He has an interest in cases involving trusts; company assets; pension valuation; and inherited wealth. Neil’s experience covers freezing orders; variation and enforcement of financial orders; and alleged hidden assets. Cases undertaken often involve substantial assets: farms; company assets; and inherited property.
Neil also has expertise in applications for financial relief for children under schedule 1 Children Act 1989.
Neil has extensive experience in applications under TOLATA 1996 and cohabitation disputes. He drafts pleadings and appears on behalf of claimants, defendants and interveners.
Memberships
- Family Law Bar Association
- Northern Circuit
- Middle Temple
Education
- Vulnerable Witness Advocacy Training
