Clerking team

Suzanne Heron

Lead Clerk, Family and Court of Protection

Jayne Harper

Family and Court of Protection Clerk

Curtis Russell

Junior Family and Court of Protection Clerk

‘Rebecca is a thorough, detailed, and supportive junior who works tirelessly. She has a forensic eye and a calm and measured advocacy style.’

Legal 500, 2024 (Court of Protection)

Rebecca has a busy practice in Court of Protection health and welfare matters and in public family law proceedings. Rebecca joined chambers as a tenant in October 2020 following the successful completion of her pupillage under the supervision of Nicola Quinney.

Prior to the Bar, Rebecca worked as a public law caseworker at Duncan Lewis Solicitors where she gained significant experience in conducting judicial review claims in asylum and immigration matters. In 2019 she was named ‘paralegal of the year’ at the 2019 Modern Law Awards for her work in this area. Rebecca is happy to advise where possible on immigration matters that cross over with her areas of practice.  

Rebecca graduated with a degree in law from the London School of Economics and Political Science, she was awarded a master’s degree in law from the University of Toronto and she achieved an ‘Outstanding’ grade on the Bar Professional Training Course. 

Court of Protection

Rebecca is regularly instructed in Court of Protection health and welfare matters by applicants including those instructed by the Official Solicitor, as well as local authorities and family members. Rebecca is happy to advise on case issues and evidence including the need for expert evidence from an early stage.

Rebecca has significant experience in drafting grounds for challenges to capacity and best interest decisions under Section 21A Mental Capacity Act 2005. Rebecca is regularly instructed in proceedings under sections 15, 16 and 21A Mental Capacity Act 2005 to attend roundtable meetings and directions hearings, as well as to draft and advise on orders to progress the case throughout. Rebecca is regularly instructed in matters where individuals have been assessed to lack capacity to make decisions on issues of residence, care, social media/ internet access, contact with others and relationships. Rebecca is able to provide advice on an urgent basis including where care homes have served notice on an individual and local authorities are looking to make applications to the Court of Protection on an expeditious basis.

Rebecca is keen to develop her Court of Protection practice and is able to provide training to local authorities and other organisations on request. Rebecca is also able to provide advice to local authorities looking to make applications to the Court of Protection in respect of children aged 16 or over in their care, and draws from her experience of public family law work.

Children (Public and Private law)

Public Law

Rebecca gained significant experience in public law family proceedings during pupillage under Nicola Quinney, observing and attending interim removal hearings, case management hearings, issues resolution hearings, finding of fact hearings and final hearings in relation to all types of child public law proceedings.

Rebecca is able to act on behalf of all parties in public law proceedings and is able to draft case summaries, position statements, detailed threshold documents, and skeleton arguments where required.

Rebecca also has experience in dealing with applications for leave to invoke the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court for child Deprivation of Liberty Orders. Rebecca is happy to advise local authorities on the preparation of such cases.

Rebecca is able to provide training on request.

Private Law

Rebecca is regularly instructed in private law proceedings on behalf of applicants and respondents including applications for child arrangement orders, non-molestation orders and occupation orders.

Public & administrative law

Rebecca has experience in attending hearings in the County Court on behalf of local authorities in applications under the Mental Health Act 1983 to displace nearest relatives.

Prior to the Bar, Rebecca worked on a variety of applications for judicial review before the Upper Tribunal and Administrative Court, including urgent applications for interim relief to challenge removal directions, as well as unlawful detention and immigration fresh claim refusal matters.

Education

Vulnerable Witness Advocacy Training