News

Latest on COVID19 from chair of Bar Council

16th Mar 2020

Latest on #COVID19 from Amanda Pinto QC, Chair of the Bar Council. Read here. 

HMCTS guidance for court users

15th Mar 2020

HMCTS has published additional guidance for all court and tribunal users during the coronavirus outbreak. This will be regularly updated as and when new advice and guidance becomes available. Further information here.

Launch night for Women in Family Law

12th Mar 2020

Coronavirus advice and updates from the Bar Council

10th Mar 2020

The Bar Council is currently keeping the coronavirus situation under review and monitoring the advice it receives from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and Public Health England. Members of the Bar and their colleagues in chambers and  employees should also keep abreast of the advice given. The Bar Council’s advice can be found here.

House of Commons Library publishes Child protection…

09th Mar 2020

Duties to report concerns Briefing sets out current requirements regarding reporting known or suspected child abuse or neglect. Read article in Family Law week here.

Judith Pepper providing career insights to Birkbeck students

06th Mar 2020

This evening Judith Pepper will be in conversation with Professor Daniel Monk providing students with first-hand insight into how law works in practice and an opportunity to seek her advice as an experienced legal practitioner about careers in law.

Tonight’s event takes place between 6.30pm – 8.30pm at Birkbeck Clore Management Centre, 203.

Event information here.

Sarah Haworth completes Vitality Big Half marathon fundraiser

03rd Mar 2020

Huge congratulations to Sarah Haworth for completing The Vitality Big Half marathon last Sunday raising precious funds for the Half Moon Theatre, a charity helping change the lives of vulnerable people in Tower Hamlets through the power of the arts.

Out of 18,000 runners, Sarah managed to finish in the top 10% of female runners with a time of 1.50.35 – JUST AMAZING!  Well done Sarah!

Judith Pepper invited to speak at Wiltshire Family Justice Board conference

02nd Mar 2020

Judith Pepper has been invited to speak at the Wiltshire Family Justice Board’s annual conference in July. Judith’s talk will be on the issue of siblings in care proceedings and adoption. 

Opportunity in Chambers for third six pupil

02nd Mar 2020

We are delighted to have a vacancy for a third six pupil to start with us on 30^th March 2020. The successful candidate will need to demonstrate outstanding advocacy skills and a strong commitment to practising family law.  For details of how to apply, please click here.

4 Brick Court Members in their finery for FLBA dinner!

28th Feb 2020

It’s the Family Law Bar Association dinner this evening and our Head of Chambers, Ian Griffin with Tahmina Rahman, Bibi Badejo and Sophie Crampton in their finery, leaving Chambers to join their Family Law Bar colleagues in what will no doubt be a splendid occasion. Enjoy the evening!

Only 2 days to go to Sarah Haworth’s fundraising 1/2 marathon

27th Feb 2020

This Sunday 1st March 4BCs Sarah Haworth takes part in The Vitality Big Half marathon on behalf of the Half Moon Theatre a charity helping change the lives of vulnerable people in TowerHamlets through the power of the arts.

Tahmina Rahman case analysis published by Lexis Nexis

27th Feb 2020

Tahmina Rahman, leading Amy Slingo, also of 4 Brick Court, successfully resisted an appeal at the Court of Appeal in December 2019 in a case where guidance has now been given in cases of concealed pregnancies / where a parent wishes to conceal the birth of a child or the fact of care proceedings from family who otherwise could be assessed to care for the subject child.  Read the full judgment here.

‘Sibling Assessments in Care and Adoption’, article by Judith Pepper

26th Feb 2020

In her article published by Family Law Week, Judith Pepper explores issues relating to siblings in care proceedings and case law relevant to sibling assessments. In the past few years there has been a much greater focus on this in care proceedings than in the past. Practitioners need to adapt to this. Inadequate sibling assessments can create huge difficulties for the court and can cause delay in cases.

Pupillage interviews to take place on Saturday 28th March

26th Feb 2020

We are delighted to have received so many applications for pupillage and we are about to start the marking process.

We will be notifying applicants as to whether or not they have been selected for interview shortly after 16^th March via the Pupillage Gateway portal.

We wish the best of luck to all those who have applied to us.

Best of luck to 4BC charity fundraiser Sarah Haworth

24th Feb 2020

The Vitality Big Half marathon is this Sunday 1st March and 4BCs Sarah Haworth will be taking part and raising precious funds on behalf of the Half Moon Theatre, a charity helping change the lives of vulnerable people in Tower Hamlets through the power of the arts.

Sarah’s fundraising page can be found here and any donation, no matter how small, will be gratefully received. Best of luck Sarah!

Third seminar of our Private Law programme…

13th Feb 2020

The third in our series of Private Law seminars took place on Thursday 13 February at Bridewell Hall, a stone throw from Chambers.

4 Brick Court’s Bronach Gordon and Ummar Ahmad gave an excellent presentation to a large audience of Child law solicitors. The seminar focused on the practical considerations and pitfalls of FHDRAs, including:

Pupillage Gateway now closed

09th Feb 2020

The Pupillage Gateway for pupillage submissions is now closed.

During the period 10 February to 6 May 2020, AETOs will sift applications, shortlist applicants, and conduct interviews or assessments.

From 9.00am on 7 May Offers of pupillage are made through the Pupillage Gateway system.

The best of luck to all applicants!

Applications for Pupillage 2021/2022 – Gateway submissions window closes 11am 07/02/2020

03rd Feb 2020

We are recruiting two funded 12 month pupillages for 2021–2022 via the Pupillage Gateway.

The submissions window for Pupillage Gateway applications closes 11am Friday 7 February 2020.  No further applications or amendments to applications will be allowed after this point.

Judgment published in Court of Appeal win for Tahmina Rahman & Amy Slingo

30th Jan 2020

Tahmina Rahman leading Amy Slingo successfully resisted appeal before the President of the Family Division in the matter of A, B And C (Adoption: Notification of Fathers And Relatives) [2020] EWCA Civ 41.

Their appeal was one of three conjoined appeals where the Court was asked to provide guidance on the duties of local authorities in care proceedings and in cases involving relinquished babies to notify fathers and wider families in cases where the mother objects.

Natasha March secures High Court Appeal win

15th Jan 2020

High Court Appeal win for Natasha March representing the applicant father. Case reported on Bailii here.