News

Season’s Greetings

16th Dec 2024

As the year draws to a close, we thank you for your continued trust and partnership. In the spirit of giving, we have made donations to the following charities in lieu of sending Christmas cards:

Mortal And Strong
https://www.mortalandstrong.com/

Make-A-Wish® UK
https://www.make-a-wish.org.uk/

We wish you joy, peace, and a prosperous New Year with new opportunities and success this festive season.

Yaa Dankwa Ampadu-Sackey – The Bar Council of England and Wales’s third business development visit to Nairobi, Kenya

03rd Dec 2024

We are delighted to share that Yaa Dankwa Ampadu-Sackey will attend The Bar Council of England and Wales‘s third business development visit to Nairobi, Kenya, from December 3rd to 5th, 2024, the legal symposium is organised in collaboration with The Law Society of Kenya.

Reported Judgment – Amy Slingo

13th Nov 2024

Re A and B (Adoption: Section 83 ACA 2002) [2024]

Amy Slingo recently represented the applicant adopter in an adoption order application before Mr Justice Cobb. The case raised important legal questions regarding the correct interpretation of Section 83 of the Adoption and Children Act 2002 and the possibility of making an adoption order in circumstances where the Adoption with a Foreign Element Regulations 2005 have not been fully complied with.

Yaa Dankwa Ampadu-Sackey: Reclaiming Narratives, Modern Families and Diversity

04th Nov 2024

In celebration of Black History Month, The Student Lawyer featured an insightful interview with barrister Yaa Dankwa Ampadu-Sackey, conducted by Christianah Omobosola Babajide. The discussion delves into Yaa Dankwa Ampadu-Sackey’s journey in the legal profession, her dedication to representing modern families, and her commitment to promoting diversity within the legal field.

Reported Judgment – Nathan Baylis

22nd Oct 2024

Reported Case: RQ v TS [2024] EWHC 2509

Nathan Baylis acted for the respondent father in an appeal before Mrs Justice Judd, concerning changes to a child’s surname. Nathan Baylis represented the respondent pro bono, instructed through Advocate.

Read the reported Judgment here.

Chambers and Partners 2025

17th Oct 2024

We are delighted to announce that our barrister rankings have risen in this year’s prestigious Chambers and Partners 2025 directory, with five barristers recognised in the Family: Children category.

• Isabelle Watson – Band 3
• Jacqui Gilliatt – Band 3
• Nairn Purss – Band 4
• Justin Tadros – Band 4
• James Norman – Band 4

Reported Judgment – Andlib Mohsin

14th Oct 2024

Reported case: Father v Mother & Anor [2024] EWHC 2578 (Fam)

In this case, William Tyler KC and our member Andlib Mohsin, instructed by Sian Churchill of Crane & Staples, appeared for the mother and successfully defended an appeal in the High Court before Mrs Justice Lieven.

Bibi Badejo’s Masterclass – The Power of the Question: Unlocking the Secrets of Strategic Cross-Examination’ in collaboration with Lexology

11th Oct 2024

Pupils 2024

07th Oct 2024

We extend a warm welcome to our two exceptional pupils, Alice Needell and Tamara McCarthy-Baker. Both will bring a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm to chambers, having demonstrated outstanding academic achievements and dedication to the legal profession.

As a Chambers, we are committed to supporting them through their pupillage and fostering an environment where they can grow into skilled barristers.

#Pupillage #FourBrickCourt #FamilyLaw

Legal 500 2025

03rd Oct 2024

We are delighted to announce that, in this year’s prestigious Legal 500 directory, we have retained our London Bar > Family: Children and Domestic Abuse Tier 4 set ranking.

The individual barrister rankings have also increased, with thirteen barristers recognised in the Leading Junior and Rising Star categories. We are excited to receive more instructions from our solicitors in all areas of family law.

Tenancy – Mahnoor Javed

02nd Oct 2024

We formally welcome Mahnoor Javed as a tenant and wish her every success in her future career.

Harry Simons – ‘Life at the Family Bar’ Webinar

23rd Sep 2024

Family Law Week – Mahnoor Javed

18th Sep 2024

Family Law Week has published a new Judgment Summary by pupil barrister Mahnoor Javed: Re A and R (1980 Hague Convention: Return to Australia) [2024] EWHC 2190 (Fam).

Mahnoor Javed – Tenancy

16th Sep 2024

We are pleased to announce that pupil barrister Mahnoor Javed has accepted our offer of tenancy and will be a full tenant in October 2024.

Congratulations Mahnoor Javed!

#Pupillage #FourBrickCourt #Tenancy

Reported Judgment – Isabelle Watson MCIArb and James Norman

16th Sep 2024

Isabelle Watson MCIArb appeared for the local authority, supporting a successful appeal on a point of law involving the perpetration of serious non-accidental injuries.

Isabelle and James Norman, another Four Brick Court barrister, had represented the Applicant local authority at the fact-finding hearing.

Reported Judgment – Tim Potter

10th Sep 2024

Tim Potter contested the application for care and placement orders in which there were disputed allegations of domestic abuse and background, including parental learning difficulties and the parents being vulnerable witnesses.

Click the link to read the full judgment: ewfc_b_2024_211 (Tim Potter)

Reported Judgment – Nairn Purss

09th Sep 2024

Nairn Purss acted on behalf of the child’s Guardian. The local authority lodged an appeal against HHJ Tolson KC’s ruling regarding an application for a Placement Order for the youngest of three children, the subject child under 12 months old, at the point of judgment.

Bibi Badejo Interviews Barbara Mills KC – Family Affairs Magazine

02nd Aug 2024

Bibi Badejo, our DHoC, had the privilege of interviewing Barbara Mills KC for Family Affairs Magazine, Summer 2024 edition.

Click the member link below to access the full article!

https://www.flba.co.uk/publications/family-affairs/#

#FourBrickCourt #BarbaraMillsKC #FamilyAffairs

July Newsletter

02nd Aug 2024

Happy Friday!

We are happy to share the latest edition of our newsletter with you. It features exciting achievements, recent family law insights, and upcoming webinars.

Four Brick Court Newsletter (July 2024)

#FourBrickCourt #FamilyLaw #Newsletter

Family Law Week – Mahnoor Javed

22nd Jul 2024

Family Law Week has published a case summary by pupil barrister Mahnoor Javed: Standish v Standish [2024] EWCA Civ 567

The Court of Appeal determined cross-appeals, which concerned the determination of (i) whether property is matrimonial and how it might become ‘matrimonialised’ and (ii) how to apply the sharing principle to matrimonialised property.