News

Laura Barrie: Appointed District Judge at the Central Family Court

04th Dec 2020

Chambers is delighted to congratulate Laura Barrie on her appointment as a District Judge. Laura, who previously sat as a Deputy District Judge, will be based at the Central Family Court and has commenced sitting.

Chambers wish her every success in her judicial career.

More information about Laura’s appointment can be found here.

Ian Griffin: St Christopher’s Hospice

27th Nov 2020

Following the sad news of Ian Griffin’s passing, chambers confirm any donations in his memory can be made to St Christopher’s Hospice – more information about St Christopher’s and how to make a donation can be found here.

Chambers & Partners ranking for Jacqui Gilliatt

13th Nov 2020

Chambers & Partner has ranked Jacqui Gilliatt in Band 4 for Family – Children for the 3rd year running and the review reads as follows:

Regularly handles a wide range of children’s cases in the public law sphere. She is routinely instructed in matters involving issues of a serious nature, including those concerning allegations of sexual abuse, non-accidental injury, and drug and alcohol misuse.
Strengths: “An extremely approachable counsel willing to discuss cases at whatever length is required. She demonstrates a great deal of commitment and takes a sensible, balanced approach.” “Pragmatic and intelligent, she makes terrific decisions and proposals all the way through the case.” “A forceful advocate who can read the papers and boil down the information to key points.”

Chambers UK Bar 2020-2021

Ian Griffin: sad news

20th Oct 2020

It is with immense sadness we announce that Ian Griffin passed away yesterday. This is, of course, a great loss to 4BC and the family bar and most especially to his family and close friends. Ian was an incredible head of chambers and we are fortunate that he was able to lead chambers until recently, he is loved by all and his legacy will continue.

Bibi Badejo to speak alongside the President of the Family Division as part of Support Through Court event

14th Oct 2020

‘Coping Post Covid’ – The Road Ahead For The Family Courts

Bibi Badejo will be amongst the panel of speakers for what will no doubt be an informative and thought-provoking event run by Support Through Court. Following a key-note speech by Sir Andrew McFarlane, Bibi and fellow panellists will be discussing the challenges, lessons learnt and ‘new normal’ for the Family Courts post Covid.

More information about tomorrow morning’s event can be found here.

Christina Warner to provide domestic abuse training to Galop, the LGBT+ anti-violence charity

06th Oct 2020

One of our most recent new tenants Christina Warner will be providing updating in-house training to the staff of national LGBT+ anti-violence charity Galop this week. This informative training will cover applications and procedure in the family courts as well as looking at the impact of COVID-19.

Further information about Christina’s practice can be found here.

Sophie Crampton article published in Family Law Week

06th Oct 2020

Psychological Assessments: a brief guide to choosing a psychological expert

Sophie Crampton has very recently had an article published in Family Law Week in which she offers guidance on when to instruct a psychologist and how to choose a suitable one for your case. This is an often tricky and sometimes confusing decision which Sophie’s guidance brings clarity to. Sophie’s article is available here.

Further information about Sophie’s practice can be found here.

Amy Slingo nominated for the “Family Law Case of the Year” category in Lexis Nexis Family Law Awards 2020

05th Oct 2020

Amy Slingo has been shortlisted for the “Family Law Case of the Year” category in the Lexis Nexis Family Law Awards for the Court of Appeal case (A, B, C A, B And C (Adoption: Notification of Fathers And Relatives) [2020] EWCA Civ 41)in which she acted as the junior.

The shortlisted cases can be seen here on the Lexis Nexis website.

Further information about Amy’s practice can be found here.

Bibi Badejo: Governing Bencher of the Inner Temple

11th Aug 2020

Congratulations to Bibi Badejo who has been elected as Governing Bencher of the Inner Temple at the Bench Table on 16 July 2020.

Christina Warner joins chambers

20th Jul 2020

Chambers is pleased to welcome Christina Warner whose practice includes private law, public law and financial proceedings.

Christina has a particular interest in dealing with matters concerning domestic violence and/or children.  She has represented clients with an international aspect to their cases and has been instructed in cases where the Hague Convention applies.  This has often required cross-jurisdictional disclosure applications and research into the legal workings of other countries, as well as dealing with experts from other jurisdictions.

Christina has nurtured a strong Spanish and Portuguese-speaking client base throughout London, building ties with many charities and representing individuals from these communities. Particularly interested in assisting those from non-traditional or alternative family structures, Christina has advised non-biological parents, single carers and same sex couples as to the legal recourse available to them, especially when considering matters surrounding human rights.

Mark Rawcliffe

01st Jul 2020

Mark Rawcliffe recently appeared in this important case in the Court of Appeal dealing with the issues arising from Covid 19 and attendance at court:

C (Children: Covid 19: Representation) [2020] EWCA Civ 734 also reported as A Local Authority v The Mother and Ors [2020] EWHC 1233 (Fam)

Tahmina Rahman: Judicial Appointment

01st Jul 2020

We are pleased to announce that Tahmina Rahman has been appointed as

• a Deputy District Judge (south eastern region)
• an Employment Judge of the Employment Tribunals assigned to London South and
• a Judge of the First-tier Tribunal, assigned to the Health, Education and Social Care Chamber (Special Educational Needs and Disability).

She has also recently been appointed as a member of the Case Analysis Expert Panel for Family for LexisNexis.

All of chambers would like to congratulate Tahmina Rahman and wish her every success on her appointments.

Raminder Khasriya to join Chambers

01st Jul 2020

We are pleased to be welcoming Raminder Khasriya who is joining 4 Brick Court with effect from 3rd August 2020.  Raminder was admitted as a solicitor-advocate in 2012 and transferred to the Bar in March 2020. She has extensive experience in representing local authorities in complex care proceedings. Prior to joining Chambers Raminder worked as an in-house advocate, representing a number of local authorities in Berkshire.

Head of Chambers

25th Jun 2020

Due to ill health Ian Griffin is standing down as Head if Chambers. Jayne Harrill, currently Deputy Head, is now the acting head of chambers until we elect our new Head of Chambers. We are incredibly grateful to Ian for his dedicated leadership which has transformed chambers over the last 3 years. Ian continues to work but is taking time to spend with his family who all have our sincere best wishes

We are open for business and fully operational

01st Jun 2020

Chambers remains open for business and our clerks and barristers are making every effort to ensure that we continue to provide our usual high level of service despite the challenges following Covid-19.

Please contact our clerks as usual on 020 7832 3200. In any event, the mobile numbers of our most senior clerks are:

Clive                07970 712 955
Kevin               07782 174 284
Richard            07730 266 607

The clerks mailbox clerks@4bc.co.uk is monitored between the hours of 8.00am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday.

We look forward to continuing to be of assistance.

We are open for business and fully operational

16th Apr 2020

Whilst the lockdown continues for another 3 weeks at the very least, our barristers and clerks continue to deliver services to our clients.

We are all becoming much more adept at working remotely and embracing the technology to enable us to do just that such as attending court hearings and meetings via video conferencing. Onwards and upwards!

Contact our clerks as usual on 020 7832 3200.

In any event, the mobile numbers of our most senior clerks are:

Clive                07970 712 955         
Kevin               07782 174 284
Richard            07730 266 607

The clerks mailbox clerks@4bc.co.uk is being monitored between 8.30am to 10.30pm during the week and periodically at the weekend.

We are very much open for business and look forward to being of assistance.

4 Brick Court remains fully open for business

27th Mar 2020

During this period of uncertainty, we would like to reassure all our clients and those people who depend on our services that 4 Brick Court remains fully open for business with all our staff and barristers able to work remotely.

Our telephone system has been modified to enable clients to be transferred directly to each of our clerks as appropriate via our main number 020 7832 3200.

In any event, the mobile numbers of our most senior clerks are:

Clive                07970 712 955         
Kevin               07782 174 284
Richard            07730 266 607

The clerks mailbox clerks@4bc.co.uk is being monitored between 8.30am to 10.30pm during the week and periodically at the weekend.

Whenever you require assistance, please call us and we will do all we can to assist.

Ian Griffin, Head of Chambers
Clive Barrett, Senior Clerk

Coronavirus Crisis: Guidance on Compliance with Family Court Child Arrangement Orders

25th Mar 2020

Message from Sir Andrew McFarlane, President of the Family Division

During the current Coronavirus Crisis some parents whose children are the subject of Child Arrangements Orders made by the Family Court have been understandably concerned about their ability to meet the requirements of these court orders safely in the wholly unforeseen circumstances that now apply.

This short statement is intended to offer advice but, as the circumstances of each child and family will differ, any advice can only be in the most general form.

Pupillage interviews to take place via video link

21st Mar 2020

Whilst the Coronavirus is causing unimaginable chaos affecting all our lives, 4 Brick Court is determined to keep our pupillage recruitment on track and therefore pupillage interviews will now be conducted via video link.

We will be notifying those applicants who have been selected for interview within the next couple of days along with details of how their interview will be facilitated.

Subject to circumstances beyond our control, pupillage interviews will continue to take place on Saturday 28th March.

Coronavirus advice update from the Bar Council

20th Mar 2020

The Bar Council is keeping the coronavirus situation under review and monitoring the advice given by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and Public Health England. Members of the Bar, colleagues and chambers’ staff should keep abreast of the advice being provided. The Bar Council’s latest information published 20/03/2020 is available to read here.