Alev Giz

Practice Overview

• Children (Private Law)

  Alev is regularly instructed on behalf of parents and children (whether separately or through their Rule 16.4 Guardian) in cases where there are significant and often entrenched disputes about where children should live and how much time they should spend with a non-resident parent. She has particular experience and expertise in cases where serious allegations of abuse (physical, sexual or emotional) and parental alienation/hostility are made. Alev also acts in cases with an international dimension.

  Notable Private Law Children cases in which Alev has acted include:

  A v M & Ors [2024] EWHC 2020

  N v J (Power to Set Aside Return Order) [2017] EWHC 2752 (Fam)

  Re F (A Child) (International Relocation Cases) [2015] EWCA Civ 882 

  H v S (Surrogacy Agreement) [2015] EWFC 36 

  Re A and D (Children) (Removal Outside Jurisdiction: Habitual Residence) [2011] EWCA Civ 265; [2011] 1 FLR 2025 

  ES v AJ [2010] EWHC 1113 (Fam); [2010] 2 FLR 1257

• Children (Public Law)

  In the Public Law field, Alev regularly acts for parties in care proceedings, adoption and Wardship. She has particular expertise in cases involving catastrophic non-accidental injury where there is complex and conflicting medical opinion, factitious illness and sexual abuse. Alev brings skills from her Court of protection practice to her Public Law work enabling her to sensitively represent parents who have mental health issues. Alev regularly advises on the placement of children abroad and local authority obligations, particularly to care leavers.

  Alev is particularly successful in the sensitive representation of children, either separately or through their court appointed Guardian and appeared on behalf of the child in the landmark Court of Appeal case of W (A Child) [2016] EWCA Civ 1051, which provided much needed guidance on the circumstances in which the separate representation of a child is appropriate and the statutory provisions which enable separate representation to be put in place.

  Alev is also instructed in cases in the High Court concerning serious medical treatment or withdrawal of life sustaining treatment.

  Notable Public Law Children cases in which Alev has acted include:

  Somerset County Council v NHS Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group & Ors [2022] EWFC 31

  Somerset County Council v NHS Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group & Anor [2021] EWHC 3004 (Fam)

  Local Authority v A Mother & Ors [2020] EWHC 3496 (Fam) (18 December 2020)

  PR v JS & Another (Appeal: Sexual Abuse, Fact-Finding) [2019] EWHC 791 (Fam) - a significant decision in the body of case law concerning the approach to be taken in fact-finding hearings where sexual abuse is alleged, highlighting the extreme complexity of such cases and the importance of focusing on a chronological survey of any allegations made by the child and how they develop over time. 

  PR v JS & TER (Re-opening of Fact-Finding: Allegations of Sexual Abuse) [2019] EWFC 69

  A Local Authority v AB, CD, EF, GH, IJ, KL, MN & OP [2019] EWFC 75 - a multi-party and extremely complex fact-finding hearing where teenage children made allegations which were held to be patently and obviously untrue which involved them giving evidence. 

  Z County Council v M, F & C [2019] EWFC B72 (Comm) - an important decision on the use of the High Court's inherent jurisdiction to authorise the deprivation of liberty of young people in care.

  Re M-Y (Children) [2018] EWCA Civ 1306 

  HK (Serious Medical Treatment) (No.3) [2017] EWHC 2991 

  HK (Serious Medical Treatment) (No.2) [2017] EWHC 2581 

  An NHS Hospital Trust v GM and Others [2017] EWHC 1710 (Fam) 

  W (A Child) [2016] EWCA Civ 1051 

  Re J (A Child) [2014] EWCA Civ 875 

  Re B (A Child) (Care Proceedings: Habitual Residence) [2013] EWCA Civ 1434; [2013] WLR(D) 461 

  Re E-F (A Minor) [1998] EWCA Civ 97

  Re M (Section 94 Appeals) [1995] 1 FLR 546

• International Family Law

  Alev is frequently instructed in High Court cases relating to the international relocation of children (she appeared in the landmark Court of Appeal decision of Re F (A Child) (International Relocation Cases) [2015] EWCA Civ 882) in child abduction matters, both within and outside the provisions of the Hague Convention and other cases with cross-border jurisdictional issues.

  A v M & Ors [2024] EWHC 2020

  N v J (Power to Set Aside Return Order) [2017] EWHC 2752 (Fam) 

  Re F (A Child) (International Relocation Cases) [2015] EWCA Civ 882 

  Re B (A Child) (Care Proceedings: Habitual Residence) [2013] EWCA Civ 1434; [2013] WLR(D) 461 

  Re A and D (Children) (Removal Outside Jurisdiction: Habitual Residence) [2011] EWCA Civ 265; [2011] 1 FLR 2025 

  ES v AJ [2010] EWHC 1113 (Fam); [2010] 2 FLR 1257

• Court of Protection

  Alev is regularly instructed by the Official Solicitor to represent vulnerable adults who lack capacity in proceedings concerning their health, welfare, property and deprivation of liberty. She also regularly represents local authorities and family members in cases where best interests, property or deprivation of liberty issues are before the court.

  Notable Court of Protection cases in which Alev has acted include:

  London NHS Trust v CD & Ors (Withdrawal of Life Sustaining Treatment) [2021] EWCOP 727 (24 March 2021)

  VE v AO, Royal Borough of Greenwich & South East London CCG [2020] EWCOP 23

  Essex County Council v RF and Others (Deprivation of Liberty and Damage) [2015] EWCOP 1 

  YLA v PM & MZ [2013] EWHC 3622 (Fam) 

  Re MIG and MEG [2010] EWHC 785 

   

• What the Directories Say

  "Alev is a fighter and very good in the trenches on a difficult case. She is firm but sensitive with clients, and inspires their trust." Band 2 - Chambers and Partners, 2025

  "I just want to sing her praises. Working with her is just great. Her attention to detail is just incredible and her judgement is just spot-on. She always manages to adopt the right approach and tone." Band 2 - Chambers and Partners, 2025

  "Alev is superb. She is calm with the client, yet offers robust and highly intelligent advice. The client certainly feels he/she is in very safe and capable hands." Band 2 - Chambers and Partners, 2025

  "Alev is a very pragmatic counsel. She is very reassuring for lay clients and can put them at ease in complex proceedings." Tier 3 - Legal 500, 2025

  "Alev is approachable. She conducts advocacy when required and can firmly and resolutely challenge the opponent's position." Tier 3 - Legal 500, 2025

  "Alev is an experienced advocate who is renowned for her cross-examination skills and her ability to deal with highly sensitive issues with empathy and skill." Band 3 - Chambers and Partners, 2024

  "Alev Giz is a phenomenally talented and highly persuasive advocate." Band 3 - Chambers and Partners, 2024

  "Alev is a very able advocate, who's excellent at making points in measured way." Band 3 - Chambers and Partners, 2024

  "Alev is very empathetic and goes the extra mile with clients. She is kind to the vulnerable client, and her advocacy is clear and powerful." Tier 3 - Legal 500, 2024

  "Alev is very calm with clients, and when she is in court, she exudes an air of authority and puts forward the client's cases professionally. She can argue points no other person has thought of and is very sharp on her feet." Tier 3 - Legal 500, 2024 - Family

  "Alev's advocacy is precise, calm and extremely effective. She can build consensus through her understated appraoch in negtotiations and discussions but argues contested issues tenaciously." Band 3 - Chambers and Partners, 2023

  "Alev has a wonderful approach with the client; she's always well prepared and makes time to explain the law and procedure to clients. Alev is a very strong advocate with an ability to succinctly and effectively argue her case. She's well respected by judges and other lawyers." Band 3 - Chambers and Partners, 2023

  "Alev’s advocacy is precise, calm and extremely effective. She can build consensus through her understated approach in negotiations and discussions but argues contested issues tenaciously.’"Tier 3 – Legal 500, 2023

  “Alev is an incisive and strategic advocate, who maintains a calm composure and inspires confidence in clients.” Tier 3 – Legal 500, 2022

  “Alev is a commanding presence in the court room. Child-focused, tenacious and a solid negotiator.” Tier 3 – Legal 500, 2022

  "Very thorough and well-informed advice. Excellent advocacy skills." Tier 4 - Legal 500, 2021

  "Is an excellent and assured advocate, her preparation is flawless, and she presents a case with poise. She really holds the court's attention." Tier 3 - Legal 500 2021

  "Her written and oral advocacy are exemplary, and her subtle, stylish and skilful presentation gives your client’s case the edge." "Alev is popular with the judges, excellent with clients and easy to instruct." "Empathetic at all times but also firm and fair in her approach, she provides realistic advice in a sensitive way." Band 3 - Chambers and Partners, 2021

  "She has an incredibly calming demeanour, yet in court is a force to be reckoned with." Legal 500, 2019 

  "She is extremely bright and knowledgeable." Legal 500, 2019

  "She can be extremely smooth and persuasive, and has one of the best bedside manners I've seen with a client. She's also capable of being ferocious in her cross-examination." Chambers and Partners, 2019

  "Very bright, she always takes a good position in a case, and is an experienced and wise counsel." 2018

  "She deals with very sensitive cases very skillfully and sensitively." 2018

  "She's a firm presence in court and very good with child clients." 2018

  "An experienced barrister who maintains a broad children practice covering both public and private issues. She is instructed to act for guardians, local authorities, children and parents. Giz has particular expertise in matters concerning the relocation of children internationally and domestically." Chambers and Partners, 2018

  "Her calm, gentle manner belies her thoroughness and rigour." Legal 500, 2017

  "Recommended for deprivation of liberty cases." Legal 500, 2017

  "Her advocacy is calm and measured but behind it sits an authority and determination." Legal 500, 2016