Catherine Jenkins

Practice Overview

• Children (Public Law)

  Catherine’s practice is entirely within family law relating to children; public and private law.

  Her particular field of expertise is in public law care proceedings including cases involving the death of a child or parent, inflicted or non accidental injury, complex medical issues, serious sexual abuse, mental health issues learning disability and addiction.

   Catherine is very often instructed on behalf of children’s guardians, and competent children, but also represents local authorities and parents. 

  Her practice also encompasses care proceedings with an international element.

  She acts for all parties in adoption cases.

  Most notable cases include:

  LA v M & Ors [2024] EWHC 1336

  Re W [2017] EWCA 829 (fam)

  Re A Adoption: Long-term Fostering [2015]. EWCA 1021

  Re H [2015] EWCA Civ 1289

   

• Children (Private Law)

  Catherine represents parents and children through their 16.4 guardian within private law proceedings.

  Most notable cases include:

  Re Q [2020] EWHC 1109 (Fam)

• International Family Law

  Catherine undertakes child abduction work and all types of care proceedings with an international element, often cases involving the operation of Brussels II and the movement of children. 

  Most notable cases include:

  Re B (A Child) [2013] EWCA Civ 1434

• What the Directories Say

  "Kate Jenkins is always a pleasure to have on care cases. She is able to quickly grasp the issues, has excellent advocacy skills and is very popular with clients." Band 2 - Chambers and Partners, 2025

  "Catherine (Kate) is exceptional. She handles complex cases calmly and with great expertise. She is very supportive to both the client and the instructing solicitor." Band 2 - Chambers and Partners, 2025

  "An experienced and impressive counsel, who is always happy to discuss a case in further detail. She is a pleasure to work with." Band 2 - Chambers and Partners, 2025

  "Catherine Jenkins has a very assured, confident, kind and human manner. Very knowledgeable, she takes a practical approach and produces good, clear advocacy." Band 2 - Chambers and Partners, 2024

  "Catherine Jenkins is a calm, organised, kind, smart, and straight to the point legal performer. Judges respect her because she calmly gets what she wants out of a witness." Band 2 - Chambers and Partners, 2024

  "Catherine is a very able advocate, who is excellent at making points in a measured way." Band 2 - Chambers and Partners, 2024

  "Catherine is quick to get to the heart of the matter. She is excellent in court and clears the approach. Her advice and expertise on complex matters are always an enormous assistance. She inspires confidence in clients with her approach." Legal 500, 2024

  "Catherine is extremely reliable and excellent with every client." Band 2 - Chambers and Partners, 2023

  "She is incredibly efficient, and her position statements are detailed and eloquent." Band 2 - Chambers and Partners, 2023

  "Exceptionally able and knows her stuff inside out. She inspires confidence and makes clients feel comfortable." Band 2 - Chambers and Partners, 2021

  "She has the patience of a saint and has the ability to make the client feel that they are the most important thing in the world." Band 2 - Chambers and Partners, 2021

  Public law specialist who represents children, parents and local authorities in cases involving abuse and non-accidental injury. She also offers expertise in international adoption and forced marriage proceedings. "Catherine is really excellent. She fights the good fight, but does it realistically. She remains the absolute professional throughout proceedings, and takes everything in her stride." Chambers and Partners, 2019

  Public law specialist who represents children, parents and local authorities in cases involving abuse and non-accidental injury. She also offers expertise in international adoption and forced marriage proceedings. 

  "She is a very skilled advocate who is incredibly effective." 2018

  "She's hugely experienced" 2017

  "Someone who fights her cases with skill." 2017

  "She has great client care skills and fights her cases with skill. She is very friendly when she cross-examines until she moves in for the kill." 2016

  "She has common sense, and doesn't take stupid points for the sake of it. She knows when to push something and when to leave something." 2015

  "Her advice and her judgement are both superb." 2014

  Highly strong and collaborative ethic when dealing with instructing solicitors "She has a lovely nature but get her into court and she'll fight all the way." 2013