Eleanor F Platt KC

Eleanor has had experience over many years in all aspects of the law, however in the late 1980s she decided to specialise. She was the first Silk to join Alison Ball’s Chambers in 1990, not long after its formation, and became joint head. She was involved in building the set through its expansion and helping it to focus on the development of its independently acknowledged expertise as one of the leading Barristers’ chambers specialising in family law and related matters. She stood down as joint head in 2007 but continues to practice from 1GC|Family Law.

Throughout her career at the Bar and as a Silk, Eleanor has played a significant part in influencing the way in which the family courts approach cases involving children. This was hugely affected by the landmark Cleveland enquiry in which she was instructed on behalf of the Northern Region, the employers of the two doctors concerned. Ultimately this led to the Children Act with its radical reforms of the law relating to children, their families, and the role of the state in families’ lives. Additionally, she was involved in the development of the first statute that was enacted concerning surrogacy and parental orders in relation to a landmark case in which she represented a couple who had to use surrogacy to have their own genetic children.

Eleanor has for many years been a Legal Assessor for the GMC, (MPTS) and the General Dental Council. More recently she has chaired cases for the Pharmaceutical Council.