Emily James KC

Practice Overview

• Children (Private Law)

  Emily’s private law practice encompasses the following:

  • High‑conflict and/or high net worth parental disputes;
  • Cases requiring coordinated handling of privacy, media and reputation;
  • Relocation cases (internal and international);
  • Allegations of domestic abuse, coercive control, and alienating behaviours;
  • Enforcement and variation applications, including committal. 
• International Family Law

  Emily has extensive expertise acting in the following:

  • international child abduction (Hague and non-Hague);
  • jurisdictional disputes;
  • recognition and enforcement of foreign orders;
  • international relocation;
  • international contact disputes.
• Children (Public Law)

  Her practice encompasses cases involving:

  • Adoption and placement order proceedings involving:
    • Allegations of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse;
    • Non‑accidental injury;
    • Neglect and chronic parenting difficulties;
    • Complex medical evidence;
    • Fact‑finding hearings involving multiple experts;
  • Deprivation of liberty and secure accommodation applications

  Emily is particularly skilled at representing vulnerable clients, including those with learning difficulties, mental health needs or addiction, and is known for her patient, empathetic, and accessible client care.

• Notable Cases

  CB (Habitual Residence: Child Born and Present Abroad), Re [2025] EWHC 1712 (Fam)

  P v M & Ors [2023] EWFC 254

  Re S (A Child) & Anor (s 20 Accommodation) [2023] EWCA Civ 1

  M (A Child – Private Law Children Proceedings – Case Management – Intimate Images) [2022] EWHC 986 (Fam)

  Re S (Children) (Inherent Jurisdiction: Setting Aside Return Order) [2021] EWCA Civ 1223

  B (A Child) (care proceedings) [2018) EWCA Civ 20

  H (A Child – Hair Strand Testing) [2017] EWEFC 64

  Re T (a Child) (Early Permanence Placement) [2015] EWCA Civ 983

  Adoption – early permanent placement, child placed with prospective adopters at birth. Care plan altered to SGO in favour of paternal grandparents. Whether the adopters ought to have been joined to the proceedings, whether the adopters should have been granted leave to apply for an adoption order

  Re SSM (A Child) [2015] EWHC 327 (Fam)

  Re R (a Child) (2014) EWCA Civ 1625
  Appeal by mother following care and placement orders. Consideration by the President of wider implications of Re B-S and the post Re B-S ‘landscape’.

• What the Directories Say

  "Emily brings real presence and gravitas to every case. Her calm authority inspires confidence in clients." New Silk - Legal 500, 2026

  "Emily is an excellent strategist who can think quickly on her feet." Tier 4 - Legal 500, 2025

  "Emily is a go-to advocate for complex children's matters. She is experienced and extremely well-prepared. She gives regular feedback to solicitors to assist and is willing to respond if issues arise on long-running cases." Tier 4 - Legal 500, 2024

  ‘Fully invested in every case. She knows every page of the brief, every nuance of the case and can predict all the avenues the case might take.’ Legal 500, 2022

  'Is tenacious, very well-prepared and you really feel that she cares about the client and the case. Emily's advice is drawn from her significant experience in children law and you know you are benefitting from real wisdom when you hear her views' Legal 500, 2021

  ‘She is hugely experienced; commands gravitas with client and judge; is straightforward and manages expectations well.’ Legal 500, 2020