Practice Overview
Julien practises across three main areas: public law, private law children cases and Court of Protection cases. His areas of expertise and specialisation include care proceedings, cases with an international dimension and judicial review, particularly involving Local Authorities' duties towards children and vulnerable adults. His practice encompasses civil law disputes with a family dimension, including negligence actions against Local Authorities.
Julien has a particular interest in publicity and reporting in the context of family proceedings. He has acted for the father of the child known as "Baby P" in a number of different cases including civil proceedings brought, unusually, on an anonymised basis, and in proceedings in the Family Division when reporting restrictions were imposed.
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Children (Public Law)
Julien has extensive experience of care proceedings (acting for Local Authorities, parents, members of the extended family and children) and has appeared in many factually sensitive and factually complex disputes. He has recently appeared in cases involving allegations of deliberately inflicted injuries, fabricated and induced illness, poisoning of a child, radicalisation and inter-generational sexual abuse.
Notable cases include:
O and Y (Children: Care Order) [2019] EWFC B22
Re J (A Child) (Fact-Finding Hearing in Care Proceedings) [2019] EWFC 73
Re T (A Child) [2018] EWCA Civ 650, [2018] 4 WLR 121
Wandsworth London Borough Council v M [2017] EWHC 2435 (Fam), [2017] 4 WLR 180
London Borough of Tower Hamlets v M and Others [2015] EWHC 869 (Fam), [2015] 2 FLR 1431
M (Children) [2014] EWCA Civ 1753
K (A Child) [2012] EWCA Civ 925
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Children (Private Law)
Julien is frequently instructed by parents in private law children cases. He also regularly acts for children when a children’s Guardian is appointed to represent their interests. Recent disputes in which Julien has been involved include residence, contact, schooling and medical treatment. Julien also practises in cases of international child abduction and where children are made wards of court. Julien is often asked to act in cases when serious allegations of physical or emotional abuse are in issue.
Notable cases include:
C (A Child) (No 2) [2014] EWFC 44
W (Children) [2003] EWCA Civ 116, [2003] All ER (D) 183 (Jan)
W (A child) (Sexual Abuse) [2002] All ER (D) 34 (Jan)
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Judicial Review & Administrative Law
Julien has a particular interest in administrative law and judicial review applications arising from family disputes and Local Authorities’ duties towards children and families. He acts for public bodies and private individuals in the Administrative Court, the Coroner’s Court and tribunals.
Notable cases include:
R (On the Application Of FD) v X Metropolitan Borough Council [2019] EWHC 3481 (Admin)
Application for judicial review in relation to the duties of a local authority in private law proceedings under the Children Act 1989 and its duties under Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Application for judicial review of a local authority’s decision to deregister two foster carers.
Application for judicial review of a local authority’s decision to place a young offender in accommodation against his wishes.
Application for judicial review of a local authority’s decision not to fund and/or facilitate adaptions to the family home.
Commissioner's Case No: CDLA/4295/2000 [2001] UKSSCSC CDLA_4295_2000 (01 January 2001) (appeal to the Social Security Commissioner).
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International Family Law
Julien regularly acts for parents involved in Hague Convention applications, representing applicants and respondents in the High Court. He also has a particular interest in care proceedings with an international dimension (e.g. cases where habitual residence is uncertain, placement of children abroad and cases where other counties have issued the equivalent of care proceedings).
Notable cases include:
DCE v JA (A Minor: Abduction: Jurisdiction) [2000] All ER (D) 2124
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Domestic Violence & Injunctions
Julien frequently represents clients in applications for injunctions in the High Court and the Family Court.
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Court of Protection
Julien frequently represents local authorities, persons subject to an application under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and members of their extended family.
Notable cases include:
DY, Re [2021] EWCOP 28 (10 May 2021)
Wandsworth London Borough Council v M [2017] EWHC 2435 (Fam), [2017] 4 WLR 180
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ENE / Private FDR
Julien is willing to undertake an Early Neutral Evaluation of a case (usually, but not limited to, proposed private law proceedings under the Children Act 1989) with the objective of providing the parties with a realistic idea of the merits of the case.
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Arbitration
Julien is an arbitrator, qualified to take on children work.
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Damages Claims
Julien’s practice encompasses civil law disputes with a family dimension, including negligence actions against Local Authorities and claims under the Human Rights Act 1998.
Notable civil cases include:
KC v MGN Ltd [2013] EWCA Civ 3, [2013] 2 Costs LR 269, [2013] All ER (D) 140 (Jan)
KC v MGN Ltd [2012] EWHC 483 (QB), [2012] All ER (D) 28 (Mar)
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Notable Cases
Notable Children (Public) cases include:
O and Y (Children: Care Order) [2019] EWFC B22
Re J (A Child) (Fact-Finding Hearing in Care Proceedings) [2019] EWFC 73
Re T (A Child) [2018] EWCA Civ 650, [2018] 4 WLR 121
Wandsworth London Borough Council v M [2017] EWHC 2435 (Fam), [2017] 4 WLR 180
London Borough of Tower Hamlets v M and Others [2015] EWHC 869 (Fam), [2015] 2 FLR 1431
M (Children) [2014] EWCA Civ 1753
K (A Child) [2012] EWCA Civ 925
KM v Lambeth LBC [2011] EWCA Civ 1125, [2012] 1 FLR 1278
Notable Children (Private) cases include:
C (A Child) (No 2) [2014] EWFC 44
W (Children) [2003] EWCA Civ 116, [2003] All ER (D) 183 (Jan)
W (A child) (Sexual Abuse) [2002] All ER (D) 34 (Jan)
Notable Judicial Reviews include:
R (On the Application Of FD) v X Metropolitan Borough Council [2019] EWHC 3481 (Admin)
Notable International cases include:
DCE v JA (A Minor: Abduction: Jurisdiction) [2000] All ER (D) 2124
Notable Court of Protection cases include:
DY, Re [2021] EWCOP 28 (10 May 2021)
Wandsworth London Borough Council v M [2017] EWHC 2435 (Fam), [2017] 4 WLR 180
Notable civil cases include:
KC v MGN Ltd [2013] EWCA Civ 3, [2013] 2 Costs LR 269, [2013] All ER (D) 140 (Jan)
KC v MGN Ltd [2012] EWHC 483 (QB), [2012] All ER (D) 28 (Mar)
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