Lucy Maxwell

Practice Overview

Lucy’s practice focuses on children law (private and public) and surrogacy, with a particular interest in appellate work. Since joining chambers in September 2018 after the successful completion of her pupillage, Lucy has acted in some of the most consequential and high-profile cases in family law, including a number of cases before the Court of Appeal.

Lucy has appeared both in her own right and instructed as junior counsel in cases as diverse as Re Al M, AA v BB, Re H-N, Griffiths v Tickle and the recent case of K v K. In particular, Lucy has appeared in many of the recent, significant cases developing the court's approach to domestic abuse, rape, and coercive control. 

Lucy is currently researching a book considering the consequences of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO) on the tenth anniversary of its coming in to force. 

• Family Finance & Property

  Lucy is a straight forward but forceful advocate and combines a forensic eye for detail with a pragmatic approach to advising and running financial remedies cases.

  Lucy practices in all aspects of financial remedies including freezing orders, TOLATA, Schedule 1 applications, enforcement, and private FDRs. Lucy is also available to advise on and draft pre- and post-nuptial agreements.

• Children (Private Law)

  Lucy brings compassion and care to private law children work and has considerable experience dealing with s8 applications, including cases involving alienation, enforcement, serious allegations of abuse, and complex issues of mental or physical illness of parents and children.

  Notable Cases

  K v K (No. 2) [2022] EWFC 171 

  K, Re [2022] EWCA Civ 468

  AA v BB [2021] EWHC 1822 (Fam) (02 July 2021)

  Re Al M (Assurances and Waiver) [2020] EWHC 67 (Fam)

  Re Al M (Publication) [2020] EWHC 122 (Fam)

  Re Al M (Children) [2020] EWCA Civ 283

  Re Al M (Fact Finding) [2019] EWHC 3415 (Fam)

• International Family Law

  Lucy has experience in cases involving international family law, including international child abduction and international relocation.

  Notable Cases

  Al Maktoum Judgments 

  Re Al M (Assurances and Waiver) [2020] EWHC 67 (Fam)

  Re Al M (Publication) [2020] EWHC 122 (Fam)

  Re Al M (Children) [2020] EWCA Civ 283

  Re Al M (Fact Finding) [2019] EWHC 3415 (Fam)

• Children (Public Law)

  Lucy practices for all parties in public law children proceedings. During pupillage and in practice, Lucy has had exposure to complex public law children work including cases involving terrorism, non-accidental injury, and neglect.

  Notable Cases

  R (Care Proceedings Joinder of Foster Carers) [2021] EWCA Civ 875

• Domestic Violence & Injunctions

  Lucy has experience in a range of Family Law Act applications, including non-molestation orders, occupations orders and transfer of tenancy applications.

• Modern Families & Surrogacy

  Lucy has experience acting in modern family and surrogacy cases.

• Notable Cases

  K v K (No. 2) [2022] EWFC 171 

  K, Re [2022] EWCA Civ 468

  Griffiths v Tickle [2021] EWCA Civ 1882

  Al Maktoum Judgments 

  AA v BB [2021] EWHC 1822 (Fam) (02 July 2021)

  R (Care Proceedings Joinder of Foster Carers) [2021] EWCA Civ 875

  H-N And Others (Children) (Domestic Abuse: Finding of Fact Hearings) (Rev 2) [2021] EWCA Civ 448 (30 March 2021)

  Re Q [2020] EWHC 1109 (Fam)

  Re Al M (Assurances and Waiver) [2020] EWHC 67 (Fam)

  Re Al M (Publication) [2020] EWHC 122 (Fam)

  Re Al M (Children) [2020] EWCA Civ 283

  Re Al M (Fact Finding) [2019] EWHC 3415 (Fam)

• What the directories say

  "Lucy fights tooth and nail for clients and makes sure she's available for hearings during her leave in order to ensure continuity of counsel for clients. She is capable of taking on numerous complicated matters." Up and Coming - Chambers and Partners, 2023

  "Lucy is a real rising star. She's a well-prepared, thorough and tenacious advocate." Up and Coming - Chambers and Partners, 2023

  "Lucy is brilliant with clients and makes them feel at ease. She gives honest and thorough legal advice and is able to grasp the legal issues succinctly. Her preparation is thorough and detailed. She is an extremely strong and effective advocate. She is decisive when it comes to case strategy and gives her cases a lot of time and thought to ensure that the best outcome is achieved. She is able to argue a client’s case ferociously yet respectfully to the judiciary when needed." Tier 1 - Legal 500, 2023