Malcolm Chisholm

Practice Overview

• Children (Public Law)
• Children (Private Law)
• Court of Protection
• International Family Law
• What the Directories Say

  "Malcolm is a really safe pair of hands for Court of Protection work. He diffuses any tensions between parties and works in a very collaborative way." Band 1 - Chambers and Partners, 2025

  "Malcolm is a very seasoned, wonderful advocate." Band 1 - Chambers and Partners, 2025

  "Malcolm is a highly skilled advocate who provides a steady hand in complaex cases" Tier 5 - Legal 500, 2025

  "Malcolm is a very effective advocate, expressing his client's position succinctly and persuasively. His written advocacy is to the point, accessible and very effective. He is also excellent with vulnerable clients." Tier 2 - Legal 500, 2025

  "Malcolm is excellent with vulnerable adults and is a very good mediator. He is extremely persuasive in court as he finds the route which is good for everyone." Legal 500, 2024 - Finance

  "Malcolm is a hugely dependable advocate. He has excellent client care skills and is a pleasure to work with as a solicitor." Legal 500, 2024 - Family

  "Malcolm has incredibly persuasive advocacy skills." Band 1 - Chambers and Partners, 2023

  "He always works as collaboratively as he can." Band 1 - Chambers and Partners, 2023

  "Malcolm is excellent with lay cliets and an effective cross-examiner."  Band 1 - Chambers and Partners, 2023

  "Malcolm is hugely impressive. He manages cases skillfully and can be relied upon to achieve excellent outcomes for clients." Tier 5 – Legal 500, 2023

  “Malcolm is a very effective advocate, who expresses his client's position succinctly and persuasively.” Tier 2 – Legal 500, 2022

  "Has the ability to see the bigger picture and to pursue those issues which will ultimately achieve the client's objectives" Tier 2 - Legal 500, 2021

  "Extremely helpful, very constructive and really brings people together." "He's fantastic: open, honest, clear and to the point." "He brings a human touch to his work and is very much a people person. He's also so robust and easy to work with."  Band 1 - Chambers and Partners, 2021

  "He is excellent with lay clients." Legal 500, 2019 

  "A very experienced senior junior who is extremely good with clients and very strong in cross-examination." Chambers and Partners, 2019

  "Malcolm is a very well-prepared barrister with a canny degree of foresight as to the issues that need to be grappled with and how these are likely to play out in front of any particular judge. His advocacy is at a level that surpasses his junior status." Chambers and Partners, 2019

  "Leading senior junior who is best known for his work for local authorities and for parents. Praised in the market for his client-handling skills, he is an expert on cases concerning the overlap between the Mental Health Act and the Mental Capacity Act. He's well respected, logical and excellent with vulnerable clients. His cross-examination is impressive." 2017

  "He is a real pleasure to work with and makes everyone feel at ease. He has the ability to take the emotional charge out of situations and make people feel they are working towards a common goal, which is invaluable. He is meticulous in his preparation and provides clear written and oral advice. He is able to get to grips with the issues at great speed." 2016

  "He has a sensitive manner with family members and is also realistic and sensible in his advice. He pursues cases with vigour and enthusiasm. He has an almost fatherly oversight when handling cases. He really steadies the ship and calms everything down." 2015

  "He is a polished advocate who offers confidence without aggression. He knows the law and also how to approach a case tactically." 2014

  "Trusted and tenacious." 2013

• Notable Cases

  Norfolk County Council v CA & Ors [2024] EWCOP 64 (T3)

  Re P (Teenager: Transfer of Residence: No 1)

  Tickle v Herefordshire Council & Others [2022] EWHC 1017 (Fam): reporting restrictions relating to BBC Panorama programme concerning the local authority

  A Local Authority v JK & Anor [2021] EWHC 33 (Fam): Notification to birth father of proposed adoption

  Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Local Health Board v RY [2017] EWCOP 2: Withdrawal of treatment - emphasising the difficulty faced by courts when P’s purported wishes and feelings are obscured by unreliable evidence from family members. Malcolm acted for the Health Board.

  A Local Authority v D, E, and C (A Child) [2016] EWHC 3473 (Fam): Deprivation of liberty of a Gillick-competent 15-year-old child.

  An NHS Trust v AB (A Child) and Others [2016] EWCA Civ 899: Court of Appeal refused parents’ appeal against refusal of High Court Judge to escalate treatment for a severely brain-injured child. Malcolm acted for CAFCASS Legal .

  Re X (A Child) [2015] EWHC 2778 (Fam); [2015] EWCA Civ 1159: Court of Appeal: withdrawal of treatment from a seriously ill 11-year-old child. Malcolm acted for CAFCASS Legal.

  X v (1) A Local Authority (2) NHS Trust [2014] EWCOP 29: Malcolm successfully argued that a retired lawyer suffering from Korsakoff’s psychosis nevertheless had capacity to make decisions regarding his residence and care needs.

  RC v CC & X Local Authority [2014] EWHC 131 (COP): The correct approach to be taken when a party seeks to withhold disclosure of documents in the Court of Protection. Malcolm acted for the Official Solicitor. 

  Re Z (Adoption: Scottish Child Placed in England: Convention Compliance) [2012] EWHC 2404 (Fam): Malcolm acted for the adopter in proceedings where adoption unsuccessfully opposed by birth parents on the grounds that the Scottish legal procedure leading to the placement of the child in England breached their rights under Articles 6 & 8.

  Re W (Adoption Order: Set Aside and Leave to Oppose) [2011] 1 FLR 2153, CA: Malcolm successfully acted for the adopter – the Court of Appeal gave guidance for courts faced with a late application to oppose adoption.

  X County Council v B (Abduction: Rights of Custody in the Court) [2010] 1 FLR 1197: The court can itself be seized of custody rights when dealing with an application involving child's place of residence.

  Re A (A Child) (Adoption: Removal) [2009] 2 FLR 597, CA: Placement of children overseas for the purposes of adoption.

  Re T (Care Order) [2009] 2 FLR 574, CA: Court's duties when presented with a proposed agreed order in care proceedings.

  X & Y v A Local Authority (Adoption: Procedure) [2009] 2 FLR 984, FD: Wholesale breach of adoption rules in FPC.

  Re LM (Reporting Restrictions: Coroner's Inquest) [2008] 1 FLR 1360, FD: Restrictions on publicity/Art 8/Art 10.

  Greenwich London Borough Council v S [2007] 2 FLR 154, FD : Convention adoption order/habitual residence.

  Re B (Abduction: False Immigration Information) [2000] 2 FLR 835, FD: The approach to be taken by the court when alerted to deception of a public body.

  Re P (Parental Responsibility) [1998] 2 FLR 96, CA: Court's refusal to make a parental responsibility order where the father's commitment to the child was not in question, but his motive in applying was to undermine the mother's care of the child.