Practice Overview
Michael specialises in cases concerning children, principally in Public Law, but he also practises in Private Law cases. His areas of expertise include care, adoption, fostering, residence, contact, Special Guardianship and applications for leave to relocate to live outside England and Wales. He represents children, Guardians, parents and Local Authorities in Public Law cases; and children and parents in Private Law cases, at all court levels.
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Children (Public Law)
Michael consistently handles cases involving allegations of chronic neglect, very serious injury, sexual abuse, violence, psychiatric or psychological disorder and substance misuse – both at fact-finding hearings and as part of main or final hearings over a number of days.
He has further experience of the many additional issues that can arise within, and overlap with, both Public and Private Law cases. Such issues include immigration, mental health and mental health legislation, the Mental Capacity Act 2005, fostering services, abduction, restraints on publicity and other injunctions, judicial review, considerations and requirements for placement of children abroad, human rights implications, Local Authority processes and police investigative processes.
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Children (Private Law)
Michael has appeared in many Private Law cases, acting on behalf of parents, children or other parties or relatives. He now principally acts on behalf of children when a Guardian is appointed in those proceedings. He has been instructed in cases involving chronic parental disputes, allegations of serious abuse of the parent or the child, parental alienation, permission to relocate outside the jurisdiction and other aspects of parental rights and responsibility.
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Notable Cases
Surrey County Council v LV & Ors [2023] EWFC 186
Re X (A Child) (Reporting Restrictions: Guidance) [2016] EWHC 1668 (Fam)
SCC v H & Ors (Supervision Orders) [2016] EWFC B51 (23 May 2014)
Re T (A Child)(Suspension of Contact) (Section 91(14) CA 1989) [2015] EWCA Civ 719
Re Hancock [2015] EWHC 2324 (Fam)
LCC v KP & Ors [2014] EWFC B129 (03 October 2014)
N & V (Inflicted Injuries: Rehabilitation) [2014] EWFC B157 (12 June 2014)
Re W (Children) (Abuse: Oral Evidence) [2010] UKSC 12 [2010] 1 FLR 1485
R (J and P) v West Sussex CC and Wiltshire CC [2002] EWHC 1143 (Admin) [2002] 2 FLR 1192
Re T (Termination of Contact: Discharge of Order) [1997] 1 WLR 393 [2007] 1 FLR 517 CA
Re N (Contested Care Application) [1994] 2 FLR 992
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