Pamela Warner

Practice Overview

Pamela is a specialist family practitioner. Her practice primarily focuses on public law children, specifically very complex cases of abuse and serious harm, often with concurrent criminal proceedings. She almost exclusively represents children, Gillick competent children or vulnerable adults. She is often instructed in cases involving serious physical abuse, sexual abuse, non-accidental injury (including head injuries) attempted infanticide, ritual abuse, child trafficking, child modern day slavery, vitamin D deficiency and chronic neglect.

Her High Court work includes representing NYAS (National Youth Advocacy Service), CAFCASS Legal and cases with an international element. Pamela is trained in ensuring that vulnerable witnesses give their best evidence in court and regularly advises solicitors who instruct her on topical issues and recent developments in Family Law.

Pamela also practices in private law. She has experience of adoption (including international) and surrogacy cases. She frequently represents children in private law cases through their rule 16.4 Guardian and is instructed on behalf of children thorough CAFCASS legal.

Pamela was appointed as a Recorder on the London/South Eastern circuit in Crime in 2009, and has also sat as a Recorder in both Private and Public Family Law since 2014.

Pamela was also instructed as junior counsel in the first case involving allegations of Female Genital Mutilation before the then President of the Family Division. Pamela has also been instructed as leading junior counsel.

What the Directories Say

"Pamela is my go-to barrister for complex cases and is well respect by peers, judges and other advocates. Her ability to establish novel points to support the case for her client is fantastic." Band 1 - Chambers and Partners, 2025

"Pamela is an outstanding advocate and a delight to work with. She is a silk in all but name and routinely represents children and parents in complex matters." Band 1 - Chambers and Partners, 2025

"She is excellent with vulnerable clients and a forceful advocate." Band 1 - Chambers and Partners, 2025

"Pamela is an excellent advocate. She can distil the most complex cases into clearly identifiable issues and presents her arguments eloquently, confidently and persuasively." Tier 4 – Legal 500, 2025

"Her ability to analysis the issues and assimilate complex information within a short timeframe impresses. She is respected by her peers within the field and brings a calmness to the most contentious of proceedings. Judges praise her advocacy skills, finding her legal arguments to be insightful, persuasive and well researched." Band 1 - Chambers and Partners, 2024

"Pamela gets to grips with complex matters. She's a very able advocate and is excellent at making points in a measured way." Band 1 - Chambers and Partners, 2024

"When she's in court she's very good at keenly listening to whatever is said. She's careful with the wording of positions but puts her message forward strongly at the same time." Band 1 - Chambers and Partners, 2024

"Pamela is respected and knowledgeable. She is a safe pair of hands. Her draft is concise and detailed, and her advocacy is second-to-none in terms of results." Tier 4 – Legal 500, 2024

"She's really organised, on top of the details and pleasant to deal with." Band 1 - Chambers and Partners, 2023

"Pamela is a skilled and knowledgable advocate. She's always on hand if you need her for additional information or support. The way she presents herself in hearings is very understated yet so effective."  Band 1 - Chambers and Partners, 2023

"Pamela has the ability to develop a good professional working relationship with other advocates and clients alike. Judges comment on her calm and commanding manner. She works in partnership with the solicitors who instruct her, and her approach is one to admire and respect." Tier 4 – Legal 500, 2023

“Pamela is very hardworking, thorough, meticulous, and pays attention to detail. She has a very considered and measured approach and is very approachable and warm with clients. Highly knowledgeable and very down to earth.”  Tier 4 – Legal 500, 2022

"Always has the ear of the Judge, is very well known for her sensible and pragmatic approach. As an advocate you know that if Pamela is involved in your case she brings to the case common sense." Tier 4 - Legal 500, 2021

"Has a breadth of knowledge across a wide range of issues and a nice, personal touch." "Her work ethic is unbelievable and her judgement is also very good." "Clients love her because she takes the time to listen to what they have to say." Band 2 - Chambers and Partner, 2021

"Is extremely knowledgeable; ensures she is fully prepared; considers all potential aspects; and is a formidable advocate." Tier 4 - Legal 500, 2020

"She’s thorough, extremely competent and has very fine advocacy and negotiation skills. Pamela is well respected by other advocates and judges alike, because of her calm, professional manner and her impressive command of the law." Band 3 - Chambers and Partners, 2020

"She’s also compassionate towards her clients." Band 3 - Chambers and Partners, 2020

"A formidable advocate who is respected by her peers and the judiciary." Legal 500, 2019

"She is the epitome of grace, calm, thoroughness and good judgement." Chambers and Partners, 2019

"A fantastic advocate, who is great on her feet." Chambers and Partners, 2019

"She makes bold and compelling submissions, which do the case real justice" Legal 500, 2017

"A phenomenal advocate, whose client care skills are second to none."  Legal 500, 2016
Notable Cases

J (A Child) [2020] EWFC 60 (23 December 2020)

Re R (Children) [2012] CA (Civ Div)

Re A (Adoption: Removal) [2009] 2 FLR 597

Re X (Emergency Protection Orders) [2006] 2 FLR 701

Lambeth v S, C and J [2007] 1 FLR 152

"Her ability to analysis the issues and assimilate complex information within a short timeframe impresses. She is respected by her peers within the field and brings a calmness to the most contentious of proceedings. Judges praise her advocacy skills, finding her legal arguments to be insightful, persuasive and well researched."

Band 1 - Chambers and Partners, 2024
"Pamela is respected and knowledgeable. She is a safe pair of hands. Her draft is concise and detailed, and her advocacy is second-to-none in terms of results."

Tier 4 - Legal 500, 2024
"Pamela is a skilled and knowledgable advocate. She's always on hand if you need her for additional information or support. The way she presents herself in hearings is very understated yet so effective."

Band 1 - Chambers and Partners, 2023
'Pamela has the ability to develop a good professional working relationship with other advocates and clients alike. Judges comment on her calm and commanding manner. She works in partnership with the solicitors who instruct her, and her approach is one to admire and respect.'

Tier 4 – Legal 500, 2023
“Pamela is very hardworking, thorough, meticulous, and pays attention to detail. She has a very considered and measured approach and is very approachable and warm with clients. Highly knowledgeable and very down to earth.”

Tier 4 – Legal 500, 2022