Practice Overview
Sally practises exclusively in family law as it relates to children. Whilst she has an emphasis on public law work - primarily care proceedings and adoption, she also accepts instructions in private law proceedings. Sally represents children and parents but about half of her work is advising and representing Local Authorities.
Sally is known for her meticulous and thorough preparation and grasp of detail. She is often instructed by local authorities at a very early stage so as to shape the case and advise on strategy. She has a recognised ability to forge strong working relationships with solicitors and social work professionals.
Sally does not accept public access instructions.
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Children (Public Law)
Sally mainly acts in public adoption and care proceedings representing local authorities, children and parents. She is noted for her specialism in cases concerning injured children and surrounding issues of mental health and technical medical evidence.
Sally conducts cases at all levels from the county court upwards and regularly appears against Leading Counsel.
She is often instructed as junior at the request of leading counsel, including in the Supreme Court appeal against the decision in Re T (Costs: Care Proceedings: Serious Allegations Not Proved) [2010] EWCA Civ 1585.
She has particular expertise in cases of conflicting or complex medical evidence where the case centres on serious injury to or death of a child but is equally familiar with cases arising out of mental health issues or allegations of sexual harm.
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Children (Private Law)
In private law cases Sally is often instructed to act where there is a disputed issue which is the subject of a fact finding hearing such as allegations of abuse of the subject child.
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What the Directories Say
"She is able to master the most complex of cases, and present them through her advocacy in a clear and decisive way that fills her clients (both professionals and lay) with absolute confidence." Band 1 - Chambers and Partners, 2025
"A go-to every time." Band 1 - Chambers and Partners, 2025
"She is incredibly analytical, knows all of her papers and has the ear of judges." Band 1 - Chambers and Partners, 2025
"A forensic and detailed advocate." Tier 3 - Legal 500, 2025
"She's good at spotting the weaknesses in a case, and great at addressing them. She has a nice way of weighing issues up, presenting the big picture and explaining why the judge should do X instead of Y." Band 1 - Chambers and Partners, 2024
"Sally Stone is an excellent barrister, who knows her papers inside and out and takes a very detailed approach to cases." Band 1 - Chambers and Partners, 2024
"She has an amazing technical brain, and her thoroughness is exemplary." Band 1 - Chambers and Partners, 2024
"Sally is meticulous in preparation, exacting her standards with an incredible capacity to absorb and retain detail to develop a rapport with lay clients." Legal 500, 2024
"Sally is a force to be reckoned with. She's exceptionally good and is dogged, determined and passionate about what she does." Band 2 - Chambers and Partners, 2023
"She has experience in high-profile, ultrasensative and complex children cases including those concerning fatalities. She''s on top of the cases, very thorough and someone whose advocacy is masterful." Band 2 - Chambers and Partners, 2023
“Sally is an exceptionally hardworking and able specialist public law children practitioner. She knows every page of every brief and puts her arguments across in a succinct and highly effective way” Legal 500, 2022
"She has the most encyclopaedic knowledge of her papers and can retain so much information. When she walks into a room you know she has it covered." "Sally works like a demon and produces the best documents, so you have all the answers you need. Her cross-examination is superb." "Complex cases are her forte and she leaves no stone unturned. Her analysis of the law is often used by judges in their judgments." Band 1 - Chambers and Partners, 2021
"A very persuasive advocate who is thorough and well prepared in her cross-examination." Chambers and Partners, 2019
"She deals with the most complex cases with skill – steady and firm, she is a pleasure to work with." Chambers and Partners, 2019
"She's an excellent lawyer who shows brilliant attention to detail, doesn't miss anything and is very reliable." Chambers and Partners, 2017
- Notable Cases
News
Chambers and Partners
Top Ranked
Band 1 - 2024
Legal 500
Leading Silk
2024
Chambers and Partners
Top Ranked
Band 2 - 2023
Chambers and Partners
New Silk
2022
Legal 500
New Silk
2022
Chambers and Partners
Top Ranked
Band 1 - 2021
Chambers UK Bar Awards
Family Junior of the Year
2020
Chambers and Partners
Ranked
Band 2 - 2020
