Practice Overview
Yolanda Pemberton is ranked in Chambers UK Band 1 and as a Tier 1 Leading Junior in Legal 500. She was a founding Board Member of Women in Family Law.
Yolanda is widely recognised for her expertise in complex children (Public Law) proceedings. Her practice focuses on representing local authorities, parents, children through their guardian, interveners and other interested parties. Yolanda’s cases frequently involve factual or medical complexity including alleged serious injuries to, and/or death of children, death where one parent is accused of killing the other, head injury, fabricated and/or induced illness, attempted suffocation, historic and current sexual abuse (including subject child as victim and perpetrator and non-subject children), concealed pregnancy, radicalisation, child trafficking, modern day slavery and exploitation, proceedings including an international element, and adoption breakdowns. Yolanda is known for her meticulous preparation of her cases, the complexity of her cases makes it necessary for her to undertake forensic consideration of complex medical or factual evidence which is often considered alongside concurrent criminal proceedings. Yolanda excels with vulnerable clients and can quickly and expertly get to the core of any dispute and known to be uncompromising in her approach for any client, ensuring they receive the best and most robust representation.
Yolanda has experience before all levels of judiciary, regularly appearing before Circuit Judges and High Court Judges either alone or led by silk in the most complex of cases including the Court of Appeal.
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Children (Public Law)
Yolanda has an extensive background and experience of representing local authorities, parents and children in public law cases involving serious injuries and/or death to children, death where one parent kills the other, FII, fractures, bruising, attempted suffocation, sexual abuse (including subject child as victim and perpetrator), complex medical issues, mental health, and including parents who require the assistance of the Official solicitor (acting for both parents via the Official Solicitor). In addition, Yolanda has experience of representing both parents and local authorities in adoption proceedings, or care proceedings with an international element.
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Notable Cases
X Borough Council v Mum & Ors [2024] EWFC 442 (B)
Birmingham City Council v M & Ors [2023] EWHC 3312
Birmingham City Council v CD & Ors [2023] EWHC 748
Re Z (Care Proceeding: Reopening of Fact Finding) [2023] EWFC 137
Re CM (A child) [2023] EWFC 263 (B)
Re AA (Re Children Act 1989) [2023] EWFC 278 (B)
Re A&B (Fact Finding: Head, Bony, Eye and Soft Tissue Injuries) [2020] EWFC 104
A County Council v Mother [2020] EWFC 15
Re E (A Child) [2016] EWCA Civ 473.
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What the Directories Say
“Yolanda’s preparation for cases is second to none. She often knows more about the client’s case than the client themselves. She is brilliant with clients but also able to deliver firm advice.” Chambers and Partners 2026
“Yolanda is an excellent advocate, capable of dealing with the most complex matters competently. She goes above and beyond for her clients to ensure the best outcome possible for them.” Chambers and Partners 2026
“Yolanda is a very capable junior and she is extremely well-prepared for every case, often putting other advocates to shame by her knowledge of the case papers and the relevant law. She is often instructed in complex cases where she displays a real mastery of medical records or mobile phone evidence, and she is extremely professional and well-liked by judges, opponents, solicitors and lay clients alike.” Legal 500 2026
“A really safe pair of hands and very thorough in her forensic preparation of things.” Chambers & Partners 2025
“Yolanda is above competent. She has a clear understanding of complex law and will work nonstop for her client.” Legal 500 2024
“Yolanda is one of the most passionate, motivated and committed barristers in the Birmingham circuit. She is so effectively able to put her client’s case forward.” Chambers & Partners 2024
“She instils calm and confidence. She is empathetic, calming, but commanding. Her preparation is meticulous.” Chambers & Partners 2024
“Yolanda is always well-prepared, and her paperwork is outstanding. She is a calm but forceful advocate. Her work ethic is remarkable.” Legal 500 2023
“She has the ability to put the client’s case across in a passionate yet measured manner and will always fight her clients corner whilst giving clients focused, realistic advice.” Chambers & Partners 2023
“Yolanda has excellent legal knowledge and drafting. She is easy to approach and accessible.” Chambers & Partners 2023
“She’s really effective and excellent with clients, and her advocacy and preparation are very good.” Chambers UK 2022
“She’s a very calming influence in any case and is utterly unflappable.” Chambers UK 2022
“Yolanda is a first rate advocate whose attention to detail is second to none. She brings a calmness to her client’s case; a sense that her client is in safe hands and will do all that can be done to achieve the best outcome.” Legal 500
“She’s an excellent advocate who is always very well prepared and provides very effective written material. She has a clear eye on the pertinent issues in a case, and an excellent rapport with clients.” Chambers UK
“A commanding advocate who is always thoroughly prepared.” Chambers UK
“Through dedicated preparation and razor-sharp advocacy, she ensures the best results for her clients.” Chambers UK
“Very well prepared and unflappable, I have absolute confidence in her abilities.” Chambers UK
Chambers and Partners
Ranked
2026
Legal 500
Leading Junior
2026
