Pamela Warner, instructed by Russell-Cooke, appeared on behalf of the child via her children’s guardian and Tom Wilson, instructed by Goodman Ray Solicitors, appeared on behalf of the applicants in Re T (A Child) (Non-Agency Adoption) [2026] EWHC 391.

The applicants were foster carers who applied to adopt a child, aged three, who had lived with them since shortly after she was born. The local authority opposed the adoption on the basis that it wished to place her with her half-sister in an alternative adoptive placement. The Guardian supported the application based on her concern about the negative impact of removing the child from the applicants’ care.

Mr Justice McKendrick made an adoption order in the applicants’ favour and an order for contact between the two half-sisters.