Children, Mental Health and Community Care

David specialises in public and private law children cases, normally representing children or parents. He has particularly extensive experience of litigation following the unlawful killing of a child or parent and Children Act cases involving serious drug, alcohol or mental health problems. His recent work has included care proceedings arising from non-accidental head injury and other grave abuse of children; international movement of children including abduction cases and Hague Convention applications; and adoption with and without a foreign element.

David also has experience of wardship and inherent jurisdiction cases and of medical treatment, publicity and immigration issues in children cases.

David's mental health and community care work includes representing restricted and unrestricted patients at Mental Health Review Tribunal hearings and applications to displace nearest relatives. He has been a part-time President of the Mental Health Review Tribunal since 1995.

Re N (Contact: Minor Seeking Leave to Defend and Removal of Guardian) [Fam Div] [2003] 1FLR 652.
Contact – Minor seeking leave to defend proceedings – Minor seeking removal of guardian

D v S (Rights of Audience) [1997] 1 FLR 724
Practice and procedure – Rights of audience – Person without automatic rights of audience seeking such rights

Re W (Arrangements to Place for Adoption) [1995] 1 FLR 163
Adoption – Mother of child under a disability – Third person approaching adoption agency on mother’s behalf to make arrangements for adoption

Re B (A Minor) (Contact: Interim Order) [1994] 2 FLR 269
Contact – Application by father – Parents agreeing interim contact order prior to hearing

Re M (Minors) (Disclosure of Evidence) [1994] 1 FLR 760
Evidence – Disclosure – Children’s views contained in confidential report