Adoption
Care Proceedings
Children Act Proceedings
International Movement of Children
Judicial Review
Mental Health and Incapacity
Wardship / Inherent Jurisdiction
Mark is primarily a specialist children / family
law barrister but he acts in cases of a much
broader span that can perhaps best be
described as covering children, families and
individuals from their earliest days to their
last.
Specifically, Mark's
practice has a particular emphasis on public law
(care) proceedings, in which he regularly acts for
local authorities, parents and children in all
levels of court. In practice, those cases
often involve complex legal issues, significant
non-accidental injuries, sexual abuse, mental
health matters, immigration and housing elements.
His children work often involves instruction by
the Official Solicitor and by NYAS.
Mark also represents clients
in ancillary relief cases and related matters such
as TOLATA applications. He accepts
instructions from those with modest assets, who
often present the more complicated issues, as well
as from those of more substantial means.
Another aspect of Mark's
work, which is of equally great interest to him,
consists of cases involving vulnerable adults who
may lack capacity. He is reported in this
area in a case involving a dispute about the care
arrangements for an elderly man who was found on
the medical evidence to lack capacity. The
case also involved the commonly related question
as to which public authority was responsible for
such care. In this case, the proceedings
were initiated by way of an application for
permission to apply for judicial review of the
PCT's decision.
Mark's related practice in
community care, mental health, judicial review and
human rights contribute to and inform his work in
the areas mentioned above. His legal
practice is in turn complemented by his training
as a doctor and his exposure in a clinical
environment to all aspects of medical work,
particularly psychiatry. He also studied
psychology as an undergraduate.
Of significant benefit to
Mark has been his experience of housing law early
in his career and the several years that he spent
as a weekend voluntary immigration adviser at the
Hackney Community Law Centre.
Mark believes that client
care is of fundamental importance and understands
that lay clients involved in family cases are
likely to experience some of the most difficult
and stressful times of their lives. He
considers it important to maintain a sympathetic
approach so that clients feel reassured that their
representation is not only comprehensive and
professional but also properly reflects their
wishes. He feels that such an approach must
be adopted in conjunction with strong and
realistic advice so that clients are focused on
the real issues in the case and prepared as far as
possible for the likely outcome of the
proceedings.
Mark recognises that the
pressures on professional clients can often be
extremely great. he aims to provide clear,
insightful, detailed, practical and realistic
advice and assistance. Wherever possible, he
is willing to assist at short notice and when not
in chambers.
|
