Children

Michelle practises exclusively in family law. She advises and represents local authorities, private individuals, children and guardians in proceedings relating to children. She has particular expertise in cases involving alleged non-accidental injury to children.

She is highly regarded by and greatly in demand from both solicitors in private practice and local authorities.  Accordingly, she is one of the most sought-after senior juniors in her field.

She is chair of chambers' children team and is also an active and committed pupil supervisor.


PART-TIME JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS
Part-time legal chair of the Family Health Services Appeal Authority since 2001
Recorder (Public and Private Family Law) since 2006.  Michelle was one of only ten Recorders appointed as Family Only Recorders on the South Eastern Circuit that year.

 

Re U (Care Proceedings: Criminal Conviction: Refusal to Give Evidence) [2006] EWHC 372  [2006] 2 FLR 690 (Fam) 
Care proceedings - Refusal to give evidence - Advice of criminal lawyer - Criminal conviction - Pending appeal - Weight to attach to conviction - Lack of practical sanction - Cross-examination of witnesses allowed

Re A (Adoption: Placement Outside Jurisdiction) [2004] 2 FLR 337 (CA)
Adoption - Placement of children abroad without prior court approval - Whether such placement constituted "placement" for purposes of s20(1)(b) Adoption Act 1976 - Effect of s56 Adoption Act 1976 

Re W and X (Wardship: Relatives Rejected as Foster Carers) [2003] EWHC 2206 (Fam)
Care proceedings in relation to four children – three living with grandparents after death of sibling – fourth child placed with a view to adoption – court finding that remaining three should stay with grandparents – grandparents rejected by local authority as approved foster carers – children made wards of court with residence order in favour of grandparents and supervision order in favour of local authority