Frances Orchover

Areas of Practice

Children and Ancillary Relief

Called in 1989 Frances Orchover’s background included a criminal defence practice but she now practises exclusively in Family Law.

She is a specialist in the law relating to children. Her practice encompasses public and private law Children Act proceedings, adoption, abduction, domestic violence, divorce, ancillary relief and vulnerable adult cases. She acts for parents and children but also Local Authorities, CAFCASS, NYAS and the Official Solicitor. 

Her practice is now primarily in public law and she has particular experience and expertise in

• non accidental injury cases
• murder of one parent by the other
• fabricated illness
• sexual abuse including interfamilial and inter-generational abuse, internet pornography,child perpetrators
• concurrent care and criminal proceedings with PII issues
• teenage parents
• parents with learning difficulties
• chronic neglect cases with lengthy historical documentation
• adoption and international adoption

She is instructed for her tenacity, her reputation for excellent client care, as well as her tactical and legal insight. She has the ability to master substantial amounts of evidence including medical evidence quickly and efficiently. She is a concise and robust advocate.

Frances is a former volunteer at the Terence Higgins Trust and has a special interest in and knowledge of HIV/Aids related cases. She has lectured for Liberty in respect of criminal legislation.

She currently sits on the Family Law Bar Association National Committee and she is a member of the monitoring group of the PLO at the PRFD. She is also a member of the Diversity sub-committee of the Family Justice Council.

She is a legal consultant to the BBC and lectures to solicitors, chambers, Local Authorities and the Local Government Group.

She has two small children and lives in London.

Reported Cases 

K v K & Ors [2008] EWHC 1561 (Fam)

Fact finding in private law case- involvement of police- forensic evidence- rehearing required after fresh evidence-involvement of Guardian.

B v B (Financial Provision: Welfare of Child and Conduct) [2002] 1 FLR 555

Financial provision - Divorce - Matrimonial home - Mesher order not made - Husband's failure to disclose, and disposal of assets - Husband's abduction of child - Relevance of husband's conduct - Whether departure from equality justified