Khatun Sapnara

Children 

Khatun Sapnara is an experienced family law barrister specialising in the law relating to children.

She is described in Legal 500 2010 as “adept at complex child care cases and excellent at thinking on her feet”

Khatun was appointed, by the then Lord Chancellor, to the Family Justice Council when it was formed in 2004 to advise Government on all aspects of the family justice system.

Khatun is a recognised leading expert on forced marriage and assisted in drafting the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007. She has advised the Government on the implementation of the Act and trained all tiers of the judiciary on the subject.

In her role on the Family Justice Council, Khatun was involved in drafting the President’s Practice Direction: Residence and Contact Orders: Domestic Violence and Harm

Khatun’s practice consists of 80% public law in which she is instructed by all parties – parents, local authorities, Children’s Guardians, competent children, NYAS and the Official Solicitor.

She also undertakes highly conflicted private law cases in which she frequently represents Rule 9.5 Guardians

She has particular expertise in cases involving:

• Serious physical injury, in particular non – accidental head injuries

• Sexual abuse including inter-familial, inter-generational and children who abuse/are victims

• Forced marriage and domestic violence

• Concurrent family/ criminal proceedings (including murder/manslaughter/cruelty and neglect)

• Adoption and SGOs

• Cases with an international/cultural dimension

• Representation of BME families who are over-represented in the family justice system

Khatun regularly undertakes training of the judiciary on behalf of the Judicial Studies Board on both the private and public law family courses. She also trains other professionals working in the family justice system – social workers, Children’s Guardians, magistrates, lawyers and the police.

Khatun has attended the conference of the International Liaision Judges organised by the Hague Convention and participated in judicial efforts to secure and strengthen bi-lateral agreements and protocols with other jurisdictions in respect of international child abduction.

Khatun has been invited to speak at a variety of events, including the Commonwealth Law Conference, the President’s Conference and the South East Circuit Family Conferences. She organised the President’s Inter-disciplinary Conference in 2007 at Dartington Hall, culminating in the publication of the collected papers “Integrating Diversity” (Jordans: Family Law)

She is the author of “Representing Asian Families in the Family Courts” published in Re-Rooted Lives: Inter-disciplinary Work within the Family Justice System [2007] (Jordans: Family Law)

LLB.Hons University of London (LSE)

Represented “Child A” in the fact-finding hearing in 'ReMA (Children) [2009] EWCA Civ 853'

Unreported decision 2007 (to preserve complete anonymity). Represented the Mother who, along with her children, was the subject of a witness protection scheme. The Court found that the Mother’s conduct, in removing herself and the children from the scheme, did not establish threshold criteria - notwithstanding the real risk of retribution.

In care proceedings, represented a Muslim father who was incarcerated pursuant to anti-terrorist legislation and was subject to SIAC certificate, in care proceedings. 2005

P v R (Forced Marriage: Annulment: Procedure) [2003] 1FLR 661

Re S (Change of Names: Cultural Factors) [2001] 2 FLR 1005

Khatun has served on the committee of the Family Law Bar Association since 2003. She was appointed to the and Equality and Diversity Committee of the Bar Council in January 2010.

Khatun has longstanding and extensive experience of serving on the Management Committees and Boards of schools, charities and voluntary sector organisations. She is currently Chair of Ashiana Network – a charity providing refuge and support for South Asian, Turkish and Iranian women victims of forced marriage and domestic violence.