Roger McCarthy QC

1998 Assistant Recorder
1999 Parent (twin daughters)
2000 -2010 Head of Chambers
2000 Recorder (Public and private family law, civil and crime)
2000 Deputy High Court Judge (Family Division)
Vice President of the Relatives and Residents Association (a national charity looking after the interests of elderly persons in care homes)

Areas of Practice

Family Law

Public and Administrative Law

His work under both categories (family law and public law) has included advising on representations to, and negotiations with, Central Government about proposed legislation and amendments to current statutes.

Family Law

His practice to date includes children (care proceedings and private law), adoption, internal and international abduction, surrogacy, fostering, learning disabilities, inherent jurisdiction, Court of Protection, human rights and judicial review. He is experienced at dealing with local authorities, guardians and with family clients under extreme stress. He is experienced at dealing with a very wide range of different clients He has extensive trial experience of complex interpersonal disagreements, difficult expert evidence (both medical and non-medical), disputed illness, fatalities and serious injuries, intergenerational disputes, education, conflicting cultures and divergent religious beliefs.

Public and Administrative Law

He has developed expertise in the following areas:- public law, judicial review, care standards (residential and non-residential), regulation of teaching and social work practice, mental health, education, community care, social services, health service functions, local government functions and human rights. He is used to acting for a wide range of clients (individuals, providers, regulators, public and corporate bodies).

Professional beliefs
The importance of hard work, careful preparation, creative thought, honesty, good client care and awareness of the views of others (including judges).

Selected Legal Directory Comments

Public and Administrative Law

Chambers and Partners
".. has impressed several leading practitioners with the speed with which he gets a grip on cases and was reported to be "very constructive and helpful to deal with…"

Family Law

Chambers and Partners
"…his profound intellect is there for all to see..."

"...low key but effective style..."

"...Coram…strong specialist family set. [RM] stands out as the leader. Reflecting the set's strength in children law, he acts for families, guardians and local authorities with "fearless passion". A keen exponent of public law, he is a veteran of numerous judicial reviews..."

Lawyer Magazine
...has a very good court manner and a good manner with clients as well as being a good lawyer..".

Important Reported Cases

Roger McCarthy QC has appeared in 105 reported cases. Please click here to view a full descriptive list of those 105 cases which include the following important decisions:-

Albert v Lavin (HL) 1981
Westminster City Council v Croyalgrange (HL) 1986
Commission for Racial Equality v Dutton (CA) 1989
R v Harrow LBC ex p D (CA) 1990
D v D  (County Court Jurisdiction) (CA) 1993
R v Devon CC ex p Baker (CA) 1995
R v Islington LBC ex p Rixon Times (QB CO) 1996
Steane v Chief Adjudication Officer and anor (HL) 1996
Re F (Adult Patient) (CA) 2000
R (L), R (R) v Manchester CC (Adm Ct) 2001
R (NAGALRO) v CAFCASS  (Adm Ct) 2001
Cowl v Plymouth CC (CA) 2002
Re A  (Care Proceedings: Asylum Seekers) (FD) 2003
Re An inquiry: Restraint on Publication / A Local Authority v A Health Authority and Ms A (FD) 2004
Re B (Adoption: Removal from Jurisdiction) B v Birmingham CC 2004 (CA) 2004
Re A (A child) 2004 (CA)
Andrew Moore v Care Standards Tribunal and CSCI (CA) 2005
Birmingham CC v H 2 2006 (FD) 2006
R (Johnson) v Havering LBC 2007, YL v Birmingham CC (CA) 2007
R (Green) v South West Strategic Health Authority and ors (Adm Ct) 2008
Re LT and RT v Local Authority (FD) 2011
Re A (Abduction: Interim Directions: Accommodation by Local Authority) (CA) 2011

Relevant training or teaching

He has provided extensive talks, training, seminars and lectures across various practice areas.

Lecturing to date

National Annual Bar Conference ,Jordan’s, various other national conferences, family workers, foster parents, CABs, BAPSCAN, Law Society, Sussex FLBA, various voluntary bodies ,social workers, solicitors, local authorities, various quangos, Home Office, Department of Health, Coram Chambers, Local Government Group of Law Society.