Coram Chambers welcomed TV Edwards and the London Borough of Ealing to its conference room yesterday for an engaging seminar on the latest developments in public children law. Three leading barristers from Coram Chambers – Dr Bianca Jackson, Alice Thornton, and Cason Yong – delivered comprehensive talks, fostering discussion and sharing up-to-date knowledge with attendees.
Alice Thornton opened the session with a clear and practical update on public law case law. She explored important topics including recent the decisions in Re D (Threshold Findings and Final Orders at IRH) [2025] EWCA Civ 1362. Alice also broke down how courts are responding to complex issues and provided practical guidance for practitioners in relation to intermediaries and attendance of experts, following the decisions of M (A Child: Intermediaries) [2025] EWCA Civ 440 and A Local Authority v X (Attendance of Experts) (Rev 1) [2025] EWFC 137.
Cason Yong took the floor next, focusing on children’s competence and the importance of the child’s voice in public law proceedings. He explored the legal test for competence, the procedural framework pertaining to instructing a child’s solicitor, and the challenges and inconsistencies within the current test. He discussed the leading authority of Re C (A Child: Ability to Instruct Solicitor) [2023] EWCA Civ 889 and the list of factors relevant to a child’s “understanding” in Re W (A Child) (Care Proceedings: Child’s Representation) [2016] EWCA Civ 1051. He suggested that a reasons-based approach may be a potential way forward to address the current gaps and omissions in the existing legal test.
Dr Bianca Jackson concluded the seminar by addressing a topic of increasing importance: transgender youth and public law. Her talk, “Transgender Children and Public Law Proceedings: Is Gender Affirming Care a Safeguarding Concern?”, sparked thoughtful debate. Bianca discussed social and medical transitioning, and when medical intervention might cross into safeguarding territory. She explored issues around inherent jurisdiction, referencing significant cases such as Re J (A Minor) [2016] EWHC 2430 (Fam), A local authority v TP and others [2019] EWFC 30, and Re S (Inherent Jurisdiction: Transgender Surgery Abroad) [2023] EWHC 347 (Fam). Her nuanced approach encouraged attendees to reflect on the evolving law and the implications for transgender children and their parents.
The event demonstrated Coram Chambers’ ongoing commitment to sharing expertise and promoting best practice in family law. Attendees left with practical insights and a renewed focus on safeguarding children’s welfare within the legal system.
