About
Jake maintains a busy practice which spans public and private children proceedings, Family Law Act applications, matrimonial finance and the Court of Protection.
Jake has experience cross-examining expert witnesses, including psychiatrists and medical experts. He has represented high-conflict clients, clients requiring interpreters and intermediaries, as well as vulnerable clients with additional needs and learning disabilities.
He is routinely re-instructed and appears in long-running cases from start to finish. He is sought after for his ability to build a rapport and work effectively with clients from all cultural, linguistic and socio-economic backgrounds. He is able to achieve positive and pragmatic outcomes for clients throughout proceedings and at their conclusion.
Jake is always alive to the importance of guiding clients sensitively through proceedings and ensuring that clients feel listened to, safe and comfortable in the alien environment of the Family Courts.
Experience
Private Children
Within private children proceedings, Jake has appeared on behalf of both parents and children at all stages in proceedings in cases concerning the most serious types of domestic abuse, including Coercive & Controlling behaviour, Parental Alienation and child sex abuse.
Jake has acted in multi-day fact-finding hearings, successfully prosecuting allegations to protect the safety of parents and their children.
Jake has also successfully defended alleged perpetrators, reunifying children with estranged parents and enabling clients to reinstate meaningful contact arrangements and rebuild their relationships with their children.
Public Law
Within public law proceedings, Jake has acted on behalf of children, parents and Local Authorities from across London and the South of England. He has acted at all stages in proceedings, from contested interim care order applications through to fact-finding and final hearings.
Jake has experience working in cases involving Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, honour-based violence and child exploitation. Jake has been instructed as Junior Counsel in complex multi-week fact-finding hearings concerning non-accidental injury (including infant fractures), chronic neglect and child sexual abuse, including incest.
Matrimonial Finance
Jake has a wealth of experience in Financial Remedies proceedings, acting on behalf of both applicants and respondents at contested final hearings involving domestic and international assets.
He routinely negotiates favourable settlements for his clients and has acted in high-value cases at Financial Dispute Resolution hearings. Jake has experience acting for clients on interim applications and advising on appeals. Jake has experience running Conduct arguments, dealing with Immerman documents and cases of alleged fraud.
Court of Protection
Jake accepts instructions in Court of Protection proceedings to represent the full range of parties including local authorities, ICBs, NHS Trusts and the Official Solicitor.
He appears in cases involving welfare decisions and deprivations of liberty, including reviews under s21A Mental Capacity Act .
Practice Areas
Public Law Children
Private Law Children
Matrimonial Finance
Court of Protection
International Family Law
Publications
‘Taught to Fail’ – Family Law Week
‘Why KCSIE is letting teachers and pupils down’ – TES Magazine
Education and Professional Memberships
History BA, University of Leeds – First-Class Honour
Graduate Diploma in Law, City University – Commendation
Bar Vocational Studies, City University – Distinction
Awards
Enoch Dumbutshena Scholarship, Gray’s Inn
Edmund Davies Scholarship, Gray’s Inn
