“Katharine is calm, knowledgeable and adept at pivoting in response to developments in court.”
Chambers & Partners, 2026“Katharine is consistently well-prepared, analytically sharp, and able to quickly grasp complex factual and legal issues. She is calm and measured in the courtroom and deals with the most vulnerable clients in the best, most approachable way.”
Legal 500, 2026
About
Katharine is an experienced advocate who specialises in all aspects of private and public children’s law.
She has excellent client care skills and is very experienced in representing vulnerable clients.
She is particularly skilled at giving sympathetic yet realistic advice.
Experience
Family Law: Children’s Law
Katharine is regularly instructed on behalf of parents, extended family members and children in cases involving the following issues:
• Non-accidental injury involving complex and disputed medical evidence
• Allegations of sexual abuse
• Serious domestic violence
• Emotional and physical abuse and neglect
• Cases where there are concurrent criminal and care proceedings
Katharine regularly represents vulnerable clients who have a learning disability, mental health issues and substance misuse issues.
She has extensive experience in applications for child arrangements orders, special guardianship orders, specific issue orders, enforcement of orders and in intractable contact cases.
International Family Law
Katharine has experience in the following types of cases with an international element:
• International child abduction to and from both Hague and non-Hague Convention Countries
• Care proceedings where there is an international element including whether proceedings should be transferred under Article 15 of Brussels IIR
• Applications for permanent and temporary removal of children from the UK to Hague and non-Hague Convention Countries
Notable cases:
Re L (A Child) (Jurisdiction: Private Fostering) 2016 2 FLR 170
Katharine represented a Romanian father in care proceedings in the High Court. The issues were whether his daughter was habitually resident in the UK and whether the proceedings should be transferred to Romania under Article 15 of Brussels IIR.
Family Law
Domestic violence
Katharine is instructed in applications for non-molestation orders, occupation orders and transfer of tenancies under the Family Law Act 1996.
Practice Areas
Public Law
Local Authority
Private Law
Education and Professional Memberships
Education
LLB Hons (University of Leeds)
BVC (Inns of Court School of Law)
Professional memberships
Family Law Bar Association (FLBA)
Association of Lawyers for Children (ALC)
Testimonials
“Katharine is knowledgeable and provides excellent advocacy. Her attention to detail is amazing.”
Chambers and Partners, 2026
“Katharine is calm, knowledgeable and adept at pivoting in response to developments in court.”
Chambers and Partners, 2026
“Katharine is an excellent barrister. She provides very calm representation and always puts the client’s case clearly and strongly.”
Chambers and Partners, 2026
“Katharine is quite brilliant in what she does. I have found her approach to be very helpful and constructive.”
Chambers and Partners, 2026
“Katharine is consistently well-prepared, analytically sharp, and able to quickly grasp complex factual and legal issues. She is calm and measured in the courtroom and deals with the most vulnerable clients in the best, most approachable way.”
Legal 500, 2026
“Katharine is very attentive to the client’s needs and delivers her advice and advocacy with great skill and expertise.”
CHAMBERS UK, 2025 (FAMILY: CHILDREN)
“Katharine will go above and beyond for you without hesitation. You know that the case will be well steered in the courtroom when Katharine is instructed.”
CHAMBERS UK, 2025 (FAMILY: CHILDREN)
“Katharine is consistent, efficient, and approachable, and clients never have any doubt about her ability as an advocate.”
LEGAL 500, 2025 (FAMILY: CHILDREN)
“Katharine is very good at managing clients and their expectations and is a robust and effective advocate.”
CHAMBERS UK, 2025 (FAMILY: CHILDREN)
“Katharine’s technical ability is very impressive and the legal insight and advice she gives to instructing solicitors and clients are invaluable.”
CHAMBERS UK, 2024 (FAMILY: CHILDREN)
“She is very personable and her legal knowledge and advocacy skills are very good.”
CHAMBERS UK, 2024 (FAMILY: CHILDREN)
