It can be a terribly stressful and frightening time for
families when children are at risk of being taken into care or have been
removed from home by a local authority.
I am a solicitor with over 30 years’ experience in child
protection law, representing parents, children (either directly or on
instruction of Children’s Guardians), other family members and friends of the
family, interveners, Special Guardians and Adopters.
I hold the Law Society’s Children Law Accreditation, which
is what used to be called the Children Panel accreditation. I am also accredited to be a legal aid
contract supervisor.
I have been a solicitor advocate for all proceedings for
over 20 years which means I have the same rights to appear in court as a
barrister. I am a passionate advocate
for clients and undertake as many hearings as possible to provide that
essential continuity of service.
Most of my time has been spent in private practice, although
I also have extensive local authority practice experience as a senior lawyer
and manager so understand the machinery of how local authorities work.
During my career the majority of my practice has been in the
South West of England and I am therefore very pleased to have joined Pardoes, with
their presence across the South West, and seeing their commitment to supporting
this vital area of law.
In my spare time my interests are rugby, martial arts,
spending time with my family and our dog Bailey.
PardoesSolicitors