Barrister Profile
Recommended by the Legal 500, Lee is a specialist family practitioner with considerable experience. Lee offers friendly advice to all of his clients. His approach is analytical, decisive and tactical – he is as a tough negotiator. He has extensive experience in the Family Proceedings Court, County Court ,High Court and Court of Appeal.
Expertise
Family: Care & Children
Public Law / Care and Adoption Proceedings
With over 20 year of experience of public law proceedings Lee is regularly instructed by local authorities, parents, interveners, extended family members and by solicitors acting for children in a wide range of complex and demanding cases . Lee is experienced in cases involving serious non-accidental injuries, sexual and physical abuse, neglect, complex expert and medical evidence.
He also has a wealth of expertise in cases with international elements such as moving children across international borders, ‘miracle baby’ cases, sexual abuse, severe neglect and mental health issues of a psychiatric and psychological nature.
Private Law Children: Contact and Residence disputes under the Children Act 1989
Lee has a vast amount of experience in in private law children cases for parents and children in all levels of court, with varying and all levels of complexity, Lee represents parents, step-parents, grandparents and other relatives. His expertise range from representing parties where there are disputes about where children will live, contact and all section 8 proceedings as well as Prohibited Steps Orders & Specific Issue Orders (e.g. change of name, taking a child to live permanently abroad etc.)
Lee also has invaluable expertise in Special Guardianship applications and leave to remove from the jurisdiction. He is regularly instructed to represent parents, Rule 16.4 guardians and interveners in fact finding hearings, disposal hearings and appeal hearings
Domestic violence & injunctions
Due to the nature of Lee’s cases, Applications for an injunction to protect an adult or child are often required. Lee has experience in acting for both Applicant or Respondent in teh range of these orders including: Non-Molestation Orders, Occupation Orders, Harassment Injunctions and Other injunctions.
(International) child abduction
Lee has experience attending all levels of Court throughout England and Wales; and other Courts in Europe – advising other European Advocates on the British Law as it relates to Wardship and International Child Abduction, Brussels II and Hague Convention applications.
Family: Finance
Divorce & Separation
Lee also enjoys an established financial practice. He regularly represents clients in contentious financial disputes arising following separation or divorce He has a wealth of expertise in settling or contesting financial settlements of substantial value and complexity upon divorce, separation or between separating adults howsoever the relationship was formalised.
Lee also has experience under applications under the Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989
He is a strong and persistent negotiator who prepares meticulously
Cohabitation including Trusts of Land & Appointment of Trustees Act 1996
Lee has substantial expertise in relation to property rights of unmarried couples and application brought under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act
Inheritance Act claims
Lee is fully converse with Applications under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975
Chancery and Commercial
Traditional Chancery
Court of Protection
Lee has experience in cases at all levels of complexity, from District Judge to High Court Judge. He undertakes advisory and advocacy work at all stages, including contested trials in the Court of Protection. He has full understanding of the issues relating to the Court of Protection Rules, costs, publicity, deputyship including both welfare and property and affairs deputies. In property and affairs cases Lee has extensive experience of dealing with contested deputyship and LPA applications, applications for statutory wills, and cases involving allegations of financial abuse
Lee’s expertise includes:
- Property and Affairs matters generally
- Trusts
- Gifts
- Statutory wills
- Allegations of financial abuse
- Settlement and administration of personal injury awards
- Deputyship issues – property and affairs and welfare deputies
- LPAs and EPAs
- Welfare/best interests decisions
- Medical treatment
- Welfare decisions relating to care, residence, family contact
- Deprivation of liberty issues
Inheritance Act claims
Lee is fully converse with Applications under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.
Trusts and Trustees
Lee has substantial expertise in relation to property rights of unmarried couples and application brought under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act.
Property
Trusts of land and proprietary estoppel
Lee has substantial expertise in relation to property rights of unmarried couples and application brought under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act.
No 18 Alternative Dispute Resolution
Cases of note
Re T [2015] EWCA Civ 606 - Care and placement orders set aside and case remitted back for re-hearing
Re E [2015] Care proceedings involving extensive expert evidence. Instructed on behalf of LA. Final Order made.
Re A [2015] 6 day Finding of Fact hearing concerning alleged physical and emotional abuse instructed on behalf of a LA. Findings made as sought by the LA.
Re C [2013] 8 Day Final Care and Placement for Adoption Proceedings, representing a very young Mother in care proceedings concerning alleged NAI by way of alleged skull fracture to a young baby. Alleged skull fracture not proven.
Re H (Care Proceedings: Intervener) [2000] 1 FLR 775
Re F (Contact: Restraint Order) [1995] 1 FLR 956
Langley v Langley [1994] 1 FLR 383