People

Cases of note

• Care: ICO – foreign element- proposed placement of children with Iraqie(?) uncle and his polish girlfriend, acting for the uncle.  Mother was missing presumed that she had returned to her country of origin– Placement allowed by Mr Justice Baker.
• Care Final- foreign element- parents proposed placement of children with extened family in Poland. Parents separated, Mother resident in UK – father living and working in Norway. Allowed by HHJ Bromilow. Acted for the father
• Care Final – foreign element – plan for child to be placed with paternal family in Malta. Acted for GA who supported the plan. Local Authority initially opposed. Father represented by the official solicitor asserted he had capacity to consent to the plan. Matter referred to HHJ Marsden at Bristol, designated Court of Protection Judge. Accepted  the father  understood the proceedings and therefore had capacity to consent. Granted residence to the paternal uncle and aunt and made a declaration to be registered wth the Maltese Courts.
• Care Final – mental health-acting for  schizophrenic mother- father unknown. Plan for adoption. Opposed by mother on the basis that she was currently well and on medication. Local authority relied on historic  background and previous outcome for the older child. Concerns about mothers presentation in Court necessitated Judge to consider the most recent authoirties PC & Anor v City of York Council [2013] EWCA Civ 478 and Baker Tilly v Makar[2013]EWHC 759 (QB)
• Two cases  successfully acting for proposed special guardians who had been ruled out due to their age.
• Two Cases  acting for parents in one and Guardian in the otherwhere the Special Guardianship order has broken down, and the children have been removed to foster care for their safety.
• Two  cases with Private Law with Public Law aspects, requiring a Court of Protection declaration of a parties litigation capacity and necessitating– consideration of relevant case law  Y County Council v ZZ [2012] EWHC B34 (COP)
• Private law proceedings where a Guardian has been appointed. Acting for both parents and Guardian.
• Fact finding hearings in private law proceedings where parties have alleged serious and significant domestic violence.
• Two fact findings involving Guardians where the mother as alleged serious sexual abuse  against the father, and in one case where the father had also been sexually abusive to the stepdaughter. including sexual abuse

Financial Disputes:

• Directions on Disclosure of husbands interest in properties held by companies belonging to the husband or in which he has an interest. Acting for wife Consideration and application of recent case Prest v Petrodel Resources Limted and others [2013]UKSC 34