CAMINI - Key Persons
The clerks are approachable and accessible. They're responsive, helpful and friendly on the phone.
Barbara has vast experience in children law and is one of FOURTEEN's most prominent practitioners. She has been instructed in high-profile cases for the past 30 years and has an unrivalled reputation for having appeared against some of the Family Bar's best known advocates, past and present.
Ben's expertise is primarily in high-value, complex matrimonial finances cases, particularly those involving an international element. Ben also has a wealth of experience in private law children disputes with particular experience in cases of international and domestic relocation and cases concerning serious allegations of physical, sexual or emotional abuse of children. Ben is widely considered to give direct advice in an approachable fashion. He is known for being well prepared and is particularly adept in handling cases with complex legal issues or where robust cross-examination is required. Prior to joining FOURTEEN, Ben had a successful practice in the North East of England and retains strong links there. Ben has acted for clients in proceedings in all levels of court, up to and including the Supreme Court.
Camille's practice covers all aspects of family law. She is experienced in representing local authorities, parents, members of the extended family and children through their guardians. She is particularly familiar with child abuse cases involving sexual, physical and emotional harm as well as non-accidental injuries.
Christopher practises exclusively in family law and areas related to the breakdown of family relationships, such as applications brought under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 and TLATA 1996. He is renowned for his meticulous attention to detail, persuasive advocacy and sympathetic, but direct, manner with clients.
Christopher has presented numerous lectures and seminars on diverse topics such as financial provision under sch 1 of the CA 1989, forensic testing for alcohol abuse, circumventing nuptial contracts, international relocation of children and court skills for non-legally trained professionals.
Christopher has been interested in the international movement of children and the conflict of laws from the outset of his career. He has represented clients in reported cases concerning the Hague Convention (abduction of children), Brussels II Revised (when in force) and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations at both High Court and Court of Appeal level.
Christopher Miller is speaking on Forensic Testing for Alcohol & Drugs at the MBL virtual Private Children Conference on 9th June 2021 - book here
Damian was called to the Bar in 2009 after a successful career as a solicitor at a leading firm in the East End of London. He regularly delivers training sessions for solicitors and social workers in respect of all aspects of care proceedings and Court of Protection work. With his cross-examination of lay and professional witnesses, Damian is known for his thorough and forensic approach. He is always looking for a different angle on his cases and comes up with good arguments whether in writing or orally. He has an approachable, sympathetic style which helps to put clients at ease enabling them to feel confident that they are in safe hands as their case progresses.
Damian was a member of the Law Society's Children Panel until his transfer to the Bar. He continues to represent local authorities, parents, family members and children in care proceedings. He is highly regarded for his work concerning non-accidental injuries and cases involving child sexual abuse. Damian has a particular skill in extracting the truth in fact finding hearing and recently extracted a witness box confession from a father who had broken his baby daughter's leg.
David Sharp was educated at Oxford University and has been in private practice at the Bar in England and Wales for over 30 years, specialising for the last 20 years in family work and cohabitation disputes. David has been involved in several high profile cases that have attracted the attention of the national media, and a number of other cases at the forefront of legal developments in the field of family law. David also has a wealth of practical experience in relation to the realities of family life, having been married for 28 years and having 5 children, now aged 27, 24, 21, 18 and 13 years.
Dylan has specialised in family law for the past 20 years. His work covers the range of private client cases, including matrimonial finance, and he has considerable experience in representing professional clients and parents within public law proceedings. Dylan accepts public access instructions and regularly delivers CPD-accredited lectures.
Ella is a specialist family law barrister practising in both family finance, including matrimonial finance and civil partnerships, financial relief for children pursuant to Schedule I of the Children Act 1989 and property disputes between cohabitants and the law relating to children. As part of her children practice, Ella has a particular interest in disputes relating to international relocation.
Called to the Bar in 2008, Ewan practices exclusively in the private client elements of family law. He provides advice and acts for clients on the financial and children aspects of relationship breakdown under Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996, and Children Act 1989. Ewan provides pragmatic and straightforward advice while maintaining an empathetic approach to his clients. Ewan has represented clients in courts of all levels up to and including the Court of Appeal. As well as conventional Court proceedings, Ewan has represented clients in arbitration, private FDRs and round table meetings
Gayan joined FOURTEEN as a tenant in February 2019. He practises in all areas of family law.
Gayan originally trained as an economist and worked in the litigation department of Linklaters, a top city firm, shortly before commencing pupillage. He is particularly adept in dealing with company cases in which there are disputes as to the true level of a party's income or assets as a result of alleged ‘creative accounting'. He has acted in a number of cases concerning multi-million pound construction companies which have raised arguments relating to value, liquidity, pre-matrimonial contributions, and quasi-partnership discounts.
Gillon is a specialist family law practitioner recommended by The Legal 500 and by Chambers and Partners in both Matrimonial Finance and Children categories. He accepts instructions via solicitors and, where appropriate, directly from a client via public access. His practice has a strong emphasis on financial remedies and disputes between cohabitants involving trusts of land. He also has wide experience in cases involving dissipation of assets, financial provision for children and foreign elements. He is available to provide advice, to draft court documents, and to provide representation at court in relation to all areas of family financial disputes and disputes about arrangements for children.
Gillon is acutely aware of the need for great sensitivity to clients who are going through an emotional and highly charged time in their lives, and endeavours to make the experience of coming to court an easier one for his clients. His plain-speaking and down to earth manner ensure that his clients are both comfortable with him and clear about the court process in which they are involved.
Gillon has regularly written for Family Law Week.
debuts in this year's rankings. He has a strong, broad-ranging family law practice, that is predominantly focused on matrimonial finance work."
Grace practices in all areas of family law, with a particular focus on matrimonial finance and private children disputes. Before qualifying as a barrister, having undertaken pupillage at FOURTEEN, Grace worked within the litigation department of an Off-Shore law firm where she gained experience in public inquiries, trusts and complex matrimonial finance disputes.
Due to Grace's background, she is experienced and interested in cases that have an international dimension, including relocation and assets in other jurisdictions.
Helen is a family law specialist and her practice is primarily in the public law arena but also represents parents in private law matters and international child abduction in public and private law. Helen has given seminars to solicitors and local authorities on public law case updates and also the Court of Protection. In addition, Helen has recently been working closely together with Centrepoint by offering family/children law advice and guidance to young homeless individuals.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Management Team
- Senior Practice Manager
James practises in matters regarding children. He has a particular interest in private law matters concerning parental alienation. James also represents parents, grandparents and Guardians in public law proceedings.
is an award-winning barrister specialising in Family law. Jason has been shortlisted for four out of the past five years at the barrister of the year awards by the Law Society in Birmingham.
Jay is a senior junior specialising in family and children cases.
He is one of only 12 junior counsel ranked as Tier 1 in his field by the Legal 500, where he is described as ‘intelligent', ‘a brilliant communicator', and ‘a class act'.
Jay often appears against Queen's Counsel, whether led, or as sole counsel.
Jay Banerji led by Sarah Morgan QC acted for the mother in this fact-finding involving allegations of forced marriage, FGM, and physical abuse. Wardship proceedings ran alongside the forced marriage application brought by the Chief Constable.
Jenna has particular experience in cases relating to children, in both public and private law. Jenna believes in the importance of providing clients with strong representation and realistic advice with a friendly and accessible approach.
Job Titles:
- Barrister
- Public Law Team Leader
Joan practises in public and private law children cases, representing local authorities, parents, grandparents and Guardians. It is this breadth of representation that enables Joan to see the case from different perspectives and pass on this experience to her client. Joan's practice also encompasses international matters, especially within public law proceedings brought under the Children Act and in private law applications for leave to remove children from the jurisdiction.
Joan Connell represented the children through their Children's Guardian in a case in which the children's mother had been murdered by their father. The court had to determine which of two family members, one paternal and one maternal, should care for the children throughout their minority and also issues of contact with the father in prison. The court also considered the legal principles to be applied in circumstances where a person found guilty of an offence refuses to accept the outcome of the criminal trial.
Joan Connell represented the respondent local authority in proceedings in which the Appellant Mother successfully appealed a refusal for an adjournment for six months at a final hearing. At the time of the final hearing L, was 7 months old. M was a recovering alcoholic who sought further time to demonstrate abstinence and insight into the concerns of the local authority regarding her honesty and ability to work with professionals in the event of a future relapse. The court at first instance refused the application for an adjournment and made care and placement orders. On appeal the final orders were set aside, the adjournment granted and the case set down for a further hearing. The President's guidance in Re S Child [2014] EWHC was considered.
Jonathan is a specialist children law practitioner. He has an established practice with particular emphasis on public law care proceedings. He is also instructed in complex private law children, adoption, special guardianship and wardship proceedings. He represents parents, children and local authorities at all levels of court. Jonathan is regularly instructed in cases involving non-accidental injuries, sexual abuse, physical abuse, the murder of a parent, neglect, emotional abuse, substance misuse, mental health issues, learning difficulties and teenage parents.
Barristers frequently appear in cases with multi-jurisdictional elements, and regularly handle matters of great complexity. Both public and private law work is undertaken for a wide range of clients.
Job Titles:
- Manager
- Member of the Management Team
Laura practises exclusively in children and domestic violence law and has extensive experience representing parents, grandparents, children, extended family members and local authorities in all aspects of the law relating to children.
Mandy practises in all areas of family law. She has extensive experience in care proceedings and private children law disputes. Mandy is also a trained mediator.
Mandy's practice is focussed on the financial consequences upon the breakdown of a relationship for both divorcing and cohabiting couples. She has been repeatedly recognised in Chambers and Partners, described as "quite simply a rising star in the family field" noting her "attention to detail" (2019) and her "very cool head" (2018).
Martin draws upon his extensive experience of not only family law but also his commercial and business law background to offer specialist advice and advocacy with an emphasis on achieving pragmatic and cost-effective outcomes in both private children and family finance disputes. In appropriate cases, Martin will accept instructions directly from private clients under the Bar's Public Access scheme. Martin is a qualified Arbitrator (MCIArb) and member of the Institute of Family Law Arbitrators.
specialises in financial claims when family relationships end.
Martin is a qualified arbitrator (MCIArb) and IFLA member working in the area of Family Finance and can be instructed through Chambers to conduct Family Finance arbitrations, Early Neutral Evaluations/private FDRs, or to represent clients at the same.
Matt has a diverse family law practice. He acts for a range of clients at all stages of financial remedies proceedings. Matt also has an interest in Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 and Schedule 1 Children Act 1989 proceedings. He is frequently instructed in private law matters and is comfortable providing representation and advice at any stage in proceedings. Matt continues to represent parties in injunctive relief proceedings under the Family Law Act 1996.
Matt is developing a busy practice within London and throughout the country. He regularly appears in the High Court and the Family Court. Matt prides himself on his thorough preparation of cases, his detailed legal knowledge and his ability to provide simple, practical and creative advice in all cases. He provides lectures and seminars on developments in family law.
Matt provides practical and pragmatic advice at all stages of proceedings and endeavours to find a realistic solution to all cases. He provides seminars and lectures on all areas of law under Children Act 1989 and has recently presented a Webinar on covert recordings.
Matt regularly provides lectures and seminars on all areas of financial remedies proceedings, Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 and Schedule 1 applications.
Job Titles:
- Joint Head of Chambers
- Joint Head of Chambers Call 1998 Silk 2018
- Private Law Team Leader
Prior to his call to the Bar, Michael worked in finance for five years and then qualified as a commercial solicitor specialising in intellectual property law. Michael transferred to the family Bar in 1998 and practises a wide range of family work including ancillary relief, trusts and cohabitation disputes, and Children Act matters, together with associated civil matters. Within his ancillary relief work, which is the principal area of his practice, he specialises in cases which have particular complexities including trusts, bankruptcy, partnerships and companies.
Michael is able to accept instructions on a direct access basis and he regularly gives lectures in relation to recent case law developments.
Job Titles:
- Consultant Call 1972 Silk 2018
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of the Management Team
Job Titles:
- Joint Head of Chambers Call 1995