Jo specialises in cases involving:

• The death of/catastrophic injuries to a child
• Non-Accidental Head Injury (NAHI)/ Shaken baby allegations (TRIAD cases)
• Vitamin D/Rickets/EDS/ genetic disorders and congenital malformations which can mimic child abuse
• Fabricated Induced Illness (FII) allegations
• ISIS cases: alleged radicalisation of children/ risk of flight to Syria
• Sexual abuse (Intergenerational/ Inter sibling/ maternal rape/ genital mutilation/ internet exploitation)
• Ritualized child abuse/cultural practices such as Kndoki
• Child protection cases involving concurrent criminal prosecution attempted murder/ child cruelty and neglect/ sex offences
• Parent or subject child with disabilities (with a particular interest in Child in Need and the rights of, and services for, a disabled child and /or adult parent within care proceedings)
• Cases involving cross examination of a child or vulnerable adult
• Re-litigation/challenge to historic findings of abuse based on emerging science/ fresh factual evidence.
• Complex private law proceedings involving allegations of domestic abuse and coercive, controlling behaviour, physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect of a child or alleged parental /partner abuse. Transfer of residence applications and contact disputes.  Jo has delivered training to the judiciary and social care professionals on DA/CCB and Vulnerability following her instruction in RE HN.

Jo commands a high professional reputation for:

• Forensic insight and tactical skill
• ‘rapier like’, highly effective, cross examination
• her ‘phenomenal work rate and razor sharp mind’
• her willingness to tackle complex medical concepts and challenging  scientific research
• assured negotiation skills
• pro-active client care
• a clear and frank analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the case and the determination to achieve the best for the client

Jo has had numerous articles published in legal journals; most recently on issues arising from one case in 2012 which attracted nationwide publicity in The broadsheets , TV and radio as well as the tabloid press  : Al  Alas/ Wray (The Rickets / Vit D case)

Jo has also gained acclaim for her seminars delivered, by invitation, to Barristers and Solicitors and medical  professionals in family law matters.  Her session for Jordan’s at their annual Public Law conference in 2012 was described as ‘excellent’ spell-binding’ ‘ brilliant’ by audience members following in the tracks of that  set in her Butterworth’s speech that preceded it ‘fascinating’ ‘most inspiring and challenging’ . Jo has spoken on joint platforms with fellow originations and speakers who are as passionate about child protection issues as she is, notably: the Association of Lawyers for Children, The Criminal Bar Association and the Academy of Experts.

Chambers and Partners (2024) - Family, Children (Band 1) - "Jo Delahunty is just the godmother of children law now. She is the most tenacious and effective advocate." "Jo is absolutely brilliant. She is in high demand because of her dedication to her client's cases and because of the fact that she is a brilliant cross-examiner." 

Legal 500 (2024) - Family: Children And Domestic Abuse (Tier 1) - "Jo’s advocacy is empathetic, authoritative and persuasive. She has a firm grasp of the complexities and provides a simple view through the difficult issues."

Chambers and Partners (2023) - Family, Children (Band 1) - "Jo Delahunty KC is a highly sought-after specialist children silk entrusted with the most significant and demanding national cases. She regularly handles matters concerning the most serious injuries and fatalities resulting from sexual assault, radicalisation and abuse. She is particularly experienced in cases involving non-accidental injury to children." 

Legal 500 (2023) - Children Law, Public and Private (Tier 1) - "Experienced public law barrister’ Jo Delahunty KC is admired for her ‘exceptional cross-examination skills’ and has extensive experience in handling child abuse cases in the High Court."  

Chambers and Partners (2022) - (Band 1) - "Her intellect is extraordinary, and her submissions have passion and power behind them. She is also emotionally warm towards clients.” "An effective force in the courtroom, who is hard-working and brilliant in terms of both research and cross-examination.” “She’s tenacious, she leaves no stone unturned and she works exceptionally hard."

Legal 500 (2022) - Children Law, Public and Private (Tier 1) - "Experienced public law barrister’ Jo Delahunty KC is admired for her ‘exceptional cross-examination skills’ and has extensive experience in handling child abuse cases in the High Court."

Chambers and Partners (2021) - Family, Children (Band 1) - "Jo Delahunty is a legend. She is immensely knowledgeable and very able when it comes to complex child injury cases." "A master strategist who gains the trust of clients, she knows exactly what to get out of witnesses."

Legal 500 (2021) - Children Law, Public and Private (Tier 1) - ‘"Is as captivating on her feet as she is persuasive in negotiation. She is extraordinarily tenacious, kind and brave at work, and looks for all-encompassing and human solutions for children taking properly into account the wider implications in each family’s dynamic.’ Ranked: Tier 1 'Prof Jo Delahunty QC, who has been described as a 'trailblazer, a passionate advocate for the publicly funded Bar'; she acted for six children through three guardians in four different cases involving allegations of extreme violent individual and group sexual abuse (AA & 25 Ors (Children) [2019] EWFC 64)."

Chambers & Partners 2020 (Band 1) Highly sought-after specialist children silk entrusted with the most significant and demanding national cases. She regularly handles matters concerning the most serious injuries and fatalities resulting from sexual assault, radicalisation and abuse. She is particularly experienced in cases involving non-accidental injury to children. Strengths: "A phenomenal cross-examiner, who gets unbelievable results." "She has an extraordinary grasp of medical evidence." "Is extremely well respected by judges and is a real force to be reckoned with." "...dominates every case she is in."

Legal 500, 2020 Leading Silk “She is fantastic on tactics and very impressive on the law." "She has excellent analytical skills and a great grasp of complex medical evidence. Her advocacy is robust, and she's amazing to watch.”

Chambers & Partners 2019 Highly sought-after specialist children silk entrusted with the most significant and demanding national cases. She regularly handles matters concerning the most serious injuries and fatalities resulting from sexual assault, radicalism and abuse. She has particular expertise in matters concerning a large amount of complex expert evidence following investigation. Strengths: “Expert in children work, she is brilliant at distilling a case down to its key issues and is great at strategic planning. Very supportive to instructing solicitors, she’s easy to talk to.”

Chamber & Partners 2018 Band 1 ‘She displays razor-sharp analysis and a clear sense of direction.’

Legal 500, 2017 Top Tier Highly sought-after specialist children silk entrusted with the most significant and demanding national cases. She has particular expertise in matters concerning a large amount of complex expert evidence following investigation. Strengths: “She is exceptional in every way and has an attention to detail beyond any other silk right now.”

Chambers & Partners 2017 “She is an absolute force of nature and a star in court.”

Legal 500, 2016 Top Tier Specialises in serious cases where sexual and physical abuse are alleged. She is the only family law practitioner to be involved in the Hillsborough Inquest. Strengths: “She is deservedly pre-eminent. She has a brilliant mind, and is one of the few who is as good a fearsome cross-examiner as she is arguing the law in the Supreme Court.” “She is very detailed in her approach and has an immaculate knowledge of the papers.” Recent work: Has been acting on behalf of 75 families in the Hillsborough Inquest to try to determine whether the medical response was acceptable.

Chambers & Partners 2016 Band 1 A dedicated children lawyer who focuses on difficult public law matters and care proceedings concerning allegations of sexual and emotional abuse. Also handles cases involving the death of children. Expertise: “A first port of call for care work,” “she is extremely hard-working, knowledgeable and very committed to the client that she represents. Jo is a very tactical and effective advocate, who is good to observe and learn from.”

Chambers & Partners 2015 Band 1 A formidable advocate, and fascinating to watch and learn from.

Legal 500 2015 Top Tier A masterful tactician and a brilliantly passionate advocate.

Legal 500 2014 Top Tier Specialises in children law. She has handled some complex and often controversial disputes involving child death, and ritualised and sexual abuse. Expertise: “Superb. She has one of the sharpest brains I know, and is very forensic and tactical.” “Exceptional. She works incredibly hard, is excellent at cross-examination and great at presenting a case at court.” Recent work: Delahunty represented a teenage mother who was falsely accused of inflicting multiple fractures to a newborn baby, killing him by shaking/impact. The case involved cross-examining 40 medics and 16 experts.

Chambers & Partners 2014 Band 1 Jo Delahunty QC has ‘a phenomenal brain, and great forensic skill’. Recommended as a Leading Family Silk in the area of Children Law

Legal 500 2013 Top Tier The “absolutely brilliant” Jo Delahunty QC is a children law expert who deals with cases involving issues such as catastrophic injury, sexual abuse and ritualized abuse. She is reputed to be particularly strong in cases with daunting medical aspects, with sources noting that “she dissects extremely complex medical concepts with ease.”

Chambers & Partners 2013 Band 1 Jo Delahunty QC, who has ‘a sharp forensic eye and an extraordinary memory’, recently acted in the high-profile cases of Re E (Children) and LB of Islington v Al Alas and Wray.

The Legal 500, 2012 The “absolutely superb” Jo Delahunty QC is another at the set to handle the most complex children cases, often involving sexual assault and complex medical issues. She has in the last twelve months handled a number of non-accidental injury matters.

Chambers and Partners 2012 Jo Delahunty QC is much admired for public children work. “Her conversational style of advocacy puts witnesses at their ease, yet conceals a rapier-like incisiveness.”

Chambers and Partners 2011 Jo Delahunty QC has ‘a razor-sharp mind with a phenomenal work-rate’ Recommended as a Leading Silk in children’s law in Legal 500 2011 Jo Delahunty QC is “young, dynamic and making waves in every case she gets involved in.” Recommended as a Leading Silk in Chambers and Partners 2010 The set was recently bolstered by the arrival of Jo Delahunty QC. Delahunty has particular prowess advising on complex care cases, particularly where there are allegations of abuse. Recommended as a leading Silk in The Legal 500 2010 Recommended as a Leading Family Silk in the Legal Experts 2010 Jo Delahunty QC applies a “relaxed, straightforward and no-nonsense” attitude to her work and can often be seen acting in complex care proceedings. Recommended as a Leading Silk in Chambers and Partners 2009 Jo Delahunty QC has expertise in complex care proceedings including the death of, or catastrophic injuries to children. Recommended as a Leading Family Silk in The Legal 500 2009 Recommended as a Leading Family Silk in the Legal Experts 2009 Jo Delahunty QC most frequently represents parents in public law care proceedings. She also acted for alleged perpetrators in sex abuse cases who were themselves minors, thus subject to the Children’s Act. “I find her a challenging opponent and admire her very much for it,” commented one opposing counsel. Recommended as a Leading Silk in Chambers and Partners 2008 Jo Delahunty QC has particular expertise in care proceedings and child protection issues. Peers note that she is an “exceptionally well-prepared lawyer who is ready on paper to destroy your case.” In court, she “fights hard, yet always maintains her focus on the child.” Recommended as a Leading Silk in Chambers and Partners 2007.

• Association of Women Barristers
• Family Law Bar Association
• Centre for Child and Family Reform (CCFLR) committee 2012–present
• United Kingdom Association of Part Time Judges (UKAPTJ)
• Association of Women Judges (AWB)
• Patron of the AWB

• Ambassador for Bridging the Bar
• Patron of AMEND (The Association for Multiple Endocrine Disorders)
• Patron AADR

11/04/2018 P (A Child), Re (2018) Kate Branigan QC, Jo Delahunty QC [2018] EWCA Civ 720

29/01/2016 C, D & E (Radicalisation: Fact-Finding) (2016) Jo Delahunty QC [2016] EWHC 3087 (Fam) 06/02/2013 Re A (A Child) (Costs) (2013) Jo Delahunty QC [2013] EWCA Civ 43

29/01/2013 Re A and B (Children) [2013] Jo Delahunty QC [2013] EWHC B22 (Fam)

16/11/2012 Re A (A Child) (2012) Jo Delahunty QC [2012] EWCA Civ 1477

16/11/2012 Re A (A Child) [2012] Jo Delahunty QC [2012] EWCA Civ 1477

19/04/2012 Islington London Borough Council v (1) Chana Al-Alas (2) Rohan Wray (3) Jayda Faith Al -Alas Wray (By Her Children’s Guardian Dorthy Pottinger) (2012) Jo Delahunty QC [2012] EWHC 865 (Fam); [2012] 2 FLR 1239 : (2012) 128 BMLR 1 : [2012] Fam Law 943

19/01/2012 Re M (A Child) (2012) Jo Delahunty QC, Joanne Brown [2012] EWCA Civ 165: [2012] 2 FLR 121 : [2012] Fam Law 511 14/12/2011 K (Children) [2012] Jo Delahunty QC [2012] 2 FLR 745; EWHC Case No. LS09C05566

11/11/2011 A London Borough v O and Others [2011] Alex Verdan QC, Jo Delahunty QC 2011 EWHC 2754 (Fam) 04/07/2011 A County Council (Applicant) v (1) K (2) C (3) T (By the Child’s Guardian (HT) (Respondents) & (1) CAFCASS (2) Anonymous Referrer (3) T (4) Nagacro (Interveners) (2011) Jo Delahunty QC [2011] EWHC 1672 (Fam)

18/05/2011 Kent County Council (Respondent) v (1) A Mother (2) F (3) X (A Minor) (4) Y (A Minor) (5) Z (A Minor) (6) IR (Applicants) (2011) Jo Delahunty QC [2011] EWHC 1267 (Fam): [2011] 2 FLR 1088 : [2011] Fam Law 933 : (2011) 108(26) LSG 18

03/03/2011 Kent County Council (Applicant) v (1) A Mother (2) F (3) X, Y, Z (Children) (Respondents) & IR (Intervener) (2011) Jo Delahunty QC [2011] EWHC 402 (Fam)

19/02/2010 Re (1) X (2) Y (3) Z (Care Proceedings: Costs) (2010) Jo Delahunty QC [2011] 1 FLR 1045 : [2010] Fam Law 800

08/05/2009 A Local Authority v S (2009) Jo Delahunty QC, Alison Grief QC, Rob Littlewood [2009] EWHC 2115 (Fam); (2010) 1 FLR 1560

24/06/2008 X Local Authority v N J & 6 Ors (2008) Jo Delahunty QC, Alistair G Perkins (2008) 2 FLR 1389; [2008] EWHC 1484 (Fam) 11/06/2008 Re B (Children) (2008) Jo Delahunty QC Alison Grief QC [2008] UKHL 35; (2008) 3 WLR 1 : (2008) 4 All ER 1 : (2008) 2 FLR 141 : (2009) 1 AC 11 : Times, June 12, 2008

25/07/2006 (1) Haringey London Borough Council (2) Hackney London Borough Council v MRS S & 7 Ors(2006) Jo Delahunty QC [2006] EWHC 2001 (Fam)

14/04/2006 Re X Sub Nom Barnet LBC v Y (2006) Jo Delahunty QC (2006) 2 FLR 998

• Fellow Gresham College 2020
• Emeritus Gresham Professor Law 2020
• Freedom of the City of London 2019
• Professor of Law, Gresham College, London, 2016-2020
• Bencher the Honorable Society of Middle Temple 2011
• Recorder (South Eastern Circuit) Family: Public and Private Law 2009

Alongside her public speaking engagements for lawyers Jo is in demand for talks to the business community and private industry on issues such as leadership and teamwork, coping under pressure and transferable skills: https://harveythorneycroft.co.uk/speakers/professor-jo-delahunty-qc/

Articles

Jo writes for specialist legal journals – including ‘Counsel’ Magazine and ‘The Barrister’ and is a regular invited contributor to Jordan’s Family Law monthly periodical. Counsel examples include ‘the Day in the life…of a child protection silk where she discusses the exhilaration and endurance challenge of working to the max as a child abuse public lawyer; ‘PTSD and working in an underfunded sector’; ‘On the shoulder of giants’ discussing gender equality in the Bar. Jo wrote for ‘The Barrister’ on ‘Wellbeing at the Bar? Is a Legal Aid Lawyer’s Work All Stress and Distress?’ and on Politics and the law: Where do we draw the line?

Articles for Jordans Family Law cover the wide spectrum of her cases, I.e. A three-part series on the Rights of Parents with Disabilities in the Family Justice System, ‘The 30th anniversary of the Children Act 1989: is it still fit for purpose?’

 ‘The child and medical treatment: the chance to live, or to die with dignity? ‘Previous articles published by Jordan’s have sought to explain the ramifications of emerging research on childhood disease and suspected child abuse and natural disease mimicking inflicted injury, the role of experts in family proceedings, and issues arising within alleged Radicalism cases confronting family practitioners and the Family Division.

Corporate Speaking Profile

Organisations she has been invited to deliver talks to include International Trade and Tourism ( ITT), Croatia 2020/MSC Cruises 2021/Istanbul 2022, Quadrature, Amadeus (Malaga), AFC Bournemouth, Australia NSW Child Protection conference (Sydney; 2019,2020), Brilliant Minds Showcase, MKM Builders.  Jo was the ‘Big Ideas’ invited speaker at the Opex Leaders Europe Conference

Typical subjects include: ‘The importance of transparent and effective communication within the company and with the public.’ - ‘Change and Challenge; how to make it work for you and your customers.’ - ‘Risk taking and strategic thinking.'

Alongside her public speaking engagements for lawyers Jo is in demand for talks to the business community and corporate industry on issues such as leadership and teamwork, coping under pressure and transferable skills. View here.

Jo Delahunty KC was appointed Professorship of Law to Gresham College (Est 1597) in 2016-2020.

She was appointed Emeritus Professor of Law Gresham College (for life) and made a Fellow of Gresham College in 2020; She has also been appointed to sit on Council and has been made a Trustee of Gresham College. This role is taken up alongside her full-time silk practice and Recorder Duties. 

As Emeritus Professor of Law, Jo will continue to give public lectures for Gresham periodically. Her next lecture will take place on 19.01.2023 with Professor Owen Arthurs on the interface between medicine and law in family cases; “Medical Experts in the Family Court: where two worlds collide’ https://www.gresham.ac.uk/whats-on/medical-family 

This continues the 421-year-old tradition of delivering free public lectures within the City of London at Bernard’s Inn and via live streamed web to the UK and internationally.

Jo’s previous lectures and notes are available to download via the Gresham website here. 

Her final lecture for Gresham College as their Professor of Law was delivered, on 1st April 2021, ‘Diversity in the Legal Profession’. With invited guests, Derek Sweeting KC, Chair of the Bar Council, Brie Stevens- Hoare KC, Mass Ndow Njie (creator of Bridging the Bar) and Toby Stevens.

The Practice of Law (2019-2020)

1. Have Women Achieved Professional Equality? 100 Years since the Sex Disqualification (Removal)

2. 100 Years of Women in Law

3. Can the Law Keep Up With Changes in Society?

4. The Insider’s Guide to Becoming a Barrister

5. The Law is Broken: The Future of Legal Aid

6. Diversity in the Legal Profession

Challenges in the Family Justice System (2018-19) 

1. Ethics In and Out of the Court Room

2. Sexual Harassment at the Bar

3. The 30th Anniversary of The Children Act 1989: Is It Still Fit For Purpose?

4. Politics and the Legal Profession

5. The Child and Medical Treatment: The Chance to Live, or to Die with Dignity?

6. Wellbeing at the Bar? Is a Family Lawyer’s Work all Stress and Distress?

Transparency in the Family Justice System (2017-18)

1. Women Lawyers: Equals at The Bar?

2. What Do Judges Do in the Family Court?

3. Vulnerable Clients and The Family Justice System

4. Dealing with Sex Abuse: How Does the Family Court Assess Risk?

5.The Child in the Family Court Room: Whose Child is it Anyway?

6. Transparency in the Family Court: What Goes on Behind Closed Doors?

When Worlds Collide: The Family and the Law (2016-17)

1. Sex Death and Witchcraft: What Goes on in the Family Court Room?

2. Is One Individual’s Radicalism Another’s Right to Free Speech?

3. When Legal Worlds Collide

4. Guilty Until Proven Innocent

5. Expert Witness: A Zero-Sum Game?

6. ‘Two Point One Children’: Why There Is No Typical Family in The Family Court

Conferences

Jo is a sought after speaker at medico/legal family conferences for her insights into how to deal with challenging cases involving complex medical evidence and emerging science as well as how to manage the cross examination of experts and vulnerable witnesses and how to approach cases of sexual and physical abuse  : most recently at the White Paper Conference 2017, the Park Lane Plowden Annual  Conference 2017 and previously at Butterworths Annual Public Law Conference and for Jordan’s Family Law Jo headlined a conference in Leeds in January 2016 alongside the academic Dr Gordon Clubb, lecturer in International Security and Chair of the Terrorism and Political Violence Association on the ‘Risks of Radicalisation’ and spoke alongside Charles Farr, Director –General Counter Terrorism Unit, academics and professionals from Prevent, social workers and representatives from th National Terrorism Unit in London, November 2015 on the subject of ‘Radicalisation; Safeguarding and the Family Courts’.

Jo has given a keynote lecture at the Australian NSW Annual Child Protection Conference on 'Child Protection Under a Pandemic: the UK Experience'.

MA (Oxon) Jurisprudence

Door Tenant

Interviews: 

• Jo has been interviewed by BBC Radio 4 for ‘The World Tonight’ where she discussed the significance and importance of the Bar Councils Judicial Bullying Guidance.
• Jo was on national air live interviewed by NewsNight in Dec 2021 on the issue of children on the child protection register killed by parents.
• Her interviews for the Advocacy Podcast (theadvocacypodcast.com) Brief 15 on “Winning the Unwinnable Cases’ (Feb 22) and Brief 16 ‘Understanding the Unfamiliar’, (June 22) has had over 1000 + downloads.
• Jo’s podcast for Resolution no 6 “The Right Thing to Do” hosted by Anita Mehta and Simon Blain (Oct 21) led to an invitation to gve the keynote speech at the Resolution conference in March 2022 and a follow up Resolution interview with Jo is to be published by Counsel in March 2023
• Jo gave the keynote speech at the Young Lawyers Making Change Conference 2021 The conference is aimed at junior and aspiring social welfare lawyers practising legal aid. “The most destructive thought” interview can be viewed here.
• Jo's interview for episode 9 'The Leaky Pipeline' of the ‘First 100 Years’ podcast Is online.

• Lexis Nexis Case of the Year 2021 Winner for Re HN
• Chambers UK Bar Awards 2021 Outstanding Contribution to Diversity & Inclusion Winner
• Lexis Nexis Family Law Awards 2020 Family Law QC of the Year Shortlist
• Lexis Nexis Legal Personality of the Year 2020 Finalist
• Inspirational Woman in Law - Barrister of the Year Finalist 2019
• Finalist Legal 500 UK Awards Family Silk 2018
• Legal Claims Award 2017 'Outstanding Achievement'*
• Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year 'Outstanding Achievement of the Year' Award 2016*
• Modern Lawyer 'Outstanding Achievement of the Year' Award 2016*
  (*Group Recipient for the Hillsborough Inquest Family Lawyers)
• Finalist Family Legal 500 Silk of 2014
• Winner of Jordan's Family Silk 2013
• Finalist Chambers and Partners Family QC 2013