Called 1999 
Email Louise
Louise is a highly regarded specialist family law practitioner, practising in public and private law children work. She is one of the leading juniors practising on the North Eastern Circuit in this field, being given the distinction of a Band 1 rating in the 2020 Chambers and Partners Guide.
Louise is frequently instructed in care proceedings concerning allegations of serious non accidental injury and sexual abuse, often in the High Court. She is skilled at representing parties within complex and intractable private law disputes.
Further, Louise is noted as a specialist nationally on the forced marriage legislation. She co-authored a well recognised practitioners guide to the Forced Marriage Act, contributed a chapter to a leading international law publication and has been invited on a number of occasions to speak on LBC radio on this topic.
Louise was appointed a Recorder sitting in family law in 2012, then only 35 years of age.
Louise accepts instructions on a direct access basis.
“Superb preparation. Her attention to detail is second to none. Her manner and support to clients are fantastic.” “Approachable and client friendly.”
Chambers and Partners 2019Simply click 'Add +' on an area of expertise to add it to collate in your downloadable brochure.
2021 Chambers and Partners - "She has a wonderful demeanour in and out of the court and is a pleasure to work with. She really makes clients feel at ease." "Louise is a calm but highly effective barrister with exceptional advocacy skills." "She is just professional and accurate in every way. She always chooses the right path and recommendation to the court."
2021 Legal 500 Band 1 - ‘She is a Rolls-Royce of an advocate. Forensic analysis. Calm under pressure. Excellent client care manner. She is thorough, considered, conscientious, excellent rapport with clients, easy to work with.’
Ranked consistently in Legal 500 and/or Chambers and Partners each year since 2006.
In 2020 Chambers and Partners ranked Band 1 on the North Eastern Circuit (the only public law children specialist to receive Band 1 ranking on circuit) : “Louise deals with extremely complex and challenging cases in a professional and hugely successful way which enables clients to feel fully involved and engaged in the proceedings." "Not only is she a good advocate, but she is conscientious with her paperwork being filed on time and to a high standard.”
2019 Legal 500 “Approachable and client friendly.”
2019 Chambers and Partners “Superb preparation. Her attention to detail is second to none. Her manner and support to clients are fantastic.” “Approachable and client friendly.”
2018 Chambers and Partners “Louise is a strong, sensible advocate. She has a good court manner and is always immaculately prepared.” “ Louise is first class. She is calm, professional and diligent. She left no stones unturned.”
2017 Legal 500 ‘Frighteningly clever on paper and in person.’
2016 Chambers and Partners "An expert on cases concerning forced marriages and is recommended for her depth of expertise on cases involving international issues."
Re: C (a child) (Serious physical injuries; fact finding) [2018] EWFC 13
Care proceedings before Mr Justice Holman. Acted as counsel for the Local Authority. 5 week old baby suffered internal brain and head injuries characteristic of a shaking injury together with leg and rib fractures.
GD and BD (Children) [2016] EWHC 3312 (Fam)
Louise was junior counsel for the Local Authority in Human Rights proceedings heard by Mr Justice Cobb. The mother and her two children, now aged 9 and 4, brought applications under the Human Rights Act 1998 for damages and declarations that, as a result of the conduct of the Local Authority and the police force, their Art 6 and Art 8 rights had been breached. Case was the subject of publicity. Louise was not junior counsel in the earlier stage of the linked care proceedings.
Re A (Fact finding): Kirklees Council v X v MS v SU and others [2015] EWFC 68
Junior counsel for the Local Authority in a 10 day finding of fact hearing within care proceedings before Ms Justice Russell (leading counsel John Hayes QC). Linked care proceedings in respect of two families. Historical allegations of sexual abuse. Vulnerable witnesses. Allegations found proven.
In the final welfare stage of these proceedings represented the Local Authority before Ms Justice Russell.
Leeds City Council v YX & ZX (Assessment of Sexual Abuse) [2008] EWCA 802 (Fam), [2008] 2 FLR 869.
Care proceedings before Mr Justice Holman. Acted as junior counsel for the Father (led by Clive Heaton QC, now HHJ Heaton QC retired). Allegations of sexual abuse. Prior to involvement of silk, successfully argued for the instruction of Professor Heger, eminent American Paediatrician. Parents entirely vindicated and sexual abuse found not to have taken place. Children returned to parents' care. Case was the subject of publicity.
Recorder (appointed 2012)
Specialist contributor to 'The International Family Law Practice' (2nd – 5th Editions), authored by David Hodson (Family Law). Author of the chapter 'Forced Marriages'.
Co-author of ‘Forced Marriage: A Special Bulletin’, (Jordans) September 2009. Review: "A refreshingly interesting read! ... This book rather helpfully sets out almost everything you need to know when preparing for a case of this nature ... a step by step guide to managing a forced marriage case" (Family Law)
Articles
Deprivation of liberty and administration of medication by a local authority to a child (January 2018), Lexis®PSL Local Government
Lectures regularly on public law and private law children topics and offers specialist training on the forced marriage legislation.
Louise was one of the speakers on the topic of forced marriage at the 2013 Law Society Annual Family Law conference : "The sacred and the secular – religion, culture and the family courts". Conference opened by the President of the Family Division.
Law MA (Cantab), Newnham College, Cambridge University
Inns of Court School of Law
FLBA
