Clare has many years of experience in all aspects of family law, and  is recommended by the Legal 500 as “meticulous and pragmatic”. She has been involved in many of the most contentious and complex High Court level and Court of Appeal cases dealt with on the NE circuit in recent years , including  cases  attracting national media attention.

Clients include Local Authorities, parents and relatives, interveners and CAFCASS (formerly both Guardians whether this is public law or private law and the Official Solicitor).

She has particular experience in representing clients under a disability (minors, teenage mothers and patients).

Clare uses her exemplary client and solicitor care skills to put clients at ease without losing sight of the main issues. She is an excellent and experienced advocate, who regularly leads other advocates including appearances where others are being led by QC and is passionate about human rights and believes in justice for all.

Clare brings a dynamic and no-nonsense attitude to her work, meticulous preparation empathy and compassion, tactical and legal insight and tenacity all of which she utilises in presenting her client’s case in the most positive terms.

Her skills and strengths are :

• A compassionate yet realistic approach to the difficulties inherent in cases involving a child’s welfare and needs
• Effective communication of the issues involved to the clients, both lay and professional pro-active client-care
• Exceptional negotiating skills combining pragmatism with delivering an outcome
• Assured presentation of the case in court by advocacy and written presentation underpinned by thorough preparation of the case and the law to be applied within it directed towards a clear analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the brief.

Clare has a particular interest in post care services to children, particularly where physical injuries/emotional harm they have sustained require care plans that look to ‘ pathway plans ‘ and support and services as a vulnerable adult/ post 18 care.

Clare is the representative for the bar at the local level of the Family Justice Board.

Areas of Expertise

• The death of/catastrophic injuries to a child
• Sex abuse/incest and paedophilia (including internet and commercial exploitation)
• Ritualized abuse/cultural practices
• Immigration
• The most complex medical issues e.g. shaking babies brain injuries
• Honour killings
• Representation for children who are both the victims of abuse and alleged abusers
• Teenage mothers
• Parents with learning disabilities
• Child protection cases involving concurrent criminal prosecution
• Complex private law proceedings and Adoption and Placement cases.
• Acting for children who are suspected victims of trafficking and parents to whom allegations are made against
• Issues arising out of Brussels II Revised and the Hague Convention

Chambers and Partners (2024) - Family, Children (Band 1) - "A must for all clients, Clare is hard-working and assured." "One of the best on the circuit." "A superb advocate who is able to communicate well with other advocates, judges and clients alike."

Legal 500 (2024) - Family, Children and Domestic Violence (Tier 2) - "Clare is a fantastic advocate who is great on her feet. Her work ethic is fantastic. She is well respected because of her calm, professional manner and her impressive command of the law and facts."

Chambers and Partners (2023) - Family, Children (Band 1) - "Clare Garnham undertakes advocacy in a range of family-related public law cases. She predominantly acts for local authorities, as well as parents, on child protection matters relating to such serious matters as abuse, injury and neglect. She is also noted for her ability to handle international issues."

Legal 500 (2022) - Child Law, Public & Private (Tier 1) - "Clare is a calm, thoughtful, and methodical barrister. She is easy to approach, and clients have always found her advice knowledgeable and easy to follow."

Chambers and Partners (2022) - Family, Children (Band 1) - "She has very high-level client care skills and is rigorous in cross-examination." "She is down to earth, has amazing knowledge and really fights for her clients. Clare knows exactly what she is doing." "She is one of the best counsels I have ever come across."

Chambers and Partners (2021) - "She is basically a silk, but without a QC. The judiciary love her." "She is highly experienced and a skilled advocate who combines this with a personable approach to clients."

Legal 500 (2021) Tier 1 - "Always well prepared and sound advice given. Great skills with parent clients and also Guardians who regularly ask that she be instructed. Always happy to be contacted and very use friendly."

Chambers and Partners (2020) - "She is incredibly hard-working, involved and willing to give advice at every stage of the case." "A highly experienced barrister. She shows great empathy with her clients but is also honest."

Chambers and Partners (2019) - "Very strong knowledge of the law and excellent advocacy." "She is approachable and has exemplary client care skills. In terms of advocacy she commands the court's attention. She is highly intelligent and well liked by clients and professionals alike."

Legal 500 (2019) - ‘"Fantastic work ethic"

Chambers and Partners (2018) - "She works extremely hard and is phenomenal when dealing with people." "She has been almost everyone's pick in cases. She is extremely well prepared and very hard-working." "My go-to is Clare. If she is available I don't look any further. Clare is exceptional."

Chambers and Partners (2017) - "Your go-to family lawyer, she has a broad range of expertise and really knows what she's doing."

Chambers and Partners (2016) - "She is briefed on public law children cases which require robust representation but great sensitivity - she delivers every time."

Chambers and Partners (2015) - "You cannot fault Clare. Her manner with her clients is brilliant and, coupled with that, her advocacy is excellent. Others are in awe of how she commands the courtroom."

Chambers and Partners (2014) - "She's uniquely approachable and personable; a fantastic advocate who understands how to work with clients."

Legal 500 (2017) -‘A senior junior with the merits of a silk.’

Legal 500 (2016) - ‘A superb advocate, who is unflappable and fights her corner.’

Chambers and Partners (2015) - "You cannot fault Clare. Her manner with her clients is brilliant and, coupled with that, her advocacy is excellent. Others are in awe of how she commands the courtroom.

Legal 500 (2015) - "You can place full confidence in her abilities as an advocate.

Family Law Bar Association

Involving the interface between matters of religion and culture, honour and child protection.

Also the use of new material arising subsequently to the issuing of proceedings and the weight to be attached to such in a forensic consideration.

Re B and G (Children)(No 2) 2015 EWFC 3 – The first reported case where Female Genital Mutilation was the sole issue. 

Notable Cases The areas of expertise identified above have all been from cases where Clare has been directly representing a significant and central party within the proceedings. Given Clare’s previous employment as a child care solicitor in both the private sector and local government for over 15 years together with the 5 years at the bar has provided a rich seam of experience to draw upon.

A regular contributor to the many “in house” seminars on family topics with particular emphasis on vulnerable clients and court skills for professional witnesses as well as legal updates on both public and private family law.

BA [Hons] Business Law Former Solicitor Advocate