Farah Shames
"A reliable and approachable advocate with a strong public law family practice and a reputation for thorough preparation and effective advocacy"
About
Farah Shames is a family law barrister specialising in both public and private law children work. She is regularly instructed by Local Authorities, parents and children’s guardians in care proceedings, as well as in private law disputes between parents.
Approximately 80% of her practice comprises of public law work. She has developed strong and consistent professional relationships with Local Authorities across the North East, including Hartlepool, Darlington, Stockton and Middlesbrough, and is frequently instructed on their behalf. Alongside this, she has a broad range of experience in private law proceedings, including cases involving child arrangements, parental alienation and difficult disputes between parents. Farah is experienced in managing a busy caseload and regularly appears in contested hearings.
She is known for her approachable manner, thorough preparation and effective advocacy, combined with strong communication skills, cultural awareness and fluency in Arabic.
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Farah Shames
"A reliable and approachable advocate with a strong public law family practice and a reputation for thorough preparation and effective advocacy"
About
Farah Shames is a family law barrister specialising in both public and private law children work. She is regularly instructed by Local Authorities, parents and children’s guardians in care proceedings, as well as in private law disputes between parents.
Approximately 80% of her practice comprises of public law work. She has developed strong and consistent professional relationships with Local Authorities across the North East, including Hartlepool, Darlington, Stockton and Middlesbrough, and is frequently instructed on their behalf. Alongside this, she has a broad range of experience in private law proceedings, including cases involving child arrangements, parental alienation and difficult disputes between parents. Farah is experienced in managing a busy caseload and regularly appears in contested hearings.
She is known for her approachable manner, thorough preparation and effective advocacy, combined with strong communication skills, cultural awareness and fluency in Arabic.
Farah specialises in both public and private law children work and is regularly instructed by Local Authorities, parents and children’s guardians.
In public law proceedings, she has experience across all stages of care cases, including case management hearings, interim hearings, fact-finding hearings and final hearings. She regularly deals with complex matters involving neglect, domestic abuse, substance misuse, mental health difficulties and non-accidental injury.
In private law proceedings, Farah has a wide range of experience in disputes concerning children, including applications for child arrangements orders, cases involving allegations of parental alienation, and difficult disputes between parents. She is experienced in handling sensitive issues and navigating high-conflict cases with care and professionalism.
Farah is known for her thorough preparation, clear advocacy and ability to engage effectively with vulnerable clients. Her fluency in Arabic and cultural awareness enhance her ability to represent clients from diverse backgrounds.
Member of the FLBA
Member of Gray’s inn
Farah has been instructed in a wide range of complex public and private law children proceedings, including:
· Public law cases involving allegations of non-accidental injury requiring detailed analysis of medical and expert evidence
· Cases concerning chronic neglect and long-term Local Authority involvement
· Matters involving domestic abuse, parental mental health difficulties and substance misuse
· Contested interim removal hearings and final hearings where care and placement orders were sought
· Private law disputes involving applications for child arrangements orders
· Cases involving allegations of parental alienation and entrenched conflict between parents
· Fact-finding hearings in private law proceedings involving serious allegations
She regularly appears in contested hearings and is experienced in managing sensitive and complex factual disputes.
LLB Swansea University- first class honours
Bar Vocational Studies & LLM, City University of London- Merit
