Alastair Hogarth is a leading junior barrister specialising in all areas of family law.

He has a busy practice in both public law child protection and private law cases arising out of all aspects of relationship breakdown. He is a highly regarded court performer with a reputation for being personable but tenacious.

Al prides himself on his personable approach and an ability to build a rapport with clients and opponents alike. He is a strong believer in putting clients at their ease at all stages of the legal process whilst at the same time vigorously pursuing their interests. Al is regularly complimented on having made the process of litigation clearer, calmer and less daunting for those involved.

Al is client focussed and practical with a view to achieving the best outcome for those he represents. He is a highly regarded court room advocate and negotiator with a reputation for being charming yet intelligent, reasoned and tenacious.

Al regularly lectures solicitors on various aspects of family law and procedure. He has been a contributing author to various practitioners’ texts and provides updates for chambers’ publications on current relevant legal issues.

Al is also direct access trained and approved by the Bar Council to accept instructions direct from lay clients.

Al specialises in all aspects of family law, both public and private. In his public law work Al is instructed by local authorities, parents, other family members and on behalf of children, appearing in proceedings for care orders, supervision orders, placement orders and adoption at all levels of court. He has a broad range of experience having dealt with cases involving non-accidental injury, sexual abuse and chronic neglect for both local authorities and parents. Al also has a developing Court of Protection practice.

On the private side Al represents and advises parties on all aspects arising out of relationship breakdown including financial remedies, residence and contact disputes. He has acted in a number of intractable contact disputes involving issues of domestic violence, mental health and sexual abuse. He has experience in dealing with a wide range of financial disputes, from those involving couples struggling to make ends meet post-divorce, to high net-worth cases involving multiple properties, different jurisdictions and company issues.

Al is a highly regarded courtroom performer, regularly noted for his personable but tenacious approach. Al is regularly complimented by solicitors and lay clients for his easy manner and delicate handling of clients at all stages of litigation.

Notable Family Law cases

  • R v R

    Representation of husband in financial remedy proceedings. Successful ring-fencing of significant inheritance.

  • B v L

    Represented abused mother in successful application to terminate father’s PR. First such case since CW v SG [2013] EWHC 854

  • Re: V

    Represented local authority in complex and sensitive care proceedings involving twins with Down’s Syndrome.

  • H v H

    successful representation of husband in ‘gold-digger’ financial remedy proceedings.

  • R v R

    representation of wife in financial remedy proceedings with assets exceeding £2 million, including properties abroad.

  • Re: S

    representation of mother in contested care proceedings. Child returned to the mother.

  • K v K

    representation of father in intractable contact dispute with significant mental health issues.

  • Re: P

    representation of mother in highly contested care proceedings. Child returned to the mother.

Before specialising in family law Al had a parallel civil practice including personal injury and clinical negligence. His practice included regularly appearing at inquests representing families of those injured or killed in industrial accidents, road traffic accidents or medical situations.
Since focussing on public law Al has transferred his inquest experience to representing Local Authorities, families and other parties at inquests in which they are interested parties.

Notable Inquests cases

  • Re: X

    High profile inquest that attracted significant media attention representing the family of a SO19 (firearms) police office killed in action during a high speed case. The subsequent action against the police (where Al represented the family) was settled and the then Prime Minister David Cameron opened a memorial at the site of the officer’s death.

  • Re: E

    represented a Local Authority at an inquest into the suicide of man who had had involvement with various arms of that authority (housing, adult services) as well as mental health services and the police;

  • Re: F

    represented Local Authority in an Article 2 inquest into the death of a man involved with that authority (housing, adult services, outsourced care package).

Regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB)

Regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) and holds a current practising certificate.


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Regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB)

Regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) and holds a current practising certificate.


View my privacy policy.

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Deka Chambers: 5 Norwich Street, London EC4A 1DR

© Deka Chambers 2024

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