International Family Law

Overview

Chambers Family Law team hosts a number of specialists in International Family Law.

Our barristers have experience in all aspects of cross-border children cases including: dealing with issues of jurisdiction (in both public and private law proceedings); recognition and enforcement of foreign orders; abduction (1980 Hague Applications); female genital mutilation and forced marriage; international adoption; international relocation and issues relating to the 1996 Hague Convention.

In addition, our expert barristers are well placed to advise prospectively on making applications relating to the international movement and protection of children. Our barristers are instructed by private parties; CAFCASS; central government departments (particularly the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office); local authorities and the Official Solicitor.

International children cases are often complex and technical. Our barristers are well placed to deal with the demands of an international practice and frequently appear in leading cases in this discipline.

International Family Law Expertise

Recent Cases

  • London Borough of Hackney v P & Ors (Re Jurisdiction: 1996 Hague Child Protection Convention) [2023] EWCA Civ 1213
    The lead authority on the date on which habitual residence falls to be determined and the first Court of Appeal authority on the existence of a common law jurisdiction based on presence alone.
  • G, Re (Disclosure of Fact-Finding Judgment to Secretary of State for the Home Department) [2023] EWHC 450 (Fam)
    The lead authority determining the ambit of disclosure obligations to the Secretary of State within confidential family proceedings concerning summary return under the inherent jurisdiction where there are parallel asylum proceedings.
  • A v B [2022] EWHC 2962
    The lead authority on international Hague Convention adoptions; setting out guidance on the steps required of a local authority.
  • AB v BB [2022] EWHC 1965
    An important restatement of principles relating to 1980 Hague Convention defences; including the doctrine of repudiation.
  • A v. HA; EN and LA [2022] EWHC 1030
    Authority on the extent of the High Court’s parens patriae jurisdiction exercised over British nationals resident in a European Country in circumstances where their placement there was not satisfied by mirror orders.
  • Re O (A Child: The Vienna Convention on Consular Relations 1963) [2021] EWHC 908 (Fam)
    The lead authority on the extent of reporting obligations of local authorities to foreign consular officials in circumstances where a child is subject to care proceedings.

International Family Law Barristers

King's Counsel

Tim Parker KC

Call 1995 | Silk 2022

Edward Lamb KC

Call 2006 | Silk 2024

Juniors (15 years +)

Tara Vindis

Call 1996

Tabitha Barran

Call 1998

Oliver Millington

Call 2003

Alastair Hogarth

Call 2005

Kate Lamont

Call 2007

Laura Bumpus

Call 2008

Juniors

William Dean

Call 2011

John Schmitt

Call 2013

Laura Hibberd

Call 2013

Thomas Jones

Call 2015

Kyah Mufti

Call 2016

Lucy Lodewyke

Call 2018

Francesca Kolar

Call 2018

Madeleine Miller

Call 2019

Louise Thomson

Call 2019

Thomas Clarke

Call 2022

Pupils

Senior Clerks

Jaime Brooks

Joint Deputy Senior Clerk

Junior Clerks

Abigail Clark

Junior Clerk

Latest News & Events

Thomas Jones represented the Secretary of State for the Home Department in Re C (A Child) (Recognition of Nigerian Adoption) [2025] EWHC 204 (Fam)

Summary In Re C (A Child) (Recognition of Nigerian Adoption) [2025] EWHC 204 (Fam), Mr Justice Harrison allowed an application to recognise an international adoption where the strict application of the conditions in Re Valentine’s Settlement [1965] Ch 831 would have resulted in a disproportionate…

Francesca Kolar interviewed by The Advocacy Tutor

Francesca Kolar was interviewed by Sonia Simms for The Advocacy Tutor Brief. Spotlight on Francesca Kolar Francesca Kolar was called to the Bar in 2018. She is an experienced barrister practising across civil, criminal, family, clinical negligence, and police law. She appears regularly in the County…

Deka Briefing: Best Evidence

Welcome to the Deka Chambers January Briefing where we draw once again upon our multi-disciplinary expertise to deliver a series of articles which examine key themes in litigation. For this edition we consider Best Evidence. Success at trial is often as much about enabling clients…

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