Stephen always goes the extra mile. Due to his friendly and helpful personality, he can build an excellent rapport with the client and the instructing solicitor. He provides detailed and clear legal advice and is approachable and dedicated. He is a strong advocate in complex matters and can cut through the jargon to make his arguments persuasive and succinct. (The Legal 500 2024)
Overview
Stephen is a barrister who specialises in public law care proceedings and financial remedies work. He has experience in proceedings at all stages and levels of proceedings up to and including the Court of Appeal. Stephen is known and respected for his detailed knowledge of the law and the relevant facts, together with his robust and dogmatic representation of his clients.
Stephen was appointed a Recorder in May 2023 and sits in the Financial Remedies Court on the Midland Circuit.
Stephen graduated in Law from Exeter University in 2009 and was called to the Bar in 2010. Stephen commenced pupillage at St Mary's Chambers in 2012, becoming a tenant in 2013. Stephen is a pupil supervisor.
Practice Areas
Stephen has extensive experience in representing local authorities, parents and guardians at all stages of proceedings. He regularly represents parents and local authorities at complex fact-finding hearings involving the most serious allegations and injuries, together with final hearings where significant life long issues are in dispute.
Stephen is well known and respected for his robust forensic cross examination of witnesses, his attention to detail, his knowledge of legal principles and his ability to engage with all clients.
Stephen has extensive experience at representing and advising Husbands, Wives and interveners at all stages of proceedings. He regularly represents clients involving large net assets, requiring expert reports and other cases with complex legal issues. Stephen also has experience in representing and advising clients regarding TOLATA applications.
Stephen is regularly asked to provide advice in writing or within conferences regarding the likely outcome of proceedings or further steps to be taken. Stephen recently spoke at the St Mary's financial remedies conference.
Stephen is well known and respected for his robust forensic cross examination of witnesses, his attention to detail, his knowledge of legal principles and his ability to engage with all clients.
Stephen sits in Financial Remedies as a Deputy District Judge and was appointed as a Recorder in May 2023; he draws on this experience to assist when sitting as a Private FDR evaluator.
Fee to sit as a Private FDR Evaluator - £1,750 plus VAT
Cases & Publications
Recent Cases
Nottinghamshire County Council v The Mother & Ors (Police Bail) [2024] EWHC 666 (Fam)
Re B (A child) (Adequacy of reasons) [2022] EWCA Civ 407
Stephen represented a Mother in the Court of Appeal, and successfully secured an appeal against the making of care and placement orders made at a final hearing, leading to the matter being remitted for a re-hearing.
Stephen represented a parent accused of multiple acts of sexual abuse against a minor, he was able to successfully oppose findings being made with respect of any of the matters alleged.
Stephen represented a parent at a multi-day fact-finding hearing securing her removal from the pool of perpetrators for significant injuries including multiple brain and retinal haemorrhages.
Stephen represented a Wife in proceedings involving an application under s37 MCA 1973. He was able to secure for the wife the repayment of a sizeable lump sum at a final hearing;
Stephen represented a Wife in a contested TOLATA application linked to a matrimonial breakdown. He was able to protect his client's entire interest in the matrimonial asset against the claim of a third party seeking to limit the matrimonial pot.
Articles
Invalid foreign or domestic marriages: A bar to financial relief?
Section 37: An oft misunderstood but powerful and essential tool
Long term fostering: Addressing some of the myths around this realistic permanency option
Qualified Legal Representatives : The law and the current reality
Unregistered, unregulated or just an unresolvable problem
The lure of s(38)6 placement over the Regulation 24 'risk'
Regulations 17 & 19 and the oversight in favour of s38(6)
The unequal power to grant and remove PR from biological parents
Testimonials
'Stephen is meticulous in his preparation and always has a very tight grip on the case from the outset. He is precise but approachable and is always willing to offer advice when needed. His cross-examination is incisive and purposeful. He gets on well with his clients and his written work is of the highest quality.’ (The Legal 500 2023)
‘Stephen is meticulous in his preparation with an eye for detail. He has a sound grasp of the law but is also pragmatic and sensible in his advice and advocacy. Stephen relates well to lay and professional clients alike.’ (The Legal 500 2022)
'Finally, this is a case in which the parents have had the good fortune of excellent pro bono representation … and it has been instrumental in the outcome of the appeal' Jackson LJ (Re B [2022] EWCA Civ 407)
‘It is always an absolute pleasure to instruct you as I know we will get a first-class service.’
‘Thank you so much for your enduring professional support in this matter, predictably, you have been outstanding.’