Maria Gallagher

Call: 1997

Maria Gallagher is a family law specialist, having practised in this area throughout her professional career and specialised since 2003.

Her practice spans all areas of family law with a particular emphasis on children work.

Expertise

Children Law (Public)

In public law Maria represents parents, children, local authorities and extended family members. She has expertise in cases which involve death and non-accidental injuries, serious sexual abuse and factitious illness often with complex and competing expert medical evidence.

She also regularly acts in cases involving domestic abuse and neglect, parents with learning disabilities, capacity or mental health issues, concerns around substance abuse and addiction and cases involving children with complex medical / disabilities needs or special educational needs.

Cases

A Council v JC & Ors [2025] EWFC 440

Acted for the 1st Respondent in this composite fact finding and welfare hearing.

A LA v B v R & Others [2018]

Acted for the local authority led by Penny Howe QC in this 16 day fact find in the High Court involving the death of a baby in which there was complex and competing expert medical evidence.

Re B (A Child) [2018] EWCA Civ 2127

Acted for the local authority in a 6 day fact finding and was then successful in securing a dismissal of the appeal by the mother led by Aidan Vine QC.

A LA v B v R & Others [2018]

Acted for the local authority led by Sue Campbell QC in this 18 day fact find in the High Court involving a number of allegations relating to sexual and physical abuse of children by parents and a number of intervenors with international expert evidence and diocesan church involvement.

Re L (A Child) [2013] EWCA Civ 489

Acted for the mother and was successful in an appeal where the local authority had wrongfully removed the child from her care in prison.

Children Law (Private)

In private law Maria is regularly instructed in residence, contact and specific issue applications. She has particular experience in cases of intractable conflict, of implacable hostility / parental alienation, cases involving domestic abuse and applications for internal and international relocation.