Children Law (Public)

Public Law children cases are complex and emotionally charged, centring on the provision of care and/or medical treatment for young, often vulnerable people.

At Pump Court, our barristers approach these matters with a combination of acute technical expertise and great sensitivity to the individuals involved.

Our Public Law team is led by Penny Howe KC and features a further two KC’s and more than 30 Junior Counsel. This scale and breadth of talent means that are able to provide advice and representation for Court hearings across the whole country.

Acting for Local Authorities, parents and grandparents, children and Guardians, we advise on a wide range of cases including:

• Applications to place children in the care of Local Authorities.
• Applications for contact to a child in care or to revoke pre-existing care orders.
• Foreign and domestic adoptions.
• Cases under the Inherent Jurisdiction including those involving ‘the right to life’ or medical treatment for children.
• Private law disputes where local authorities have been joined as parties.
• Applications for Judicial Review.

Notable issues where we have advised and represented parties include:

• Non-accidental head injuries and multiple fractures.
• Sexual abuse including situations where paedophile rings are in operation.
• Allegations of induced or fabricated illness.
• Alleged murder by a sibling child.
• Murder or attempted murder by a parent.
• Child sterilisation.
• Forced marriage and child trafficking cases.
• The continuation or withdrawal of treatment for a child who has suffered severe brain damage.
• Cases involving the proposed detention of a child.

As well as experienced barristers, our team also features a Deputy High Court Judge, Recorders and Deputy District Judges. Several of our team members have also worked in house for local authorities dealing with Public Law children issues.

The team also benefits from our strong technical expertise in the related fields of private law children proceedings, child abduction cases and applications for permission to remove children from the jurisdiction.

In addition to providing expert advice and representation in this area, we are committed to expanding the understanding of the complex issues in Public Law matters relating to children. We deliver seminars and continuing professional education through our own training programme and in conjunction with other providers.