News & Events: Children Law (Private)
Re X, Y, Z ((Children) Summary Return to Nigeria)
Oba Nsugbe KC, SAN was instructed by the parties as the single joint expert on Nigerian law. His evidence was described by the court as “helpful and clear”. His report summarised the Nigerian proceedings which took place from November 2023. He described the Nigerian Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015 as being the equivalent of […]
“Writing to children: new guidance” by Maria Henty and Victoria Ellis published in Family Law
On 26 February 2025, the President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane, published new guidance for family judges on when, how, and why to write to children in family proceedings. This article in the July edition of Family Law, by Maria Henty and Victoria Ellis, considers the thinking behind this new initiative, the tools […]
Pump Court Chambers welcomes four new tenants
We are delighted that Alvaro Loxton, Edward Armitage, Hannah Tickle and Victoria Steet have all accepted offers of tenancy and will become full members of chambers on 1st October 2025, following the successful completion of their pupillages. Alvaro Loxton (2021 call) accepts instructions across Chambers’ core areas of practice, with particular experience in family, civil and […]
Private Children Law Case Update – Summer 2025
KL v BA [2025] EWHC 102 (Fam) This case concerned applications for child arrangements orders in relation to a child aged 4. The court was tasked with determining whether the effect of a declaration of non-parentage rendered a party’s parental responsibility ‘void ab initio’ (i.e. never having had any legal effect) or whether that party […]
Family Justice Council Guidance – Covert Recordings in Family Proceedings Concerning Children: Key Takeaways
The issue of covert recordings within family proceedings has been described by the President of the Family Division as a ‘growing area for the courts to consider with little guidance available to judges or other professionals.’ As such, the guidance document published by the Family Justice Council on 15 May 2025 is undoubtedly welcomed by […]
Jennifer Lee to speak at the London Resolution Modern Families Forum on 19 June 2025
We are pleased to announce that Jennifer Lee has been invited to present the modern family law case update at the London Resolution Modern Families Forum on 19th June 2025 (alongside Mavis Amonoo-Acquah of Harcourt). The keynote address will be given this year by Lord Justice Peter Jackson, and the conference will be chaired by Natalie […]
In memoriam David Barber
It is with much sadness that Pump Court reports the death of our former Senior Clerk, David Barber, who passed away last weekend “Big Dave”, as he was affectionately known, was Pump Court’s Senior Clerk for 20 years, although he served as First Junior under Paul Harding for many years before being promoted. David was […]
Pump Court retains its ISO accreditation for seventh year
Following a successful audit process, Pump Court Chambers has retained its ISO accreditation (ISO 9001:2015) for another year with no issues raised. ISO is a globally recognised standard for Quality Management Systems (QMS). It is the most widely used QMS standard in the world, with over 1.1 million certificates issued in 178 countries. The 2015 […]
Hampshire Breakfast Briefing
We are very pleased to invite you to our popular Breakfast Briefing, taking place from 8am on Tuesday 20th May 2025. As always, this event promises to be lively and interactive, where you will have the chance to network over coffee and pastries before hearing a talk on topical family law issues. During the session, […]
Several members of Pump Court ranked as leading family barristers in Doyle’s Guide 2025
We are delighted to announce that several members of Pump Court’s family team have been ranked as Leading Barristers in the latest edition of Doyle’s Guide. Within the Rising Stars (London) section, which includes barristers of 5 years’ call or less who have been identified as future leading counsel in the London legal market, both […]
Pump Court Chambers welcomes four new tenants
We are delighted to announce that Rukan Hazar, Palak Sikri, Isabella Thomas-Kelly and Emily Chapman have accepted offers to join chambers, following the successful completion of their probationary tenancies. Rukan Hazar (2019 call) accepts instructions at all stages of litigation in family, civil, and criminal proceedings. In family proceedings, she accepts instructions in matrimonial finance, […]
The painful reality of the Sara Sharif case
Catherine Gee discusses the issues raised by the Sara Sharif case and the decision to publish the names of the judges involved. It is a sad day when a child dies, and it is truly a terrible one when this happens at the hands of their family. For Sara Sharif, this happened in a way […]
