Profile description
Specialist Areas of Law include:
- Children matters (Care, Adoption, Protection and Child Arrangement Orders)
- Divorce and financial settlement proceedings
- All aspects of Local Authority proceedings
- Injunctive proceedings before the family courts (non-molestation and occupation orders)
- Court of Protection
Children Act proceedings (public and private law)
Phil is very experienced in care proceedings, acting over the years for local authorities, parents and guardians. He also has experience of dealing with Adult Social Care matters and Court of Protection Cases. His knowledge of the internal workings of local authorities is extensive. Phil is known for his detailed approach to any cases he undertakes and his ability to relate to and deal with clients on all levels.
Private law applications in relation to Child Arrangements Orders form a significant part of Phil's practice and he has been involved in all manner of proceedings ranging from 'straight-forward' disputes relating to applications for contact and residence through to very complex cases involving parental alienation, child abduction and cases with an international element featuring removal of children from the jurisdiction.
As part of his wider family practice, Phil also accepts instructions to deal with disputes concerning child maintenance, including appeals to the CSA Tribunal.
Divorce and financial settlement
Phil has extensive experience of divorce and matrimonial proceedings (financial settlement). He is content to accept instructions from Applicants and Respondents to deal with proceedings from the First Directions Appointment (FDA), to Financial Dispute Resolution (FDR) and Final Hearing. Phil's caseload includes proceedings featuring high value and complex assets including pensions, businesses and property (including property held overseas). Phil also has experience of dealing with enforcement proceedings relating to financial orders and has dealt with applications to vary long-standing orders due to a material change to the circumstances of one or other party to the order.
Fact-finding proceedings
Phil is frequently instructed to advise and represent clients in relation to fact-finding proceedings. His front line experience of service in the police force allows Phil to offer a deeper understanding of the serious allegations are typically investigated in fact-finding hearings. He has extensive experience of dealing with cases involving allegations of substance abuse (drugs and alcohol), domestic violence and sexual abuse. He offers specific experience of proceedings involving allegations of 'honour based' violence in a contested adoption case that went all the way to the Court of Appeal. Phil brings the same experience to bear when instructed to deal with injunctive remedies before the family courts (non molestation and occupation order applications), especially those involving allegations of harassment and intimidation.
Court of Protection
Phil deals with a wide range of cases arising in the Court of Protection (COP). He accepts instructions from all parties to such proceedings including family members, local authorities, deputies, Protected Parties and the Official Solicitor. Phil has considerable experience and has dealt with cases of all ranges of complexity, from District Judge to the High Court. Phil's COP practice includes the following:
- Deputyship
- Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS)
- Lasting Powers of Attorney and Enduring Powers of Attorney
- Mental capacity
- Medical treatment
- Best interests decisions
- Welfare, including contact, residence and care decisions
Advocacy
As an advocate, Phil has appeared in all levels of the Family Court in multi-day contested hearings from the Magistrates Court, County Court and High Court. He has also appeared in the Court of Appeal on behalf of local authorities and a Guardian. He offers a commanding and authoritative court-room presence, capable of both persuasive negotiation and also robust representation subject to the approach demanded by any particular hearing, case, client or opponent.
