Profile description
In family law, Cynthia’s range of work includes financial settlement after divorce (domestic and international assets) child arrangements, and non-molestation and occupation orders. Not only does Cynthia possess academic and vocational skills essential to the English Bar but has acquired academic, vocational and practical knowledge of other common law and civil law jurisdictions. Cynthia is an accredited mediator in all areas of law.
Family Law
Legal advice, drafting & advocacy in private law, public law, and financial proceedings.
- Financial proceedings after divorce (domestic and international)
- Applications to vary and enforce existing orders
- Private law proceedings (adult and children)
- Non-molestation and occupation orders
- Fact-finding hearings (cases featuring allegations of domestic violence and abuse)
- Public law proceedings (care and adoption)
- International proceedings (child abduction, relocation)
- Court of Protection proceedings
- Forced marriage
In financial settlement cases, Cynthia accepts instructions from Applicants and Respondents to deal with proceedings from the First Directions Appointment (FDA), to Financial Dispute Resolution (FDR) and Final Hearing. Her caseload includes proceedings featuring complex assets including pensions and business and property assets held overseas.
Cynthia also deals with TOLATA and financial provision for children under Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989. She has been instructed to advise and represent many high net-worth clients throughout the course of her career at the Bar. Most of his cases feature at least one of the following factors: Family businesses, inherited wealth, overseas assets (business and property), intervening third party interests, variation applications, enforcement and non-compliance with disclosure.
Reported Cases
- M v G: Private law
- London Borough of Lambeth (Re MF): Care proceedings involving sexual abuse and non-accidental injury;
- O v O: Financial proceedings following divorce concerning assets in different jurisdictions.
Civil litigation
In civil law, Cynthia appears for both claimants and defendants. Her range of work includes contract, property and tort. Cynthia also deals with professional regulatory proceedings before fitness to practice panels. Cynthia offers legal advice, drafting and advocacy in relation to the following types of civil proceedings:
- Contractual disputes
- Disputes relating to property
- Business and Commercial disputes
- Professional negligence
- Insolvency & Bankruptcy
Reported Cases
- R v B: Successful defence and counterclaim in a multi-track claim against a millionaire
- M v Admiral Insurance (and others): A serious multi-track road traffic dispute involving many claimants and defendants concerning unusual complex and sensitive issues of both fact and law
- Santander v R: Successfully defending a solicitor’s firm in a professional negligence claim.
Professional Regulation
Cynthia accepts instructions to advise and represent registrants appearing before the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), typically disciplinary proceedings involving nurses and midwives. She has also been instructed by the NMC in this field. Cynthia's experience lies in substantive hearings involving patients’ deaths and professional negligence of nurses and midwives.
Equine Law
Cynthia has a niche practice in the field of equine law and welfare. She is passionate about horses and is a keen horse rider herself. Examples of the cases she has dealt with in this field are as follows:
- RSPCA Animal Welfare Prosecutions concerning Equines.
- RSPCA civil dispute involving death of equine in RSPCA Boarding facility.
- International equine dispute involving purchase of a racehorse from a renowned French horse trainer and jockey.
- Dispute between an Eventer and Groom in relation to an Animals Act claim and common law negligence resulting in severe ongoing injury said to have affected the claimant’s employment prospects, ability to ride and to bear children.
- Disputes surrounding individual horse sales.
- Dispute involving veterinary negligence claims and equine welfare.
Testimonials
- “Cynthia McFarlane is extremely professional in her practice [and] a strong negotiator in obtaining settlement both in Family and Civil Litigation. Further as a direct access barrister her advice and assistance to litigants is helpful and reassuring, her unique style and approach achieves great results.” Carole McKenzie-Walker, previously of Quinns Solicitors
- "I can’t rave enough about your service, I deliberated about changing legal representative so late in the game but I was blessed in choosing you. My court case dragged on for 4 years at a cost of many thousand pounds. I changed my legal team twice but I truly believe if I had met Cynthia earlier the case would have been wrapped up years earlier and saved thousands of pounds. The diligence and professionalism she showed really stood out and I would recommend her service 110%. Cynthia is definitely the person you want on your side at court.” Dawn J. Morgan, Client
Professional appointments:
- Mediator (in all areas of law) – please see www.missmcmediator.com for more information
- Assistant to Counsel to the International Criminal Court The Hague, The Netherlands
