Family

Damian is recognised as a leading family law specialist, listed in The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners.

He provides sound, practical advice in all aspects of family law, conducting skilful negotiations to achieve consensual outcomes and undertaking robust advocacy in court when necessary. He is known for his devastating cross-examination and focused submissions. The breadth of his experience in both child and financial family law applications is welcomed by clients seeking a holistic solution to the problems of relationship breakdown.

He will undertake early neutral evaluations in both child and financial disputes to help parties avoid the court process where possible.

Damian has particular expertise in applications for financial remedy following divorce, notably where complexities arise due to the nature and value of the parties’ assets and sources of income (e.g. private businesses or family trusts) and/or difficulties caused by bankruptcy, third-party intervention and/or an international element.  He is similarly experienced in cases involving nuptial agreements, cohabitation, child maintenance and civil partnerships.

He also often represents parties in parental disputes about children, particularly in the difficult and sensitive area of international child abduction (both Hague and non-convention cases) and relocation (both international and internal).  He has co-written the leading textbook on child relocation, now in its 2nd edition.  His forensic skills are also in demand in cases of parental alienation and where serious allegations are raised against a parent

His child-care practice encompasses the most complex cases including those involving alleged radicalisation, the most serious injury or death, sexual exploitation, the youth or incapacity of a parent and/or issues of publicity, non-disclosure and public interest immunity.

He can use his forensic experience to the advantage of a range of clients in the Court of Protection, inquests and public inquiries.

He is a Recorder sitting as a judge in the Family Court and is also authorised to sit as a Deputy High Court Judge in the Family Division.