Family

An experienced advocate with a career spanning over 35 years, Julie is recognised as a true specialist in the family law sphere. Her practice covers all aspects of children law, including both public law and private law proceedings.

Up until 2009, Julie also maintained a criminal practice alongside her family work. She is a Category 4 Prosecutor and has defended and prosecuted (in equal measure) serious cases of murder, attempted murder, serious physical assaults, rape, kidnapping and physical and sexual abuse of children. Her experience at the criminal bar complements her established family practice.

Julie is regularly instructed to represent parents, adopters, relatives and children in cases involving:

• Care Proceedings
• Private Law Proceedings
• PII Cases
• Adoption
• Special Guardianship work
• Deprivation of Liberty
• Relocation and abduction of children (both domestic and internationally)

Her cases often involve the most serious allegations of infant death, sexual abuse, factitious induced illness (FII), domestic violence and physical abuse of children. Many of these cases involve complex medical evidence and require difficult cross examination of a wide array of medical professionals, including paediatric neurologists, neurosurgeons, paediatric radiologists, ophthalmologists, paediatricians, haematologists, geneticists, pathologists , psychiatrists and psychologists.

Julie finds her work both rewarding and challenging. She is regarded as a tenacious cross examiner of all witness, whether lay or professional. Approachable and supportive, she is a popular choice with lay-clients due to her ‘down-to-earth’ nature. Many of these individuals have mental health difficulties and/or learning issues. Julie will always ensure that her clients are able to engage in and understand these highly traumatic and complicated matters.