1GC | Family Law

1GC Family Law is recognised both nationally and internationally as a leading family law set, delivering skilled and comprehensive services across the full spectrum of family law and related areas. The set is regularly instructed in complex and sensitive matters, as well as cases involving issues of law with wider significance. Its clerking team is noted for professionalism and approachability, valued by both professional and lay clients.

Members of chambers appear before courts at all levels, including frequent instructions in the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal. Their expertise spans private children law, covering disputes over child arrangements, surrogacy, adoption, declarations of parentage following assisted conception, and legal parenthood in same-sex relationships. In public law children cases, members have a particular reputation for handling matters involving complex legal and medical issues, as well as radicalisation cases. Chambers also represents local authorities in applications for care and supervision orders, adoption, and judicial review, alongside public interest immunity cases and publicity matters.

The family finance team undertakes cases ranging from high-value financial disputes involving complex structures, trusts, and offshore assets to modest claims, as well as matters concerning freezing injunctions, nuptial agreements, and enforcement of orders. Additional expertise includes Court of Protection cases, issues of family privacy and autonomy, and cases concerning the right to life and modern families. Members frequently deal with urgent applications in family law and related areas. Chambers has also pioneered family mediation services and remains committed to alternative dispute resolution, offering early neutral evaluation and arbitration. Many members sit as part-time judges, and the set maintains a strong tradition of pro bono work.

With extensive international experience, members are regularly instructed in cases involving foreign jurisdictions, including disputes over jurisdiction and forum, valuation and distribution of overseas assets, and enforcement against offshore trusts. Regular work includes child abduction matters and disputes involving the international movement of children, adoption, surrogacy, and care proceedings. Several members have practiced overseas, particularly in North America and the Caribbean. The set has also contributed to law reform discussions, including the implications of Brexit for family law.