Caroline Shields

Year of call:

2006

Education:

2001 - University of Sydney, Australia, BA (Hons) English

2005 - London Metropolitan University, PGDip Law

2006 - College of Law, Bar Vocational Course

Career:

2005 - Clerk at the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal

2007 - Pupil of Nic Lobbenberg QC at Valios & Boardman Chambers, London

2008 - Tenant at Guildford Chambers, Surrey

2009 - Tenant at 39 Park Square, Leeds

2010 - Tenant at No 6, Leeds

2015 - No 6 becomes Park Square Barristers

Appointments:

2014-17 - Secretary of the Yorkshire Family Bar Association

2011–2014 - Secretary of the North Eastern Circuit Family Law Bar Association

2008–2012 - Conducted cases for the Bar Pro Bono Unit

Memberships:

Family Law Bar Association

2008–2013 - Affiliate member of Resolution

North Eastern Circuit

Awards:

Queen Mother’s Scholar of the Middle Temple, Bar Vocational Course Award

Blackstone’s Entrance Exhibition, Bar Vocational Course Award

Caroline is a family law specialist.  She has practiced family law, and family-related civil law, since 2008.  She represents local authorities, parents and children’s guardians in both public and private children law applications.

 

“Miss Shields has a manner that immediately puts clients at ease and her advice is clear and comprehensive, considering not only the steps to be taken at that particular time but also the direction a case may take in the future. As I was a relatively newly qualified solicitor at the time I instructed Miss Shields on a complex Non-Accidental Injury, her assistance and guidance for me was also invaluable. No stone was left unturned, and her command of the evidence was remarkable particularly as the papers spanned across several thousand pages by that time also comprising a number of experts.

 

Miss Shields gave the same care and attention to a standard Case Management Hearing, as she had a multi-day Finding of Fact, and I would have no hesitation in instructing her again. My clients have consistently positive feedback about her representation, informing me that they felt heard, understood, and reassured by her.” Solicitor Client

Care proceedings

Caroline is an experienced practitioner who is instructed in complex care proceedings before the High Court, including applications under the inherent jurisdiction (for example, in respect of applications for deprivation of liberty (DOL) and recovery of children abroad) and at circuit judge level, in matters involving allegations of fabricated illness, historic sexual abuse, child sexual exploitation, neglect, non-accidental injury and significant drug and alcohol abuse; and jurisdictional issues.  She represents parents, children (as instructed by CAFCASS), interveners and local authorities, and is experienced in working with vulnerable adults and those affected by disability. She has been judicially commended for the quality of her written submissions and case preparation, and is well liked by clients for her robust but sensitive approach.  Instructing solicitors appreciate her consistency in communication and willingness to tackle difficult issues on behalf of her clients.

Private law

Caroline is regularly instructed in private family law matters, including private law applications concerning the welfare and living arrangements for children; applications under the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003; Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007; Family Law Act 1986 &1996; Protection from Harassment Act 1997 (civil), both at short notice and for trial.

Examples of Recent Cases

A Local Authority v N

Representing the local authority in care proceedings involving historic allegations of sexual abuse by the father against the elder half-sister of the Child.  The sister was a child at the time of the abuse.  Father sought direct contact with the Child.  Findings were sought in respect of the allegations of historic abuse as they were relevant to the Child’s contact with the father, in particular the future development of contact in circumstances where the Child’s mother struggled significantly with her mental health.  The sister was made a party to the proceedings and required an intermediary.  I conducted the case management proceedings, as well as providing advice as to the merits of seeking findings, drafting the findings sought and conducted the case at final hearing where findings were made.

A Local Authority v E

Representation of the Father in care proceedings centring on allegations of domestic abuse between parents of twin babies.  Both parents were deaf with learning difficulties and required interpreters and intermediaries for the court proceedings, which then resulted in partial relay translation whilst the parents gave evidence.

A Local Authority v M

Representation of a Polish Roma mother in care proceedings involving her three very young children. The local authority alleged significant neglect and domestic violence.  The parents suffered from learning difficulties and alleged that they were not appropriately assessed according to their level of need, both intellectually and culturally.  Ongoing police involvement during the course of the trial, delaying the proceedings.  Both parents had intermediaries and translators.  I was instructed for IRH, the ground rules hearing, and for trial.

A Metropolitan District Council v M v F v A v B v C v D & E & F [2019] EWFC 15

Led junior for father in lengthy final composite hearing before Holman J.  There were complex medical issues as to the causation of serious injuries to genital area of child, and difficult issues as to placement of 6 children.  This was the second set of proceedings in similar circumstances for the parents, whose elder 4 children were subject to care orders from 2012 to 2015, and whose 6 children came to the attention of the local authority when the eldest daughter was presented at hospital with significant vaginal injuries.  She later identified her eldest brother as the perpetrator, but this was denied by him.  The court had to determine whether the eldest child was the perpetrator or whether her account could be trusted.  Other family members, including the father, were implicated.  Significant failings of police and social work procedure and practice featured.  A lack of supervision by the parents was alleged.  Four Children’s Guardians were involved.

A Local Authority v A

Instructed by a local authority in an application for a Female Genital Mutilation Protection Order under the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 to prevent a child from being subjected to an act which could be described as FGM, and for that child to be prevented from being removed from the jurisdiction to prevent the same.  The parents were originally from a country where the practice was prevalent, though it had recently been made illegal.  The mother had come to the attention of the local authority when she was pregnant as she herself had been “circumcised”.  The local authority was concerned that, despite the parents being, in all other ways, caring and competent parents, their beliefs and family structure meant that the child was at risk of FGM, particularly if she left to visit the parents’ homeland.

Appellate Cases

Re B (a child) (residence order: transfer of child to grandmother) [2012] EWCA Civ 858

Representation of the father in an application made by the paternal grandmother for residence in an intractable contact dispute between the mother against the father and grandmother. The mother appealed the decision of the County Court to transfer residence to the paternal grandmother. The father had previously been subject to domestic violence allegations and the appeal followed a 6-day trial which involved legal argument on the issues of special measures for vulnerable witnesses, and issue estoppel.

A v B (unreported), Court of Appeal, May 2014

Representation of the applicant mother.  Successfully applied for permission to appeal the order of a Recorder in relation to the making of a sole residence order to the father, transferring residence from the mother. Issues of control alleged by the mother, both in relation to her finances and her status as an immigrant. Appeal adjourned by the Court of Appeal on the day of the hearing for mediation upon the parties agreeing to a change in the Recorder’s order. Case subsequently settled.

Training

Caroline is available to provide training via chambers.

Caroline has been a keen supporter of the wellbeing initiative within Chambers.  She was responsible for organising a wellbeing and back-to-work seminar run by Wendy Showell Nicholas, psychotherapist, to address the concerns of working or returning to work during the pandemic whilst also managing other caring commitments.

Caroline has been a mentor via BPP.

Contact her clerks

Claudine Cooper on 0113 202 8604

Paul Foster on 0113 213 5209

Arnela Siranovic on 0113 213 5212

Caroline has recently become the Head of the Court of Protection Team, and she is focused on providing quality of representation and training through her individual practice, and the team as a whole.  Individually, she can provide representation at all stages of proceedings in relation to welfare applications to the Court of Protection, assisted by her considerable experience representing local authorities.  Her practice in respect of Deprivation of Liberty (DOL) applications is complemented by her experience of DOLs applications under the inherent jurisdiction within care proceedings.

Paul Foster (Senior Court of Protection Clerk) on 0113 213 5209

Claudine Cooper on 0113 202 8604