Catherine undertakes all aspects of both public and private Children Act proceedings in all courts, representing applicants or respondents. She is a strong advocate: her submissions are often referred to as forceful and persuasive. She prepares thoroughly for trial and is effective in cross-examination.
She gives realistic advice from the outset and has strong negotiation skills, enabling her to help lay clients and instructing solicitors work towards settlement rather than litigation. However, she is not afraid to challenge seemingly insurmountable evidence and she performs well in court.
Catherine enjoys a challenge and has undertaken a number of unusual and high-profile cases. She prefers to follow cases through to their conclusion but is also willing to undertake shorter hearings. She prefers to work together with instructing solicitors and often advises at short notice on drafting and procedure.
Placement applications
Catherine has a good track record of succeeding in defending care and placement applications against the recommendations of the local authority and children’s guardian.
Medical evidence
Her very good working medical knowledge enables Catherine to undertake detailed analysis of expert evidence. She has undertaken numerous cases which involve serious non-accidental injuries to children, often appearing against Queen’s Counsel. She also has a particular aptitude for analysis of facts and the testing of evidence.
Approach
Catherine has a flexible approach and is often instructed in cases where lay clients require sympathetic handling or firm advice.
Catherine Mason is a strong advocate; she is forceful and persuasive, and is effective in cross-examination
Notable cases
- Re P (Care Proceedings: Disclosure) (2008) [2009] 2 FLR 1039 : [2009] Fam Law 797
- Re MGR (A Child) sub nom Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council v (1) JD (2) JR (3) RD (4) MGR (By Her Guardian) (2009) [2010] 1 FLR 673 : [2009] Fam Law 1130 : (2009) 106(36) LSG 18 : (2009) 153(34) SJLB 28
- Re B, C & D (Children) (By Their Guardian) sub nom Wakefield City Metropolitan District Council V The Media & Ors (2010) [2010] 1 FLR 1708 : [2010] 3 FCR 296 : [2010] Fam Law 594
- A (A Child) v Leeds City Council (2011) [2012] 2 FLR 621 : [2012] Fam Law 123
- In the Matter of G-B (Children) (2013) [2013] EWCA Civ 164: CA (Civ Div) (Rix LJ, Lloyd LJ, McFarlane LJ) 7/02/2013
Public Access
Catherine Mason may accept Public Access work, where she can be instructed directly by a member of the public rather than a solicitor.
Contact Catherine’s clerks
Catherine has a growing practice in financial remedies and often undertakes both the financial and Children Act private law proceedings arising out of particularly difficult and intractable relationship breakdowns.
She has undertaken high-value cases involving pensions, businesses, property abroad and interests of third parties, including TOLATA applications, but equally recognises the importance of achieving an appropriate settlement where there are more modest means available for division.
Catherine Mason has undertaken high-value cases but equally recognises the importance of appropriate settlements where there are more modest means.
Her negotiation skills enable Catherine to work towards agreement, where possible, but she performs well in court and prepares thoroughly for trial. Catherine gives realistic advice from the outset to help lay clients and instructing solicitors work towards settlement rather than litigation but is not afraid to challenge seemingly insurmountable evidence when necessary.
Catherine is a strong advocate, with her submissions often being referred to as forceful and persuasive. She is effective in cross-examination.
Catherine prefers to work on a case from the outset, believing that this method enables the lay client to get the best value from advice given and to benefit most from an agreed strategy. However, she will also quickly prepare for and appear in hearings at short notice.
Public Access
Catherine Mason may accept Public Access work, where she can be instructed directly by a member of the public rather than a solicitor.
Contact Catherine’s clerks
Catherine has advised on Court of Protection matters and her experience dealing with child-care matters, both public and private, means she is well-attuned to the sensitivities required when conducting litigation in respect of vulnerable individuals. She enjoys a challenge and has undertaken a number of unusual and high-profile cases.
Her negotiation skills enable Catherine to work towards agreement rather than litigation whenever possible, but she also prepares thoroughly and performs well in court. She offers pragmatic advice from the start, to help lay clients and instructing solicitors work towards settlement, but is not afraid to challenge seemingly insurmountable evidence when necessary.
Catherine Mason enjoys a challenge and has undertaken a number of unusual and high-profile cases
Catherine is a strong advocate. Her submissions are frequently referred to as forceful and persuasive, and she is effective in cross-examination.
She has a good track record of success when defending care and placement applications which go against the recommendations of the local authority and children’s guardian.
Catherine has a very good working knowledge of medical matters, and can undertake detailed analysis of expert evidence. She has handled numerous cases involving serious non-accidental injuries to children, and has often appeared against Queen’s Counsel. She has particular skills in the analysis of facts and testing of evidence.
She prefers to follow cases through to conclusion, but will undertake shorter hearings. She prefers to work with instructing solicitors, and often advises at short notice on drafting and procedure.
Public Access
Catherine Mason may accept Public Access work, where she can be instructed directly by a member of the public rather than a solicitor.