Ranked as a Leading Junior in The Legal 500 (2025) and Chambers and Partners (2025) for Family and Children Law.
“‘His ability to master the law and a substantial volume of case documents is very impressive, particularly relating to complex medical issues. His oral advocacy is balanced and focused.’ – The Legal 500 (2025)
“He inspires confidence due to his calm manner, as well as his attention to the minutiae of the case.” – Chambers and Partners (2024)
“James is a strategic thinker with first-rate forensic skills. He goes the extra mile for his clients.” – Chambers and Partners (2024)
‘James is completely unflappable, which puts the client and the court at ease. His preparation for and knowledge of a case is always meticulous.’ – The Legal 500 (2023)
“A well-respected and reliable senior junior. His judgement is very sound. An excellent advocate.” – The Legal 500 (2022)
“He’s very measured, calm and delivers killer blows in the nicest way. He’s extremely forensic.” “He’s well prepared, considered, and his court manner is extremely calm and smooth.” – Chambers and Partners (2021)
“An exceptional lawyer, James is wonderful and as good as any QC.” – The Legal 500 (2021)
“He is full of steel and the way he deals with medical and forensic evidence is phenomenal” – Chambers and Partners (2020)
James Hargan is a skilled and formidable advocate with considerable and wide-ranging experience acquired over 20 years in practice. He has very substantial experience in all courts up to the level of the Court of Appeal, particularly in matters before the High Court, and regularly appears against leading counsel.
He practises exclusively in civil (family, non-family and Court of Protection) work, where he has an enviable reputation for meticulous preparation and in-depth case knowledge, skilled drafting, and a polished performance in court. He is a strategic thinker with a fine eye for detail, and a trusted performer known for his sound advice and approachability.
“Highly experienced counsel with excellent technical skills and the ability to reassure clients in difficult and challenging circumstances.”- Chambers and Partners (2017)
“A strategic thinker and trusted performer, known for his approachability, sound advice and polished performance in court”.
Child injury & death
James has a particular specialism and expertise in cases concerning serious non-accidental injuries to children, and child deaths, and is very experienced in dealing with cases featuring complex medical evidence from a range of medical and scientific disciplines, including in relation to mental health issues. He regularly acts for children, local authorities, and parents. He has a particular interest in cases turning on paediatric neuro-radiology.
Lecturing
He regularly delivers lectures to other practitioners on current legal developments in family law. James also delivers seminars for local-authority social-services professionals and solicitors on topics including complex-case preparation and court skills.
Approach
James is highly IT literate and very adaptable in his work practices. He is happy to assist by telephone and email, and offers flexible conferencing and site-visit arrangements to suit lay clients and instructing solicitors.
Notable cases
Many of the cases in which James appears are unreported to protect the confidentiality of the family and due to ongoing criminal proceedings.
- BR and Ors – (2023) – Poole J – for parent in Fact-finding hearing in FII feed case. Family reunited following FFH. Not yet reported.
- S (Children) – (2023) – High Court level – unreported – baby shaking – for parent – children returned following specialist risk assessment.
- A v B & Anor [2023] EWCA Civ 360 (07 March 2023) – for Guardian in second appeal following private law finding of fact. Rape myths. Whether the family court should provide definitions of rape, sexual assault, and consent. Proper approach to sexual history.
- BR & Ors, Re (Transparency Order: Finding of Fact Hearing) [2023] EWFC 9 (25 January 2023) – Extent and terms of Transparency Order in first decided case in Transparency Pilot.
- A Local Authority v Mother & Ors [2022] EWFC 172 (06 December 2022) – for mother in fact-finding – baby – multiple fractures – multiple events – genetics issues – exonerated at FFH.
- A & Anor v B & Ors [2022] EWHC 3089 (Fam) (02 December 2022) – for Guardian in appeal following private law finding of fact. Rape myths. Whether the family court should provide definitions of rape, sexual assault, and consent. Proper approach to sexual history.
- Re R and S, (Children) [2022] EWFC 48 (12 May 2022) – Poole J – fact-finding hearing; inter-sibling sexual abuse. Specialist risk assessment.
- BMDC -v- R and Ors (2021) – for parent. Historic sex abuse. Whether fact-find proportional.
- LCC -v- D and Ors (2021) – for parent – NAI – genetics – EDS3 – child returned following FFH.
- LCC -v- R (2021) – Lieven J – for parent – FII feed case – children returned.
- Wakefield Metropolitan District Council v HR & Ors [2020] EWFC 100 (27 November 2020) – Cohen J – for LA – infant death – baby shaking – congenital brain malformation.
- CC -v- W and Ors, (2019) – infant death – genetic brain maldevelopment.
- HCC -v- G and Ors (2018) – High Court level – infant death – baby shaking – conflicting pathologists. Successful outcome.
- RMBC -v- S & Ors (2018) – baby shaking – ‘triad’ injuries – bite injuries.
- LCC -v- G and Ors (2017) – Cohen J – baby brain injuries, birth-related brain injuries – haematological issues – multiple experts.
- NYCC -v- H-B (2017) – for children in FII case.
- WMDC -v- F and Ors (2016) – High Court level – For LA. NAI and FII. Successful outcome.
- RE v North Yorkshire County Council & Ors [2015] EWCA Civ 1169 (17 November 2015) – for child resisting appeal against final orders made at interim hearing.
- LCC -v- V (2015) – High Court level – For LA in FII Case. Successful outcome.
- HCC -v- G (2015) – High Court Level – for children. Infant death. Successful outcome.
- Re M (Care; Disclosure to Police) [2008] 2FLR 390 – High Court, Family Division.
- Re F (a child) [2006] EWCA Civ 1426 – Court of Appeal, Civil Division
- Gough & Smith -v- Chief Constable Derbys & Ors [2001] EWHC Admin 554 – Adminstrative Court#
- Re F (Adoption: Freeing Order) [2000] 2 FLR 505 – Court of Appeal, Civil Division
- Arshid Hussain, R -v-, [1999] EWCA Crim 827 – Court of Appeal Criminal Division · A-G’s Ref No 4043 of 1997 [1997] EWCA Crim 3207 – Court of Appeal Criminal Division
- Re B (A Minor)(Secure Accommodation) [1994] 2 FLR 707 – Divisional Court
Contact James’ clerks
James has over 25 years experience in work involving the factual and forensic investigation of serious injuries to children, and infant death. That experience and specialism has been extensively deployed in the Family Court, routinely at High Court level and against Leading Counsel.
More recently in the Coroner’s court, where James sits as an Assistant Coroner. Whilst remaining approachable and accessible to clients, James’ court work, both written and oral, is focused and analytical, and he is a confident and formidable cross-examiner of experts.
Contact James’ clerk
Madeleine Gray on 0113 202 8603
James Hargan ‘He shows great attention to detail and a high level of client care’ – Legal 500 (2014)
James Hargan is a formidable and highly skilled advocate. His 20 years in practice provide him with a wealth of experience across a wide range of legal areas, as well as substantial experience in all courts up to the level of the Court of Appeal. He is especially experienced in matters coming before the High Court, and regularly appears against leading counsel.
He practises exclusively in family, civil and Court of Protection work, and has earned an enviable reputation for meticulous preparation and in-depth case knowledge, skilled drafting, and a polished performance in court. He is widely recognised as a trusted performer, known for his sound advice and approachability. He puts clients at ease.
Mental health/capacity
James is highly experienced in dealing with cases featuring mental health/capacity issues. He has particular expertise in cases concerning serious non-accidental injuries to children, and child deaths, and handles cases involving complex medical evidence from a wide range of medical and scientific disciplines.
Lecturing
He regularly lectures to other legal practitioners on developments in family law and non-family civil litigation. He also offers training to social-services professionals and solicitors in local authorities, covering topics such as the preparation of complex cases and courtroom skills.
Approach
James is happy to assist by email and telephone, and is flexible about arranging site visits and conferences to suit lay clients and instructing solicitors. He is IT literate and very adaptable in his working practices.
A strategic thinker and trusted performer, known for his approachability, sound advice and polished performance in court
