Kate is experienced in representing all parties in care proceedings and accepts instructions in welfare contests, findings of fact, and case management hearings. She also has experience of acting in Deprivation of Liberty Inherent Jurisdiction cases and representing parents with Learning Disabilities.
Kate is also well versed in complex family conflicts including around residence, contact and specific issue orders. Previous cases have included the following features:- implacable hostility, surrogacy, domestic violence, psychiatric/psychological conditions, vulnerable clients.
She has experience of representing the Guardian in s.16.4 proceedings.
A seasoned advocate, she has developed her skills across a number of different jurisdictions throughout her career and is able to adapt her style as circumstances require.
She is approachable, compassionate and well attuned to the highly sensitive nature of this work.
Lecturing
A former freelance lecturer at BPP Law School on the Bar Professional Training Course; Kate is an experienced trainer. She has lectured to large groups and run workshops with small groups on both knowledge areas and soft skills. More recently she has led the in-house knowledge programme for psychiatric injury across the Government Litigation Department. Kate enjoys lecturing and would be pleased to assist with in-house training. Please contact her clerks with your requirements.
Contact Kate’s clerks
Kate has a particular passion for this area of work and has a growing practice within this jurisdiction.
She has a broad experience of Court of Protection litigation including health and welfare such Section 21(a) challenges and Section 16 applications. This encompasses cases where the expert evidence is challenged. Her deprivation of liberty practice is complimented by her parallel practice involving young people under the inherent jurisdiction within care proceedings from which she also brings considerable experience of representing local authorities.
She has acted regularly in cases concerning both the elderly and concerning vulnerable younger adults, with varying levels of family involvement, and is known for her sensitive and pragmatic client-handling skills.
Kate also accepts instructions in relation to property and affairs disputes, for example statutory wills and deputyship/power of attorney applications.
She is regularly instructed by local authorities, the official solicitor, RPRs and clinical commissioning groups and appreciates the distinct service needs of each client group.
Kate has a good understanding of complimentary fields. She has a busy family law (children) practice and has considerable prior experience of social housing, special educational needs litigation, and human rights claims which often play into her court of protection practice.
Her sensitivity, her compassion and her solution-oriented approach underpin her drive to provide high levels of service and engagement with the client and the issues at hand.
She brings a maturity, breadth and groundedness to her cases borne out of a varied and rich legal career to date which has included post-graduate level legal training, and some time within the Government Legal Department prison service litigation team.
She regularly lectures in this area, having most recently provided training on s.117 Mental Health Act aftercare planning.
Lecturing
A former freelance lecturer at BPP Law School on the Bar Professional Training Course; Kate is an experienced trainer. She has lectured to large groups and run workshops with small groups on both knowledge areas and soft skills. More recently she has led the in-house knowledge programme for psychiatric injury across the Government Litigation Department. Kate enjoys lecturing and would be pleased to assist with in-house training. Please contact her clerks with your requirements.
Contact Kate’s clerks
Having spent some time working in the Government Legal Department in their Prison Inquests and Human Rights Litigation Team, Kate retains an interest in these areas of work. She acts in natural causes and non-natural deaths including those which were self-self-inflicted. As a former personal injury practitioner, and current community care practitioner, she also has experience in healthcare and other inquests. She has a particular interest in care provision in relation to the neurodivergent community and will consider pro-bono instructions in this area. She accepts instructions to act across the range of coronial law specialisms and represents clients in final hearings, PIRs and by way of written advices when required.
Kate also has experience of representing parents and families in legal challenges to Special Education Needs provision in the First Tier Tribunal and is passionate about equal access to education for our most vulnerable and disadvantaged, and in particular for those young people who are the subject of corporate parenting.
Lecturing
A former freelance lecturer at BPP Law School on the Bar Professional Training Course; Kate is an experienced trainer. She has lectured to large groups and run workshops with small groups on both knowledge areas and soft skills. More recently she has led the in-house knowledge programme for psychiatric injury across the Government Litigation Department. Kate enjoys lecturing and would be pleased to assist with in-house training. Please contact her clerks with your requirements.
Contact Kate’s clerks
Madeleine Gray on 0113 202 8603