Louise was a qualified solicitor for 27 years, specialising in Family – Children for most of her career. She was a member of the Law Society’s Children’s Panel from 2000 representing children through CAFCASS guardians or taking direct instructions from competent children; as well as representing parents and extended family members in both private and public law proceedings. This has necessitated acting for many vulnerable individuals taking direct instructions or through the Official Solicitor where the client lacked capacity.
Louise has undertaken the advocacy for her clients before all levels of the Single Family Court and in the High Court, acquiring Higher Rights of Advocacy in the Civil Courts in 2007. Her years of practice as a solicitor means she has a good understanding of the impact of proceedings upon the participants and subject children. She has an excellent knowledge of Legal Aid regulations and is able to utilise this to the benefit of her clients and the Courts when considering access to representation.
During her career as a solicitor advocate Louise has conducted complex fact-finding hearings including cases where non accidental injury or sexual abuse are alleged. Louise completed the Vulnerable Witness training programme in 2020 to enhance her skills in acting for and cross-examining parties or witnesses with learning difficulties; mental health difficulties or other vulnerabilities. Her years of experience as a solicitor mean Louise is able to communicate effectively with those she represents whether professionals or lay parties.
Notable cases:
- 2023 – re S representing children in care proceedings where neglect and physical assault were alleged, the case included jurisdictional issues as the family were Slovakian nationals.
- 2022 – re H representing the mother in proceedings where the local authority supported by the Guardian were seeking care and placement orders. Louise successfully argued for further assessment of an extended family member, where the children were ultimately placed at the conclusion of proceedings.
- 2021 – re B representing a child in care proceedings where the authority sought to restrict his freedoms and applications for deprivation of liberty were necessitated. Taking direct instructions from the child who sought to oppose aspects of the DoL.
- 2018 – re G representing a mother in private law proceedings who had suffered a stroke and who was deemed to lack capacity and had limited communication; arguing successfully against the making of a SGO to the grandmother in circumstances where the mother’s capacity to parent was improving with her health and she shared the daily care of the child.
- 2017 – re H representing a mother within care and Inherent Jurisdiction proceedings where the mother lacked capacity due to suffering a stroke in pregnancy and was unable to communicate save through the use of pictures and other communication aids. The child was born with significant medical problems and the hospital sought permission to withdraw life support.
Contact Louise’s clerks
Louise welcomes instruction in this area and is able to advise and act at any stage of proceedings.
Contact Louise’s clerks
Paul Foster (Senior Court of Protection Clerk) on 0113 213 5209