Ranked in The Legal 500 (2024) for Family and Children Law. Natalia Perrett is the Deputy Head of our Family Team and has specialised in public and private children law for approaching 20 years with a particular emphasis on complex care and adoption proceedings.

“An empathic and imperturbable junior.” The Legal 500 (2024)

‘Natalia’s skills combine an impressive forensic analysis of cases with an empathetic approach with lay clients. She is well-liked by guardians.’ – The Legal 500 – (2023)

“She is brilliant with vulnerable clients. She is empathetic and warm, gives them fantastic support. She is well liked by Guardians.” – The Legal 500 (2021)

“Brilliant with vulnerable clients; she gives them fantastic support and is well like by guardians” – The Legal 500 (2020)

Public law

Natalia has extensive experience of representing children, parents and local authorities in complex family law cases.

She has advised and represented parties on cases involving the following issues:

• Complex genetic history, including Ehlers-Danlos, Osteogenesis Imperfecta and Marfan Syndrome
• Female genital mutilation
• Forced marriage
• ‘Honour’ abuse
• International law and complex jurisdictions disputes
• Inherent jurisdiction
• Parental death at the hands of the other parent
• ‘Resolutions’ Approach
• Poisoning
• Serious non-accidental injury and child death
• Serious sexual abuse involving multiple historical allegations and grooming
• Representation of vulnerable individuals including children, teenage mothers, those with significant learning disabilities and mental health problems
• Wardship

“Experienced across a wide spectrum of children law matters.” – The Legal 500 (2018)

“Recommended for public and private family law matters.” – The Legal 500 (2017)

“She has expertise in private and public children law and Court of Protection matters.” – The Legal 500 (2016)

“She is perceptive, insightful, and highly persuasive in the courtroom.” – The Legal 500 (2015)

Private law

• Alienating behaviours
• Domestic abuse and coercive control
• Implacable hostility
• Sexual abuse
• Removal from the jurisdiction

Notable cases

• A Local Authority v A Mother & A Father (Alleged Honour Based Abuse) [2024] EWFC 177 High Court. Junior representation of children where subject children’s sister was murdered by a family member. Findings made that subject children were subject to cultural abuse at the hands of M and F. Led by Charlotte Worsley KC
• Re H [2024] Successful representation of M in finding of fact where LA and CG contended that M should be placed in the ‘pool of possible perpetrators’ for shaking injuries. M alone argued that F was the likely perpetrator. Findings made that F was the perpetrator. Further successful cross examination of local authority social worker whose assessment concluded the child should not live with the M. LA assessment supported by the CG pre cross examination. Independent assessment ordered which recommended that the child should be returned to M. M and child now reunified. Leading Emily Reed
• WMDC v FH & Ors [2024] EWHC 830 High Court. Representation of local authority in inherent jurisdiction proceedings. Successfully argued for final injunctions against P’s husband in circumstances where P was capacitous.
• Re D [2023] Successful contested application for utilisation of ‘Resolutions’ approach following significant findings of NAI at the hands of F. Case concluded with plan of reunification of F into the household under a Supervision Order.
• Re K [2022/3] Representation of Intervenor with significant learning disabilities in finding of fact where M alleged that the Intervenor should be placed in the ‘pool of possible perpetrators’. No findings made against the Intervenor.
• Re RA [2021] Successful sole representation of Intervenor. LA and F2 represented by leading counsel with juniors, M and F1 represented by two juniors. Findings sought against Intervenor by M and F1, that she has induced the children to make serious findings of physical assault against them. No findings made against the Intervenor.
• Re B [2015/16] Junior representation of M who had poisoned her child with salt. Led by Will Tyler KC
• Derby City Council v SK and Ors [2015] EWFC 57 Junior representation of M. M supported by F successfully argued that there were no ongoing proceedings in Poland relating to parental responsibility such that Poland should maintain jurisdiction as the court first seized pursuant to Article 19 BIIa. The children had not been unlawfully removed or retained in England (and that even if they had, the bodies with choate or inchoate rights of custody in Poland namely, the Polish Court and/or Court appointed Guardian had acquiesced in the removal/retention). The children had acquired habitual residence in England at the relevant date. The court should therefore decline to make an Article BIIa transfer request to Poland.

Approach

With approaching 20 years’ experience, Natalia acts in many of Yorkshire’s most significant and complex cases. Natalia is highly regarded for her forensic cross examination and skilled skeleton arguments on the law. Natalia dovetails this successfully with an empathetic and pragmatic approach to client management and is routinely requested to represent those with additional needs.

Natalia has acted in a number of matters involving the application of international law in which she has a particular interest. This has included:

• Successfully arguing lack of jurisdiction in the High Court with respect to a child born in Ireland to an English mother and Father
• Successfully arguing on behalf of the mother for a transfer of proceedings under Article 15 BIIa to Hungary
• Successful junior representation of M who argued that there were no ongoing court proceedings in Poland and that the court should decline to make an Article BIIa request to Poland. Led by Marcus Scott-Manderson QC
• Successfully prevented a child being permanently removed from the jurisdiction acting for the father where the mother had gone on to marry a well-known sportsperson.
• Represented CAFCASS legal in forced marriage proceedings in relation to a 13-year-old girl abducted to a non-Hague Convention Country in the midst of civil war.

Lecturing

Natalia frequently lectures on topical issues within both Family Law and the Court of Protection.

Contact Natalia’s clerks

Claudine Cooper on 0113 202 8604

Paul Foster on 0113 213 5209

Lucy Peacock on 0113 202 8607