Listed as a “Rising Star” in the 2024 edition of The Legal 500 for Family & Children Law
“Oliver’s eye for detail is exceptional. He is incredibly diligent, and a very persuasive and polished advocate.” – The Legal 500 (2024)
“Oliver Latham is ‘a formidable barrister‘ and has been kept busy handling cases involving allegations of severe sexual and physical abuse.” – The Legal 500 (2024)
“Oliver has a wonderful talent for advocacy, adopting the method of scrupulous attention to detail and a good, calm delivery of what he needs to say. He is well regarded by judges.” Legal 500 (2023)
“The ‘Up and coming’ Oliver Latham is ‘thorough and pragmatic‘, and acts for children, local authorities and parents in cases involving serious injuries, sexual abuse and issues regarding genetic conditions” Legal 500 (2023)
Oliver’s practice spans the entire range of Children Act cases, to include both public (care) proceedings and private law children cases.
His work involves representation of local authorities, parents and children in complex cases involving:
- Allegations of inflicted injuries, including multiple fracture injury cases;
- Genetic conditions
- Endocrinological bone disorders and blood disorders;
- Serious sexual abuse, including rape;
- Serious domestic physical and emotional abuse;
- Psychiatric and psychological disorders;
- Parents with learning difficulties.
In a number of Oliver’s care cases he has worked with parents with findings of abuse under a “Resolution” style model in order to secure the return of the children to their care.
Alongside his care work, a significant proportion of Oliver’s practice involves representation of parents, and occasionally children, in private law disputes. Oliver has particular experience of litigating abuse in the family courts, including allegations of serious sexual abuse, and rape. His article on the court’s approach to consent in finding of fact hearings within child arrangement order proceedings, specifically in relation to rape allegations, was published in the October 2023 edition of the Family Law Journal. Oliver has experience of international contact and relocation disputes and welcomes instructions in this area. He has also been involved in cases involving disputes over legal parentage, often between same sex couples, and intractable disputes raising issues of parental alienation.
Articles
- Latham O and Lennon K, ‘Consent’ does it matter? [2023] Fam Law 1207
