Harriet Williams

Ranked as ‘Rising Star’ in the 2024, 2025, and 2026 editions of the Legal 500, Harriet is a specialist family barrister with a focus on proceedings involving complex issues and significant non-accidental injury. Prior to joining the Bar, Harriet worked in the clinical negligence team of the UK’s leading litigation-only law firm. Her familiarity with medical records and evidence has swiftly earnt her a reputation for skill beyond her year of call, particularly when cross-examining experts.

“ On her feet, she is known for her resourcefulness and ability to grapple with complex procedural issues, whilst professional and lay clients alike have described her warm and engaging approach as ‘a real comfort blanket’”

– Legal 500 (2026)

Harriet’s practice spans the breadth of Children Act cases, including public law (care) cases and private cases and she is regularly instructed by parents, children and local authorities, representing each client with equal tenacity. Her work includes cases involving:

Child death
Serious non-accidental injury, including multiple fractures
Genetic conditions
Endocrinological bone disorders and blood disorders
Significant neglect
Sexual abuse (of children and adults)
Psychiatric or psychological conditions or illnesses
Parents with learning difficulties
Domestic violence
Same-sex or transgender parents
Substance misuse
Factitious Illness and Injury
Female Genital Mutilation
Honour-based’ violence
Breakdown of adoption

Harriet has undertaken the Vulnerable Witness Advocacy Training programme and is skilled at building a rapport with clients who lack capacity, those who are care leavers or victims of serious violence and abuse, and children who are competent to instruct representation in their own right. On her feet, she is known for her resourcefulness and ability to grapple with complex procedural issues, whilst professional and lay clients alike have described her warm and engaging approach as ‘a real comfort blanket.’

In terms of her private law practice, Harriet represents parents and children by their Court-appointed Guardian in cases involving:

Domestic abuse and coercive control
Issues around contact
Domestic and sexual violence
Parental alienation
Implacable hostility
Removal from the jurisdiction

“Harriet is agile, resourceful and adept at dealing with any situation that arises”

– Legal 500 2025

Notable cases

Kirklees Council v P & Ors [2023] EWHC 3470 (Fam) (03 November 2023) – Representation of the Children’s Guardian in a discrete application under the inherent jurisdiction for a Reporting Restriction Order to prevent publication of information that would identify the children in both the family and criminal courts following the well-publicised murder of the children’s mother and her partner. The BBC opposed the extension of the reporting restriction to the criminal courts. The application was heard before Mr Justice Poole who considered the interplay between the Reporting Pilot and s.12 Administration of Justice Act 1969 and s.97(2) Children Act 1989.
Re F [2024] – Successful representation of a Father in care proceedings involving a skull fracture in a 16-week-old baby. Father’s explanation was not initially accepted by professionals but following questioning of the Part 25 experts, the Court was persuaded that it would not be proportionate or necessary to litigate the causation of the injuries. Proceedings were withdrawn with the child returned to the care of both parents.
Re B [2024]. – Junior counsel for the local authority in linked care proceedings in respect of half-siblings, involving allegations of non-accidental injury and multiple serious allegations of sexual abuse against the children’s Father. Following two substantive Finding of Fact hearings, all findings were made against the Father as pleaded.
Re C [2024] – Representation of a transgender father in care proceedings where he and his two partners were alleged to have abused his 8-year-old child. All the adults in the household were transgender males and had learning difficulties. The partners were intervened in proceedings with each adult making allegations of domestic abuse and coercive control against the other. Applications were heard and approved in the High Court in respect of withholding notice of proceedings from the child’s biological father due to her having been conceived as a result of rape, and, in respect of one of the intervenor’s child, withholding notice of proceedings from her biological father due to her having been conceived by way of unregistered sperm donation. Proceedings concluded with the child remaining within the birth family and having ongoing contact with her father.
Re M [2024] – Junior counsel for the local authority in complex care proceedings issued after the death of the father in the family home with allegations made by the 9-year-old child that the Mother had pushed him down the stairs. Following multiple interim applications, including psychological assessment of the ‘complainant’ child and arguments as to proportionality, the Court endorsed a final care plan of long-term foster care for both children.
Re G [2024] – Re G – Representation of a father in proceedings arising out of an application to discharge the existing care order and the re-instigation of care proceedings following the subject child making allegations of sexual abuse against her mother and stepfather during the course of a rehabilitation plan to their care. The Father was exonerated following cross-examination of professionals, including the police officer who conducted the ABE interview