James Hargan

• “James is a fantastic and very experienced advocate. He’s very capable of running a case effectively while putting others at ease.” – Chambers & Partners (2025)
• “His ability to master the law and a substantial volume of case documents is very impressive, particularly relating to complex medical issues. His oral advocacy is balanced and focused.” – The Legal 500 (2025)
• “He inspires confidence due to his calm manner, as well as his attention to the minutiae of the case.” – Chambers and Partners (2024)
• “James Hargan is a skilled and formidable advocate with considerable and wide-ranging experience acquired over 20 years in practice” – The Legal 500 (2026)
• “James is a fantastic and very experienced advocate. He’s very capable of running a case effectively while putting others at ease.” – Chambers & Partners (2025)
• “His ability to master the law and a substantial volume of case documents is very impressive, particularly relating to complex medical issues. His oral advocacy is balanced and focused.” – The Legal 500 (2025)
• “He inspires confidence due to his calm manner, as well as his attention to the minutiae of the case.” – Chambers and Partners (2024)
• “James is a strategic thinker with first-rate forensic skills. He goes the extra mile for his clients.” – Chambers and Partners (2024)
• “James is completely unflappable, which puts the client and the court at ease. His preparation for and knowledge of a case is always meticulous.” –The Legal 500 (2023)
• “A well-respected and reliable senior junior. His judgement is very sound. An excellent advocate.” – The Legal 500 (2022)
• “He’s very measured, calm and delivers killer blows in the nicest way. He’s extremely forensic.” “He’s well prepared, considered, and his court manner is extremely calm and smooth.” – Chambers and Partners (2021)
• “An exceptional lawyer, James is wonderful and as good as any QC.” – The Legal 500 (2021)
• “He is full of steel and the way he deals with medical and forensic evidence is phenomenal” – Chambers and Partners (2020)
• “Both sensitive and straightforward in his advocacy “ – The Legal 500 (2020)
• “Incisive and client focused.” – The Legal 500 (2019)
• “Very experienced in cases of non-accidental injuries to children.” – The Legal 500 (2017)
• “Highly experienced counsel with excellent technical skills and the ability to reassure clients in difficult and challenging circumstances.”– Chambers and Partners (2017)
• “Recommended for public law children cases.” – The Legal 500 (2016)
• “He is just so intelligent and analytical. He has a forensic skill for unpicking documents, seeing things that others overlook. He is supremely intelligent.” – Chambers and Partners (2016)
• “A strategic thinker and trusted performer, known for his approachability, sound advice and polished performance in court”.

Many of the cases in which James appears are unreported to protect the confidentiality of the family and due to ongoing criminal proceedings.

• Thirlwall Inquiry 2024 – From December 2023 to December 2024, James was a junior member of the counsel team on the Thirlwall Inquiry. The Thirlwall Inquiry was set up to examine events at the Countess of Chester Hospital and their implications following the conviction of former neonatal nurse Lucy Letby of murder and attempted murder at the hospital. Report expected Autumn 2025.
• S (Children) – (2023) – HH Judge Henly s/a Deputy High Court Judge – unreported – shaken baby – for parent – issues included genetics and haematological disorder – children returned following specialist risk assessment.
• BR & Ors (Three Families: Fabricated or Induced Illness: Anonymisation, Disclosure of Judgment, and Permission to Appeal by Witness) [2023] EWFC 329 – Poole J – whether clinician involved as key factual witness in hospital FII case should be anonymised in judgement.
• BR & Ors (Three Families: Fabricated or Induced Illness: Findings of Fact) [2023] EWFC 326 – Poole J – hospital FII case – for parent accused of fabricating and inducing illness in her child, and repeatedly tampering with medical equipment in hospital. Exonerated after 11 week trial.
• A v B & Anor [2023] EWCA Civ 360 (07 March 2023) – for Guardian in second appeal following private law finding of fact. Rape myths. Whether the family court should provide definitions of rape, sexual assault, and consent. Proper approach to sexual history.
• BR & Ors, Re (Transparency Order: Finding of Fact Hearing) [2023] EWFC 9 (25 January 2023) – Extent and terms of Transparency Order in first decided case in Transparency Pilot.
• A Local Authority v Mother & Ors [2022] EWFC 172 (06 December 2022) – for mother in fact-finding – baby – multiple fractures – multiple events – genetics issues – exonerated at FFH.
• A & Anor v B & Ors [2022] EWHC 3089 (Fam) (02 December 2022) – for Guardian in appeal following private law finding of fact. Rape myths. Whether the family court should provide definitions of rape, sexual assault, and consent. Proper approach to sexual history.
• Re R and S, (Children) [2022] EWFC 48 (12 May 2022) – Poole J – fact-finding hearing; inter-sibling sexual abuse. Specialist risk assessment.
• BMDC -v- R and Ors (2021) – for parent. Historic sex abuse. Whether fact-find proportional.
• LCC -v- D and Ors (2021) – for parent – NAI – genetics – EDS3 – child returned following FFH.
• LCC -v- R (2021) – Lieven J – for parent – FII feed case – children returned.
• Wakefield Metropolitan District Council v HR & Ors [2020] EWFC 100 (27 November 2020) – Cohen J – for LA – infant death – baby shaking – congenital brain malformation.
• CC -v- W and Ors, (2019) – infant death – genetic brain maldevelopment.
• HCC -v- G and Ors (2018) – High Court level – infant death – baby shaking – conflicting pathologists. Successful outcome.
• RMBC -v- S & Ors (2018) – baby shaking – ‘triad’ injuries – bite injuries.
• LCC -v- G and Ors (2017) – Cohen J – baby brain injuries, birth-related brain injuries – haematological issues – multiple experts.
• NYCC -v- H-B (2017) – for children in FII case.
• WMDC -v- F and Ors (2016) – High Court level – For LA. NAI and FII. Successful outcome.
• RE v North Yorkshire County Council & Ors [2015] EWCA Civ 1169 (17 November 2015) – for child resisting appeal against final orders made at interim hearing.
• LCC -v- V (2015) – High Court level – For LA in FII Case. Successful outcome.
• HCC -v- G (2015) – High Court Level – for children. Infant death. Successful outcome.
• Re M (Care; Disclosure to Police) [2008] 2FLR 390 – High Court, Family Division.
• Re F (a child) [2006] EWCA Civ 1426 – Court of Appeal, Civil Division
• Gough & Smith -v- Chief Constable Derbys & Ors [2001] EWHC Admin 554 – Adminstrative Court
• Re F (Adoption: Freeing Order) [2000] 2 FLR 505 – Court of Appeal, Civil Division
• Arshid Hussain, R -v-, [1999] EWCA Crim 827 – Court of Appeal Criminal Division · A-G’s Ref No 4043 of 1997 [1997] EWCA Crim 3207 – Court of Appeal Criminal Division
• Re B (A Minor)(Secure Accommodation) [1994] 2 FLR 707 – Divisional Court