James Hasson

Public Law

James accepts instructions in respect of all matters arising out of public law proceedings and regularly accepts instructions on behalf of local authorities, parents and guardians. His work includes dealing with cases involving:

Non-accidental injuries,
Genetic disorders and conditions
Sexual abuse
Domestic violence
Psychiatric and psychological conditions

Private Law

James is instructed all forms of parental disputes including parental alienation and child arrangements. In addition, he also has experience in dealing with cases involving:

Modern families including same sex relationships and known sperm donors
Cases involving allegations of domestic abuse
Disputes about schooling
Changes of children’s names
Forced marriage
Claims for child maintenance under Schedule 1 of the Children Act
Private law cases which intersect with public law proceedings
Acting for guardians and children as parties to private law cases.

James Hasson is employed by James David Hasson Ltd, an approved BSB entity (Company number 16054124)

Notable cases - Public Law

Re H (Care and Adoption: Assessment of wider family) [2019] EWFC 10

Notable cases - Private Law

JB v. JF + 2 Others – representing the Father in an application for a Child Arrangements Order where the biological Mother was in a same sex relationship and the Father a known sperm donor. Addressing the legal basis upon which known sperm donors may acquire parental responsibility and child arrangement orders, pursuing an application for the Child to be joined as a party to proceedings and dealing with substantial allegations of sexual abuse and parental alienation.

James accepts instructions in relation to all aspects of family property and the financial consequences of marital separation and the separation of cohabitees. He often appears at First Directions Appointments, Financial Dispute Resolution Hearings and Final Hearings and deals with a range of cases including:

Agricultural land
Private companies
Family trusts
Foreign property
Pensions, and
Interveners

James Hasson is employed by James David Hasson Ltd, an approved BSB entity (Company number 16054124)

Notable cases

ED Souza v. WD Souza [2021] EWHC 199 (FAM)
Representing the Husband in a claim for financial relief where substantial company and pension monies were held in subsidiary company accounts in both the Cayman Islands and the Isle of Man. Attending the first directions appointment, advising in conference, attending the financial dispute resolution and securing favourable terms of settlement.
Acting for the Wife in respect of an application to enforce settlement with her ex-husband for the provision of private education for the children of the family, including substantial analysis of a group of company accounts and foreign property to identify hidden monies in rebutting a cross application to vary.

James practises in the Court of Protection, with experience across both Property & Affairs and Health & Welfare jurisdictions. He is instructed by local authorities, professional deputies, family members, litigation friends and the Official Solicitor. His cases often involve a crossover between financial and welfare issues, where his cross-disciplinary background in family finance and commercial law provides a valuable perspective.

Property & Affairs

James has a particular interest in property and affairs work, drawing on his background in family finance and commercial litigation to bring clarity to complex financial arrangements, estates, and business interests. He is instructed in:

Deputyship applications (appointment, removal and replacement of deputies, both professional and lay).
Challenges to the conduct of deputies and disputes concerning the management of property and financial affairs.
Statutory wills and gift applications, often involving high-value or complex assets.
Disputes between family members regarding the management of finances and property.
Cases involving business assets, trusts, or overlapping matrimonial finance issues.

Health & Welfare

Alongside his property and affairs practice, James also undertakes a wide range of health and welfare cases. He is instructed in proceedings concerning:

Best interests determinations, including disputes over residence, care arrangements, and medical treatment.
Contact disputes, particularly in cases involving sensitive family dynamics.
Capacity assessments, including challenges to findings of incapacity.
Deprivation of Liberty (DoLS and s.21A MCA 2005 challenges), both for local authorities and for family members.
Complex interface cases, where decisions about welfare have significant financial implications (and vice versa).

James is known for his sensitive handling of welfare disputes, which often involve finely balanced judgments about autonomy, family relationships, and the vulnerable person’s quality of life. He is adept at navigating multi-party proceedings and is valued for his ability to distil large volumes of evidence into clear, pragmatic advice and persuasive advocacy.

Approach

James combines meticulous preparation with a pragmatic and empathetic style. He is equally comfortable advising at an early stage to resolve disputes without recourse to contested hearings, or providing robust representation in court where necessary. His ability to draw on his family finance and commercial law background – underpinned by postgraduate study at Master’s level in commercial and financial law – makes him particularly well-suited to cases involving a mix of financial, welfare, and wider family considerations.

James Hasson is employed by James David Hasson Ltd, an approved BSB entity (Company number 16054124)