William Tyler KC

Year of call

1996 · Silk 2014 (Door Tenant)

Career details

Education

1995

MA (Hons) (Oxon), University of Oxford, Worcester College

1996

Inns of Court School of Law, ('Outstanding’)

Career

1997

Pupillage at 30 Park Square, Leeds

1998

Tenant at 30 Park Square, Leeds

2003

Tenant at 36 Bedford Row, London

2012

Recorder (Family: Private Law and Care)

2014

Silk
Tenant at Sovereign Chambers

2015

Sovereign Chambers becomes Park Square Barristers

2016

Deputy High Court Judge (Family Division)
Family Arbitrator (MCIArb)

Appointments

Deputy High Court Judge (Family Division)
Recorder of the Family Court
Joint Head of Chambers, The 36 Group
Family Procedure Rule Committee, Silk Member – 2014-2021
Deemster (Isle of Man High Court Judge)
High Bailiff (Isle of Man)

Memberships

Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL)
Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (MCIArb)
Family Law Bar Association (FLBA)
Association of Lawyers for Children (ALC)
British Association of Adoption and Fostering (BAAF)
Resolution

Children Law

Ranked in Spear’s 500: Top Ranked Family Law Barristers 2026, and was Chambers Family Silk of the Year 2024

“William has the ability to make the most unreasonable of litigants realise they should listen to him and follow his advice. A masterful advocate.”

-The Legal 500 (2026)

“An absolutely phenomenal children’s silk and a man with a brilliant manner. He’s absolutely charming and is a highly effective advocate.”

– Chambers and Partners (2025)

William Tyler KC is a specialist children law barrister appearing in high-profile public and private law children cases.

His extensive public law Children Act practice sees him litigating complicated and serious cases around the country, principally in the High Court. He has particular expertise in cases involving very serious injury and death, sexual abuse or international and jurisdictional difficulties.

His private law practice comprises the most serious, the most complex or the most sensitive cases, and very often those involving difficult international issues (abduction, relocation etc.), serious denied allegations or questions relating to parenthood and child arrangements after surrogacy or gamete donation.

He frequently appears in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.

He is a Deputy High Court Judge (Family Division), a Recorder (Family Court) and a Family Arbitrator.

Public Access

William Tyler KC may accept Public Access work, where he can be instructed directly by a member of the public rather than a solicitor.

"William is a very charismatic advocate. A class act with sound judgement."

Legal 500 (2025)

"Will is a very special KC, whose knowledge and intellect are unparalleled. He is devastating in court, and at the same time extremely charming and erudite."

Chambers & Partners (2025)

"The way he deals with things is beguilingly effortless."

Chambers UK (2025)

Testimonals

“He’s head and shoulders above many other silks.” – Chambers UK (2025)
“He is devastating in court, and at the same time extremely charming and erudite.” – Chambers UK (2025)
“He’s absolutely charming and is a highly effective advocate.” – Chambers UK (2025)
“William has the ability to handle and present complex fact-finding material with a lightness of touch that belies the amount of work invested in making the task appear effortless. He has a degree of gravitas and composure in his presentation that commands authority in court.”- Legal 500 (2024)
“He’s extremely bright, his strategy is absolutely spot-on and he’s able to assimilate a very complicated factual matrix very quickly, boiling it down into easily digestible questions and advice.” – Chambers UK (2024)
“A barrister with an engaging manner, who cuts through cases. He is a great advocate and his cross-examination could only be described as effortless.” – Chambers UK (2024)
“William Tyler is an excellent barrister whose documents for the court are comprehensive and impressive.” – Chambers UK (2024)
“An exceptional advocate with a wonderful client manner. In court he’s absolutely unflappable, adapting quickly to anything that’s thrown at him.” – Chambers UK (2023)

Notable cases

2024

Re W (A Minor) (Death of Mother before Birth of Child: Threshold Criteria) [2024] EWFC 350, Peel J
Re S; Father v Mother and another [2024] EWHC 2578 (Fam), High Court, Lieven J
AOX v LSX [2024] EWHC 2379 (Fam), High Court, Simon Colton KC, sitting as Deputy High Court Judge
AZ v BX (Child Arrangements Order: Appeal) [2024] EWHC 1528 (Fam), High Court, Poole J
Re J, P & Q (Care Proceedings) [2024] EWCA Civ 22, Court of Appeal, Coulson, Baker & Warby LJJ
Re K (Children) (Powers of the Family Court) [2024] EWCA Civ 2, Court of Appeal, Sir Andrew McFarlane PFD, Peter Jackson & Warby LJJ

2023

Kirklees Council v P, Marcus Osborne and Others [2023] EWHC 3470 (Fam), High Court, Poole J
Re A, B and C (Child Contracting Gonorrhoea) [2023] EWFC 211, Poole J
Re S and T (Care: Final Hearing: s.91(14)) 2023 EWFC 194 HHJ Vincent
Re A (A Child) (Habitual Residence: 1996 Hague Child Protection Convention) [2023] EWCA Civ 659, Court of Appeal, Bean, Moylan, Snowden LJJ
Re S (Children: Parentage and Jurisdiction) [2023] EWCA Civ 897, Court of Appeal, King, Moylan, Peter Jackson LJJ

2022

Re X (Children) [2022] EWCA Civ 1167, Court of Appeal, Moylan, Peter Jackson, William Davis LJJ
Re H-W (Children) [2022] UKSC 17, [2022] 1 WLR 3243, UK Supreme Court, Lord Hodge, Lord Kitchin, Lord Burrows, Lord Hughes,
Dame Siobhan Keegan
R v T [2022] EWHC 3362 (Fam), High Court, Mr Hames KC
Re M (Private Law Children Proceedings: Case Management: Intimate Images) [2022] EWHC 986 (Fam), [2022] 1 WLR 4297, [2023] 1
FLR 337, Knowles J

2021

Re RR (Fact Finding, Retrial, Fatal Poisoning) [2021] EWFC 97, Williams J
Re M (A Child) [2021] EWHC 3225 (Fam), [2022] 2 FLR 771, Judd J
Re X (Children) (Article 61 BIIa) [2021] EWCA Civ 1305, [2022] 1 FLR 301, Court of Appeal: Moylan, Newey & Baker LJJ
Re S (Children) (Inherent Jurisdiction: Setting Aside Return Order) [2021] EWCA Civ 1223, [2022] Fam 237, [2022[ 2 WLR 275, [2022] 1 FLR 186, Court of Appeal: Moylan, Baker & Stuart-Smith LJJ
Re H-D-H (Children); Re C (A Child) [2021] EWCA Civ 1192, [2021] 4 WLR 106, [2022] 1 FLR 454, Court of Appeal: King & Peter Jackson LJJ & Sir Patrick Elias
Re A and S (Children) [2021] EWHC 2492 (Fam), Holman J
AA v BB [2021] EWHC 890 (Fam), Holman J
GC v AS [2021] EWHC 14 (Fam), Mostyn J

2020

Wakefield MDC v HR, IG and a Child [2020] EWFC 100, Cohen J
Re K (Threshold: Cocaine Ingestion: Failure to Give Evidence) [2020] EWHC 2502 (Fam), [2021] 2 FLR 349, Williams J
Re A (A Child) [2020] EWCA Civ 1230, [2021] 1 FLR 815, Court of Appeal: King, Davies & Philips LJJ
Re S (Parental Alienation: Cult: Transfer of Primary Care) [2020] EWHC 1940 (Fam), [2021] 1 FLR 1126, Williams J
Re S (Parental Alienation: Cult) [2020] EWCA Civ 568, [2020] 2 FLR 263, Court of Appeal: McCombe, Eleanor King & Peter Jackson LJJ
Re D (A Child) (Appeal Out of Time) [2020] EWHC 1167 (Fam), [2020] 2 FLR 869, Francis J
Re A Local Authority v The Mother & Ors [2020] EWHC 1233 (Fam), [2020] 2 FLR 1093, Williams J
Re C (Children) (Covid-19: Representation) [2020] EWCA Civ 734, [2020] 2 FLR 1137, Court of Appeal: Peter Jackson, Eleanor King and Asplin LJJ

2019

Re M (Children) [2019] EWCA Civ 1364, [2019] 4 WLR 115, [2020] 1 FLR 50, Court of Appeal, McFarlane P, Simon & Davies LJJ
Re M (Children) (Disclosure to Police) [2019] EWCA Civ 1364, [2019] 4 WLR 115 [2020] 1 FLR 50, Court of Appeal, McFarlane P, Simon & Davies LJJ

2018

Northants. County Council & AW v The Lord Chancellor (via The Legal Aid Agency) [2018] EWHC 1628 (Fam), [2019] 1 FLR 169, Francis J
Re F (A Child: Placement Order: Proportionality) [2018] EWCA Civ 2761, [2019] 1 FLR 779, Court of Appeal: Longmore, Jackson & Asplin
LJJ
Re B (A Child) [2018] EWCA Civ 20, [2018] 2 FLR 1, Court of Appeal: Sir James Munby P, Davis & Underhill LJJ
Re F (A Child: Placement Order: Proportionality) [2018] EWCA Civ 2761, [2019] 1 FLR 779, Court of Appeal: Longmore, Jackson & Asplin
LJJ

2017

Re H (A Minor: Hair-Strand Testing) [2017] EWFC 64, [2017] 4 WLR 179, [2018] 1 FLR 762, Jackson J
Re H (A Minor) v Northants. County Council & The Legal Aid Agency [2017] EWHC 282 (Fam), [2018] 1 WLR 5912, [2018] 1 FLR 499, Keehan J
Re M (A Child) [2017] EWFC B79, HHJ Booth
East Sussex County Council v SV, TG and AG [2017] EWHC 536 (Fam), MacDonald J

2016

Re RA (Baby Relinquished for Adoption: Case Management) [2016] EWFC 25, [2017] 1 FLR 1610, Cobb J
Re N (Children) (Brussels II Revised: Article 15) [2016] UKSC 15, [2016] 2 WLR 1103, [2016] 1 FLR 1082, Supreme Court: Baroness Hale, Lords Neuberger, Wilson, Kerr & Carnwath
Re B (A Child) [2016] UKSC 4, [2016] 2 WLR 557, [2017] 1 All ER 899, [2016] 1 FLR 561, Supreme Court: Baroness Hale, Lords Clarke, Wilson, Sumption & Toulson
Re E (A Child) [2016] EWCA Civ 473, [2017] 1 FLR 1675, [2016] Crim LR 649, Court of Appeal: McFarlane, Macur & Gloster LJJ
Re K (Children) [2016] EWHC 1606 (Fam), Hayden J
Re U (Children: Residence Order) [2016] EWCA Civ 1332, [2017] 4 WLR 1, [2017] Med LR 37, (2017) 153 BMLR 152, Court of Appeal: McFarlane & Lindblom LJJ, Henderson J
Re JS (Disposal of Body) [2016] EWHC 2859 (Fam), Peter Jackson J
Re W (A Child) (Secure Accommodation Order) [2016] EWCA Civ 804, [2016] 4 WLR 159, Court of Appeal: Moore Bick & Macur LJJ

2015

Re S (A Child) [2015] UKSC 20, [2015] 1 WLR 1631, [2015] FLR 208, Supreme Court: Baroness Hale, Lords Kerr, Wilson, Hughes & Toulson
M v LA [2015] EWHC 2082 (Fam), Hayden J
Re B (A Child) (Habitual Residence) (Inherent Jurisdiction) [2015] EWCA Civ 886, [2016] 2 WLR 487, Court of Appeal: Sir James Munby P, Black & Underhill LJJ
Re A (Fact-finding) [2015] EWFC 68 (Fam), Russell J
Aidiniantz v Aidiniantz [2015] EWCOP 65, [2015] COPLR 643, Jackson J
Re T (A Child) (Early Permanency Placement) [2015] EWCA Civ 983, [2017] 1 FLR 330, Court of Appeal: Sir James Munby P, Black & Bean LJJ
Re N (Children) (Adoption: Jurisdiction) [2015] EWCA Civ 1112, [2016] 1 All ER 1086, [2016] 1 FLR 621, Court of Appeal: Sir James Munby P, Black LJ & Sir Richard Aikens
X County Council v AB & CD [2015] EWFC 98, Keehan J

2014

Re E (Brussels II Revised: Vienna Convention: Reporting Restrictions) [2014] EWHC 6 (Fam), [2014] 1 WLR 2670, [2014] 2 FLR 151, Sir James Munby P
Re R (Children: Temporary Leave to Remove from the Jurisdiction) [2014] 2 FLR 1402, HHJ Bellamy
London Borough of Haringey v Musa [2014] EWHC 2883 (Fam), Newton J
Re X (A Child) [2014] EWHC 1871 (Fam), Sir James Munby P

2013 and before

Re TG (A Child) [2013] EWCA (Civ) 5, [2013] 1 FLR 1250, Court of Appeal: Sir James Munby P, Aikens LJ & Hedley J
Re DF and GF (Children) (Placement Order or Special Guardianship Order) [2013] EWHC 2607 (Fam), Pauffley J
Re W (A Child) [2013] EWCA Civ 662, Court of Appeal: Thorpe, Hallett & Elias LJJ
Re M (Children) [2013] EWCA Civ 388, Court of Appeal: Sullivan & Rafferty LJJ, Ryder J
Sutton v Gray and Others (No 2) [2012] EWHC 2763 (Fam), [2013] FLR 914, Hogg J
Sutton v Gray and Others (No 1) [2012] EWHC 2604 (Fam), [2013] FLR 833, Hogg J
Re G (Interim Care Order) [2011] EWCA Civ 745 [2011] 2 FLR 95, Court of Appeal: Sir Nicholas Wall P, Rix LJ

“He’s head and shoulders above many other silks. The way he deals with things is beguilingly effortless.”

– Chambers & Partners (2025)

William Tyler KC has a busy Court of Protection practice, appearing in many cases, generally involving deprivations of liberty or significant dispute between the parties.

He is the head of the Court of Protection Team at his London chambers. “Superb” and “an exceptional advocate”… “Cares hugely about his work, and is very generous with his time.” The Legal 500 (2011, 2013)

Public Access

William Tyler KC may accept Public Access work, where he can be instructed directly by a member of the public rather than a solicitor.

Testimonials

“William is in the premier league of barristers – he’s clever, sharp, engaging, incredibly effective and always very focused on the goal” – Chambers & Partners (2019)
“Superb” and “an exceptional advocate”… “Cares hugely about his work, and is very generous with his time.” – The Legal 500 (2011, 2013)

Notable cases

Re A & D (Non–Accidental Injury: Subdural Haematomas) [2002] 1 FLR 337, Dame Elizabeth Butler–Sloss P
Re G (Interim Care Order) [2011] EWCA Civ 745, [2011] 2 FLR 95, Court of Appeal: Sir Nicholas Wall P, Rix LJ
Re TG (A Child) [2013] EWCA (Civ) 5, [2013] 1 FLR 1250, Sir James Munby P, Aikens LJ & Hedley J
Re M (Children) [2013] EWCA Civ 388, Sullivan & Rafferty LJJ, Ryder J
Re W (A Child) [2013] EWCA Civ 662
Re DF and GF (Children) (Placement Order or Special Guardianship Order) [2013] EWHC 2607 (Fam), Pauffley J
Re D–R (Children) [2013] EWCC 5 (Fam) (10 October 2013), HHJ Bellamy
Re E [2014] EWHC 6 (Fam), Sir James Munby P