Family
The St Philips Family Law Practice Group consists of 42 specialist family barristers. The current Head of Group is Liz McGrath with the Ancillary Relief subgroup currently led by Vanessa Meachin and the Child Law subgroup by Alistair MacDonald.
The team provides expert advice and advocacy in all areas of family law including co-habitation disputes, divorce, matrimonial finance, private law children proceedings, care and adoption proceedings, proceedings under the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court, judicial review and claims under the Human Rights Act 1998. In addition, the group has practitioners experienced in care standards, mental health and immigration.
The group meets regularly and its key function is to promote rigorous internal practice standards and to ensure that practitioners provide a consistent professional service. Backed by internal training and mentoring for junior members, the dynamic is lively and supportive.
The experienced and highly personable clerking team, led by Mark Mansell, ensures that clients are matched to the barrister best able to deal with their case. Through efficiency and good communication the family clerks pride themselves on maintaining excellent relationships with professional clients many of whom have been loyal to the group across the years.
Members of the group organise and present seminars and conferences in their respective areas of expertise and are published regularly in the specialist family press. Recent seminars have drawn on the expertise available at St Philips in other practice areas, particularly in the field of Ancillary Relief.
All practitioners in the group are members of the Family Law Bar Association and all members of the Children Team are members of the Association of Lawyers for Children and the British Agency for Fostering and Adoption.
