Family News

February Family Law Newsletter Out Now

25th February 2025

Welcome to our renewed 3PB family team newsletter, a quarterly update filled with analysis, reported cases and the latest news from the team, edited by Amy Beddis.
In this edition, we showcase our family arbitrators. Analysis is provided by Emma Griffiths on Section 20 and care proceedings. Imogen Robins and Amphlett Lissimore head of family law Estella Newbold-Brown have written on the legal intricacies of pet arrangements after a separation and Kara Cann considers current attitudes to ‘denial models’ of risk assessment.
We look at the reported cases that Dorian Day, Andrew Duncan, Matiss Krumins, Harriet Lavis, Sam Smith and Charlotte Steer recently acted in.
Finally, our team is looking forward to our 3rd Annual Private Law Children and Financial Remedies Conference on 10th April in Birmingham as well as our Family Law Brunch webinar on 27 February. You can still register for both these events.

Dorian Day in Court of Appeal over a final order at a DRA in a dispute over three children

25th February 2025

3PB's family law barristers Dorian Day acted in the Court of Appeal before Lord Justice Baker, Lord Justice Nugee and Lady Justice Laing in the case of Re: A, B AND C (Child arrangements: final order at dispute resolution appointment) [2025] EWCA Civ 55, which saw the appeal of his client mother dismissed, affirming the Deputy District Judge (DDJ)'s decision in the lower court. The Court ruled that the mother's conduct and lack of substantive...

3PB’s family team to contribute to Family Law Week’s Finance Remedy Conference

20th February 2025

3PB Barristers’ (3 Paper Buildings) specialist family barristers Stephen Wildblood KC and Imogen Robins will be speaking at Family Law Week’s Financial Remedy: Practice and Procedure Conference, taking place in London on Tuesday 11 March 2025. Experienced family law barrister and former Designated Family Judge for Bristol, Stephen Wildblood KC, will be chairing the event in his capacity as Editor-in-Chief at Family Law Week. Imogen Robins, who is renowned for her expertise in family finance...

Andrew Duncan and Charlotte Steer navigate complex FII case with successful outcome

19th February 2025

At a substantial hearing before Mrs Justice Lieven, 3PB family barristers Andrew Duncan, leading Charlotte Steer (pictured here, left to right), acted for the children in the recent reported case of A Local Authority v T & Ors [2025] EWHC 334 (Fam).  The case centred on the transfer of risk arising from alleged Fabricated or Induced Illness (“FII”) in a disabled child to their younger sibling. The guardian’s report played a pivotal role in the...

Rachel Bale speaking at the Oxford Family Law Seminar 2025

18th February 2025

3PB's matrimonial finances and family trusts barrister Rachel Bale will be speaking at the Oxford Family Law Seminar 2025 about the role of conduct in financial proceedings. Organised by the Oxford judiciary and Oxfordshire Resolution, this event will see Rachel debating legal guidance and advice on topical family law subjects, alongside other experts. The seminar will be taking place at Oxford Combined Court Centre in St Aldates, Oxford on Wednesday 5th March 2025 from 2pm....

Family barrister Laura Buchan moves to 3PB

3rd February 2025

Family barrister Laura Buchan (2016 call), a busy private law children, financial remedies and TOLATA specialist, will join 3PB (3 Paper Buildings) on Tuesday 11 February. Laura is also renowned as a family law specialist in cases involving crypto-assets and contesting legal costs in divorce and other family financial disputes. Commended by clients in Legal 500 as "extremely analytical and "her attention to detail is second-to-none," Laura was described as a family law barrister who...

Matiss Krumins success as Supreme Court dismisses father's habeas corpus bid to challenge care order

29th January 2025

3PB family barrister Matiss Krumins (pictured here), who specialises in public law children proceedings and judicial review, represented the local authority before the Supreme Court following the father’s appeal in his application for habeas corpus; and today saw judgement handed down in the case of The Father v Worcestershire County Council [2025] UKSC 1. In summary, the father's application for a writ of habeas corpus was dismissed by both the Supreme Court and the Court...

Stephen Wildblood KC and Nicola Frost qualify as Family Law Arbitrators (Financial Remedy Scheme)

20th January 2025

3PB are delighted to announce that family law barristers Stephen Wildblood KC and Nicola Frost have both qualified as Family Law Arbitrators under the Financial Remedy Scheme. Both become members of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (MCIArb) and are now members of the specialist panel of family law arbitrators, managed by Resolution on behalf of the Institute of Family Law Arbitrators (“IFLA”). Stephen Wildblood KC (1980 call) practised as a specialist family barrister for 27...

Gemma Chapman writes for Family Law Journal on protecting the child’s narrative

16th January 2025

3PB Barristers’ (3 Paper Buildings) specialist family law barrister Gemma Chapman, has written for Family Law Journal on the training currently available for professionals on how to preserve the integrity of a young person’s account of abuse. In her article, “Persistent failure to protect the child’s narrative – time for change?”, Gemma discusses how, despite long established guidance and authorities on the subject, oftentimes a young person’s account of abuse is captured in a manner...

Dorian Day and Samantha Smith in key Court of Appeal case on revoking adoption orders

13th January 2025

3PB's family law barristers Dorian Day  and Samantha Smith appeared in today's landmark Court of Appeal case that has ruled that there is no inherent jurisdiction to revoke adoption orders. Judgement in the case of Re X and Y (Children: Adoption Order: Setting Aside) has brought clarity to the law, but will be cold comfort to many families seeking a legal remedy following the permanent breakdown of an adoption. The case concerned two teenage girls...

Andrew Duncan wins Court of Appeal case over name change for non-binary child

23rd December 2024

3PB’s family barrister Andrew Duncan, pictured here, recently acted as sole counsel in a pro bono appeal in Re C (A Child) (Change of Given Name) [2024] EWCA Civ 1582, successfully overturning a Circuit Judge's decision that dismissed a non-binary child’s application to change their forename. Andrew was instructed by Chris Bell of PS Law, a niche law firm with offices in Milton Keynes and Northampton. The Court of Appeal, in allowing the appeal and...

Rachel Bale delivers LexisNexis webinar on the end of year round up in Family Law

19th December 2024

3PB’s chancery and property barrister Rachel Bale delivered a webinar for LexisNexis on the end of year roundup in Family Law, with a specific focus on Financial Remedies. The webinar addressed the use of non-court dispute resolution, the courts' approach to conduct and costs, clarity on the concept of Matrimonalisation, and an update on pensions. To watch a preview, or the full webinar (subject to subscription), please visit here If you would be interested in...