Elisabeth specialises in family law cases involving children in both the public and private sphere. Elisabeth was a solicitor for 15 years prior to her call to the Bar in 2016 when she joined St Ives Chambers. As a solicitor, she spent 7 years working as an associate in private practice representing parents, extended family members and children of all ages in both private and public law Children Act proceedings.
Subsequently, Elisabeth was employed by Birmingham City Council as a Senior Solicitor and then in a seconded role as Child Sexual Exploitation Co-ordinator, exclusively representing the local authority in public law Children Act proceedings. In 2019, as a result of her work in tackling child sexual exploitation and in the development and implementation of systems dedicated to the protection of the most vulnerable children in society, Elisabeth was awarded the Chief Constable’s Community Service Award by the Chief Constable of West Midlands Police.
Elisabeth is highly experienced in dealing with complex and sensitive issues arising out of her specialist areas and is regularly instructed in the most serious and high profile cases appearing against senior and leading counsel. Elisabeth has a varied and established practice regularly receiving Instructions in difficult and complex matters, to represent both local authorities, parents and children in cases involving:
- Child death
- Serious inflicted injury, including skull fractures and brain injuries
- Factitious Induced Illness
- Allegations of sexual abuse
- Interfamilial sexual abuse and incest
- Chronic neglect
- Long standing emotional and psychological abuse
- Domestic abuse
- Parental alienation
- Relocation
- Complex and novel areas of law
- Clients with cognitive limitations and learning disabilities
- The Official Solicitor
- Forced Marriage and Female Genital Mutilation
- Deprivations of liberty
Throughout her career, Elisabeth has gained significant experience and respect as a family law advocate representing with both skill and compassion, a diverse array of clients, many of whom are experiencing the worst time of their life and who require an advocate who is both sensitive and compassionate whilst maintaining a robust and tactical approach.
