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    Sarah Dines acts for father in major international child abduction and 'stranding' case

    3PB's family law barrister Sarah Dines, led by Professor Rob George KC of Harcourt Chambers, acted for the respondent father in the recent reported case from the Court of Appeal of Re S (Children: Transnational Marriage Abandonment) [2025] EWCA Civ 1058. The appeal focused on the High Court judge’s fact-finding in relation to international child abduction, 'stranding' and domestic abuse. The Court of Appeal gave particular attention to the question of what constitutes ‘transnational spousal...

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    How mediation can help family law proceedings: a podcast with Stephen Wildblood KC

    3PB associate member Stephen Wildblood KC (pictured here) and clinical psychologist Dr Freda Gardner, in conversation with Emily Roskilly, partner and founder of Roskilly & Co, explore the many benefits of mediation in separation and share their top tips for families going through difficult times. Click here to listen to the podcast. Stephen Wildblood KC is a 3PB associate member, Private FDR Judge, mediator, children and financial remedy arbitrator and early neutral evaluator. He sits...

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    June Venters KC secures a rare and substantial costs order under the Children Act

    3PB family law silk June Venters KC, appearing for the father in the newly-published case of C v S [2025] EWFC 254, secured a rare and substantial costs order under the Children Act (CPR Part 44 does not strictly apply in such proceedings). The long-running dispute involved the mother seeking a defined contact order while levelling unsubstantiated allegations against the father. The case spanned over a decade, with the father previously being granted care of...

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  • Davinia Riley

    3PB welcomes Birmingham family barrister Davinia Riley

    3PB Barristers (3 Paper Buildings) are delighted to welcome matrimonial finance and probate/inheritance barrister Davinia Riley (call:2004) to its 90-strong team of family barristers. Davinia joins 3PB from a rival top-tier Midlands set for family finance. Davinia's experience over the last twenty years is primarily in high value, complex financial issues often involving trust assets, businesses, multiple properties (UK-based and international) and inheritance. Ranked by Legal 500 since 2022 as a leading junior barrister in...

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    Stephen Wildblood KC writes for the Financial Remedies Journal on the Two Different Forms of NCDR

    3PB’s specialist family barrister, Stephen Wildblood KC, has written an article for the Financial Remedies Journal titled “Thinking Outside the Box – Two Different Forms of NCDR.” The article is co-written by Dr. Freda V. Gardner, a consultant clinical psychologist with whom Stephen works when conducting mediations through their LLP, Gardner Wildblood LLP. Stephen and Dr. Freda, both trained mediators, now collaborate as a consultant clinical psychologist and a lawyer with mediation training to offer...

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  • Gemma Farrington KC

    3PB welcomes London family barrister Gemma Farrington KC

    3PB Barristers (3 Paper Buildings) are delighted to welcome leading family law barrister, Gemma Farrington KC to its 90-strong team of family barristers. Gemma will be based from 3PB's London office in the Inner Temple and starts with the national chambers on Monday 1 September. Gemma was called to the bar in 1994 and took silk in 2022. Gemma is a seasoned family barrister with over thirty years experience in family law and is acknowledged...

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    Oliver Nunn as an Honorary Associate Professor at The Leicester Law School

    3PB property, housing and agriculture barrister Oliver Nunn was a member of the graduation procession last week as an Honorary Associate Professor at the University of Leicester Law School. After the ceremony, Oliver met with Hannah Cheeseman (Law LLB), who was selected to receive the Jeffers- Nunn Award in 2023/ 24 to which Oliver co-founded. This follows Oliver’s recent success in being awarded the Mary Attenborough Volunteering Award at the Leicester University Alumni Awards Dinner in May at Middle...

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  • mark calway

    Mark Calway’s Court of Appeal case about Section 37 Children Act 1989 Directions features in The Times

    3PB Barristers' (3 Paper Buildings) specialist family law barrister Mark Calway has today, 7 July, had his recent Court of Appeal case of Re E (A Child) (Section 37 Direction) [2025] EWCA Civ 470, reported in The Times. The judgment was first handed down on 16 April 2025. The case involved the placement of an infant, E, in foster care following the mother’s refusal to enter a mother and baby placement. The mother had arranged...

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    Smoke and mirrors: shams and illusory trusts in divorce proceedings

    3PB Property, Chancery and Matrimonial Finances barrister Rachel Bale (pictured here) writes for the Financial Remedies Journal an article about ‘shams’ or ‘illusory’ trusts and the challenges they cause in divorce proceedings for family and chancery lawyers alike. Rachel provides guidance on the legal principles to follow to identify shams and illusory trusts and considers the steps to follow to navigate through the difficulties they create, including: Back to basics: key players in a trust...

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  • Paul Froud

    Paul Froud in CoA judgment confirming inadequate explanation in first instance care decision

    The Court of Appeal handed down judgment last week granting an appeal against a decision of HHJ Wicks. Paul Froud (pictured here), led by Darren Howe KC from 1 Crown Office Row, were instructed on behalf of the Child, acting through her Children’s Guardian. Neither Paul nor Darren appeared at the Final Hearing and were instructed by Mr. James Walthall of Jackson West Solicitors. The Court of Appeal upheld the appeal brought by the Local...

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    3PB launches its new NCDR family law service

    3PB officially launched its NCDR (Non Court Dispute Resolution) services for family law on Wednesday afternoon (18 June) at 58 Victoria Embankment in London in front of  more than 130 family law solicitors. The large national chambers - with 90 family law barristers - covers the full range of NCDR services including mediation, early neutral evaluation, private FDR hearings and arbitration. The three-hour briefing was billed as "Arbitration in Action" and gave practical tips on...

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    Oliver Thorne and Nicola Frost qualify as children arbitrators

    3PB are delighted to announce that two more of its family law barristers, Oliver Thorne and Nicola Frost, have both qualified as Children Law Arbitrators, able to hear arbitrations under the Children Scheme. Both are members of the specialist panel of family law arbitrators, managed by Resolution on behalf of the Institute of Family Law Arbitrators (“IFLA”). Nicola Frost is a specialist family law barrister, arbitrator, now dual qualified in both the Children and Financial...

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