Family News

3PB, one of the UK's oldest chambers, continue their Birmingham chambers expansion with the recruitment of two senior family barristers with a national reputation, Dorian Day and Michael George. “I am delighted Dorian and Michael are joining 3PB,” said Hamish Dunlop, Head of 3PB’s 64 strong family law team. "Both have exceptional reputations and will be great assets to our clients, served from our premises at The Colmore Building, Birmingham and 3PB nationally.” Dorian Day...

3PB Barristers are delighted to announce that three of their barristers have been appointed as Recorders. Lawrence Messling, is assigned to sit on the North Eastern Circuit dealing with Family matters. William Hansen has been assigned to sit on the South Eastern Circuit dealing with Criminal matters. Mathew Gullick has also been assigned to sit on the South Eastern Circuit dealing with Criminal matters. Lawrence Messling, a specialist family law barrister with over twenty five...

3PB Barrister Vanessa Meachin appointed Silk

26th February 2018

3PB family barrister Vanessa Meachin was appointed Queen’s Counsel in the new Silk appointments during a ceremony at Westminster Hall today. Vanessa becomes 3PB Chambers' thirteenth Silk, and her appointment strengthens the set’s exceptional family law practice group. She was one of the original barristers - alongside fellow family Silk Liz McGrath QC - to join 3PB’s new Birmingham offices from rival chambers St Philips. This appointment recognises Vanessa’s long-standing reputation as a top-ranking family...

3PB Family team boosted with latest recruit

6th February 2018

3PB has recruited family law barrister James Legg from Northampton Chambers to work from its flagship London office in Temple. James represents local authorities, parents, guardians and prospective special guardians in care proceeding and frequently appears in proceedings involving vulnerable clients, cross-examination of expert witnesses and jurisdictional issues. James also has an extensive private family practice work covering applications for Child Arrangements Orders, Prohibited Steps Orders and Specific  Issue Orders, including matters of residence, contact,...

3PB's Elizabeth McGrath QC shortlisted for 'Barrister of the Year' by the Birmingham Law Society Legal Awards

5th February 2018

Elizabeth McGrath QC of 3PB's family team has been nominated in the 'Barrister of the Year' category by the Birmingham Law Society Legal Awards. The awards have been showcasing the very best of the region’s legal talent since the inaugural event in 2002. Firms and individuals practicing in the West Midlands were invited to submit nominations in one of the 13 award categories. The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on Thursday 8th...

3PB Family Barrister Emma Harman on the lessons learned from A Local Authority v G (Parent with Learning Disability) [2017] EWFC B94

19th January 2018

The recent case of A Local Authority v G (Parent with Learning Disability) [2017] EWFC B94 has highlighted the importance that all families in which one or more of the parents has a learning disability are given the support that they require to be able to care for their children. However, the judge in this case found that this obligation does not extend to support that is tantamount to substituted parenting. To read Emma's full...

3PB’s booming London team has been joined by senior barrister Poonam Bhari from rival chambers St Phillips. Poonam is well known nationally as a leading family barrister. She has appeared at all levels of court - from the FPC to the Court of Appeal -  acting on legally-aided and privately-funded childcare cases including where there are allegations of sexual abuse, non-accidental injuries, death of a child or parent and non-compliance with contact orders. Poonam was involved in the first proceedings...

3PB's Family Law team proudly sponsors the Family Law Awards 2017

30th November 2017

3PB’s Family Law team was one of the proud sponsors of the Family Law Awards 2017 that took place yesterday at the Ballroom South Bank in London. Over the past 7 years, the Family Law Awards have firmly established themselves as a highly prestigious event, celebrating the success and achievements of family lawyers and the vital contribution that they make to society. This year’s ceremony was attended by over 500 guests drawn from across the...

Amy Beddis has joined 3PB’ growing family team. Amy is a specialist family practitioner with an emphasis on private law children and financial work. Throughout her career Amy has worked with Government departments, local authorities, housing associations, charities and social enterprises alongside businesses from the private sector and brings her breadth of knowledge and experience to her career at the bar. Private Law Amy is regularly instructed in all aspects of children matters and has built...

Hamish Dunlop, Head of 3PB’s Family Law Group, led by Nigel Dyer QC, and instructed by Hughes Paddison of Cheltenham, has represented the respondent Hugh Owens in the groundbreaking Owens v Owens divorce case. The Court of Appeal earlier ruled that the appellant Tini Owens would not be granted a divorce despite an unhappy relationship. The Court refused to overturn the trial Judge’s finding that the respondent’s behaviour had been tantamount to ‘minor altercations of...

Nicola Frost, writing for Family Law Week, explains the implications of a Hague Convention decision. The CA unanimously held, "anticipatory retention" is a concept that must be recognised by the Convention. By a 2:1 majority (Black LJ dissenting on this particular point) it was further held that "communication" of an intention to retain children (prior to the end of an agreed, extended stay) is not necessary. As such, the mother's conduct surrounding an application for British...

3PB family barrister Rachael Goodall analyses the Court of Appeal's judgement in the appeal of JS v RS [2017] EWCA Civ 408, concerning the division of matrimonial assets following the dissolution of a marriage. Rachael's analysis takes account of the jurisprudential relationship between Miller v Miller and McFarlane v McFarlane. Please click here to read Rachael's article.