Biography
Janet has been practising at the Family Bar for over 30 years and is a very well known senior practitioner in London and beyond in Public law proceedings, with a reputation for putting up a tremendous fight when representing vulnerable parents in what appear to be difficult or hopeless cases.
Janet undertakes some pro bono work where it is considered that the parent is otherwise unable to access justice in the Family Courts. Likewise, Janet has a strict policy of keeping privately funded private children’s work within legal aid funding limits where parents are not eligible for a public funding certificate although of modest means.
Experience
Janet's areas of expertise are:
Public and Private law proceedings representing parents and other adult family members, children and/or guardians, and the Official Solicitor in cases of parents under a mental health disability
Private law proceedings representing parents in highly complex cases where expert evidence (psychiatric and psychological) is commissioned including cases of Implacable Hostility and where a change in residence is considered in view of this
Public and Private law cases where there are serious allegations of physical, emotional and sexual abuse, and where there is a conflict of expert evidence
Public law proceedings where there are parallel criminal proceedings
Wardship and Adoption proceedings at all levels
Representation of Local Authorities in Public Law proceedings at all levels
Same sex couple cases involving residence and/or contact disputes, including complex High Court cases
Trans-cultural adoption, Removal from the Jurisdiction and cases with an immigration/foreign aspect
Education
LLB Hons, University of Birmingham
Languages
French (fluent)
Interests
Art (Tate member), French Literature, Ghanaian language and culture (Janet is mixed race Ghanaian/English), child psychology, travel, countryside walking/rambling and ballet