Our family team is able to provide expertise in all areas of family law and has always striven to provide a service of the highest quality and efficiency. Ranging from senior practitioners with years of hands-on experience in intricate cases to more junior tenants covering routine applications and hearings, we endeavour to meet the specific needs of our clients. Although based mainly in London, our members are happy to travel to all parts of the jurisdiction to represent clients. Please see specific practice areas listed below for further information.
- Children
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Renaissance is able to offer a depth and breadth of expertise in all areas of the law relating to children. We take pride in offering empathic and realistic advice and effective advocacy to clients following family breakdown or intervention by social services.
Our members are frequently instructed in care proceedings on behalf of local authorities, parents and other family members, special guardians and children, bringing sensitivity and forensic rigour to what are usually complex and challenging proceedings. Chambers has a solid reputation in this field and members are often called upon to advise and represent parties in difficult circumstances at short notice.
We offer similar expertise in adoption and placement proceedings under the Adoption and Children Act 2002 and have a particular interest in inter-country adoption.
We also offer a wealth of skill and experience in private law proceedings concerning children, including emergency applications and those under the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court. Chambers has particular expertise in the representation of children in such proceedings.
- Child Abduction
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Renaissance has long specialised in child abduction and international children cases and our members are very familiar with the often urgent nature of such cases and the need to advise and act decisively and without delay.
Our extensive experience enables us to advise and represent clients in cases falling within the provisions of the Child Abduction and Custody Act 1985 (The Hague Convention) and the Council Regulation (Brussels II Regulation) as well as those cases which are not regulated by the provisions of either and fall to be determined under the High Court’s inherent jurisdiction.
We routinely provide advice as to the protective and preventative measures which can be taken in cases involving the planned and unplanned movement of children in and out of the jurisdiction. Clients may include parents, children, guardians and local authorities.
- Forced Marriage
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Our members are highly experienced in dealing with cases brought under the Forced Marriage Act, the inherent jurisdiction and wardship cases and offer particular expertise in cases involving immigration and international elements, which often arise in forced marriage proceedings. We are adept at dealing with matters in urgent circumstances and regularly represent applicants and respondents at all levels.
- Domestic Violence & Injunctions
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Our members offer a wealth of experience in representing both applicants and respondents in injunction applications under the Family Law Act 1996 including Non-Molestation and Occupation Orders. We are also experienced in dealing with domestic violence issues in both private and public Children Act matters and are sensitive to the vulnerability of lay clients in domestic violence cases, being wholly conscious of the often stressful nature of Court proceedings under such circumstances. It is not unusual for us to be required to appear at short notice due to the urgent nature of applications.
- Court of Protection
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Our members have experience of a variety of applications to the Court of Protection at all levels, including in particular young adults whose cases move from the family courts to the Court of Protection.
Renaissance is currently in the process of forming a Court of Protection practice group due to the increased volume of work in this area.
- Financial Relief
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Our barristers routinely provide advice and representation in all areas of divorce and financial provision, including applications for and enforcement of orders under the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, Trust of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996, and the Civil Partnership Act 2004.
We can offer practitioners at all levels of call and experience who are able to represent clients with limited means and assets as much as those with substantial wealth. Our clerks can provide assistance in identifying the most suitable practitioner for any individual case.
Because of our long-standing specialism in international family work, members are also regularly instructed to advise and represent clients in financial disputes involving an international element.
- Public Interest Immunity
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Our members are able to offer advice and representation to local authorities and other organisations who are the subject of applications for third party disclosure in criminal proceedings. We are available to provide urgent consideration of documents and to advise on the Public Interest Immunity aspects of disclosure and regularly appear in the Crown Court upon such applications where necessary.