Harriet Edmondson

Practice Overview

Harriet represents Local Authorities, parents, children and Children’s Guardians at all levels of court including the High Court. She specialises in care work and as such, cases involving non accidental injuries, death, neglect and sexual abuse.

Harriet has a sensible and realistic approach to cases and is particularly proficient and considerate when dealing with difficult and vulnerable clients such as those with learning disabilities, psychiatric or personality / psychological disorders.

Notable and Reported cases

• • Newport City Council v GW, TW,RL, LW, RH and Children’s Guardian [2006] EWHC 3671 (Fam)

  Representing an 11 year old boy with learning difficulties accused of sexually abusing a younger child.

• Other
  • Case concerning issues of possible induced or fabricated illnesses in a baby with a pre-existing kidney condition.
  • Recent case concerning issues of child ingesting amphetamine and the effects of cannabis abuse upon children.
  • High Court case concerning siblings suffering extreme and long term sexual abuse at the hands of multiple perpetrators and with allegations of child prostitution, generating in excess of 80 lever arch files.
  • Advised putative Father in complex High Court contact application concerning the Human Fertilization and Embryology Act, where he had provided a sperm sample to a female friend but alleged that the Mother had dishonestly/fraudulently presented his sperm to an IVF clinic claiming it was her partner’s sample. The sample was used to perform invitro fertilization.
  • Represented a Father in contact and residence proceedings  where the child was born using a surrogate mother, whereby Father was challenging the legality of the surrogacy agreement, after it transpired that his wife had been having an affair and intended on bringing up the child with that man (the parents were ultimately represented by leading silks in the final hearing in the High Court: G v G [2012] EWHC 1979).
  • Represented a Father in recent High Court Care Proceedings in highly publicised case involving the death of a baby, where Maternal Grandfather was (in subsequent proceedings) convicted of the baby’s murder.
  • Represented 13/14 year old girl in sexual abuse case where she alleged serial rape by her father and two elder brothers over many years. All the accused had been acquitted in the Crown Court trial but findings of fact were made in the family court. The youngest brother appealed to the Court of Appeal but the findings were upheld Re D [2012] EWCA Civ 1584.
  • Represented a Local Authority in recent case where 10 month old baby sustained serious head, eye and spinal injuries in an alleged ‘baby shaking’ incident. Case involved several medical experts from multiple disciplines and conflicting medical opinion.

• Family and Child Care

  Specialises in all area’s of family work, in particular complex care cases.

  Harriet represents Local Authorities, parents, children and Children’s Guardians at all levels of court including the High Court. She specialises in care work and as such, cases involving non accidental injuries, death, neglect and sexual abuse.

• Recommendations

  • 'A highly competent and consistent advocate.' (Chambers UK, 2018)

  • Specialising in care work, she is recommended for her handling of sensitive cases involving vulnerable individuals. She is experienced in representing parents, guardians, children and local authorities during proceedings relating to non-accidental injury, death and sexual abuse. Strengths: "She is extremely able and thorough. Good with clients, diligent in her preparation and skilled in her advocacy." (Chambers UK 2017)

  • 'Predominantly focuses on care proceedings and is often instructed by local authorities, parents and guardians to represent vulnerable children and adults in difficult, sensitive cases. Commentators are quick to highlight her attention to detail and knowledge of the area.' "She did a really exceptional job. She forged an extremely professional and communicative relationship with the client." (Chambers UK 2016)
  • 'Known for her work in care cases involving inter-familial abuse, including instances of neglect, sexual abuse, non-accidental injuries and even death. She is praised for her pragmatic approach to sensitive proceedings and displays a particular aptitude for interacting with challenging and vulnerable clients.' (Chambers UK 2015)
  • "She is a bundle of energy, works extremely hard, and has been in all the big cases in the south of the region." "Her preparation work is very thorough and her knowledge and advocacy skills are excellent." (Chambers UK 2014)
• Awards
  • European Union Tempus Grant (1995): To fund work placement in European Law Firm in Poznan, Poland.
• Appointments
  • Pupil Supervisor
  • Member of Pupillage Commitee
• Education & Qualification
  • Howell’s School Llandaff – 1987-1992
  • University of Wales, Aberystwyth – LLB (Hons) – 1992-1995
  • Inns of Court School of Law, London – 1996-1997
• Memberships

  FLBA

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