Family & Child Care

This difficult and sensitive area of law receives committed, detailed and skilled attention from the team of family specialists at 30 Park Place which offers the largest truly specialist group of family practitioners in Wales.

All members of the family and care team are members of the FLBA and represent Local Authorities, parents, CAFCASS Cymru and other parties including prospective adopters and interveners. Chambers provides a comprehensive service to solicitors, regularly advising on and presenting or contesting applications for injunctive relief, section 8 Children Act orders, Care and Supervision orders, Placement and Adoption orders, orders for the return of children under the Hague Convention and other applications under the Inherent Jurisdiction of the High Court.

The team is acutely aware of the value to all of our clients of being available to cover hearings from the very outset of proceedings, including at interim care hearings, until the conclusion of the case. We strive to ensure consistency of representation whenever possible and are determined to provide a high level of service for the benefit of our clients both professional and lay.

With five family silks and a range of practitioners ranging from the very junior to those with greater than 30 years experience, the team has unrivaled experience in Wales in conducting complex and sensitive hearings both at first instance and on appeal.

The Family and Child Care team successfully bid to be one of the providers for the ‘West Wales Consortium’ which includes 11 Local Authorities in South and Mid Wales.

With ‘an excellent range of barristers from silks and seniors to up-and-coming juniors’ 30 Park Place Chambers continues to offer a premier family law service, with members regularly instructed by local authorities, parents, and guardians in challenging cases. Catherine Heyworth KC, widely praised as ’an extremely strong advocate’, handles complex cases involving allegations relating to infant deaths, physical and sexual abuse, fabricated illness, and genetic disorders. The ‘highly experienced’ Catrin John specialises in cases concerning the serious sexual and physical abuse of children. She was appointed head of chambers in October 2023 following the elevation of Ruth Henke KC, as was, to the High Court bench. Samuel Shepherd is noted for his client care as well as for his ’calm, measured and convincing’ advocacy, while Oliver Harris continues to build a strong and varied family law practice. He stands out as a ‘conscientious barrister’ with ’an eye for detail.’ - Legal 500, 2025

The ‘excellent’ members of ‘go-to family law set‘ 30 Park Place Chambers are frequently instructed by local authorities, parents, and guardians in complex child law cases, often involving allegations of physical abuse, sexual abuse, extreme neglect, and fictitious illness. Both silks and juniors have recently been instructed in relation to several multi-week High Court matters. The ‘calm and compelling‘ Jane Crowley KC has a strong presence in Wales, with extensive experience in all aspects of child abuse cases. Catherine Heyworth KC has considerable experience in cases where children have suffered multiple injuries, and also acts in cases concerning forced marriages and the deprivation of young people’s liberty. Catrin John has recently acted in cases involving fabricated and factitious illnesses, sexual abuse and serious physical abuse. The ‘fiercely intelligent‘ Rhys Evans has a strong reputation for his work on behalf of local authorities and children, as does Nathan Jones. Rhian Jones also sits as a recorder. Ruth Henke KC, as was, is now a High Court judge - Legal 500, 2024

30 Park Place Chambers is singled out by clients as ‘an excellent set for family public law work‘. The ‘exceptionally strong‘ team has a solid track record in representing parents, guardians and local authorities across a wide range of cases involving allegations of serious physical and sexual abuse, poisoning and neglect, among other areas. Nathan Jones regularly handles complex cases involving the deaths of children. Members also field expertise in matrimonial finance, an area in which James Tillyard KC and Rebecca Harrington excel. The group was recently bolstered at the senior end following Catherine Heyworth KC‘s elevation to silk. - Legal 500, 2023