Overview
Andrew is the Deputy Head of Chambers, Head of the Private Law practice group and a pupil supervisor.
Andrew is an experienced barrister specialising in private law, financial remedies, injunctive, TLATA, Schedule 1 and public law proceedings. Andrew also accepts instructions in direct access matters.
Andrew has experience in proceedings at all stages and levels of proceedings and has built a strong reputation during nearly two decades at St Mary’s. He puts clients at ease while robustly pursuing their case.
Andrew graduated in Law with first class honours and was called to the Bar in July 2005. He worked for a year in New York City in property and real estate law while awaiting pupillage. He commenced pupillage at St Mary's Chambers in March 2007 – completing his training under Beryl Gilead, Hilary Watson and Maria Mulrennan – before becoming a tenant the following year.
Click here to view Andrew’ Privacy Notice for clients.
Direct Access
Andrew regularly represents separated parents or spouses in direct access cases concerning children or divorce. He will quickly review any direct access questionnaire submitted to chambers and say whether a potential client’s case is suitable for direct access.
Andrew can offer advice in conference, written advice, separation or cohabitation agreements, and represents clients at all levels and types of hearings.
Andrew has often worked with professional McKenzie Friends in assisting clients with their cases at contested hearings.
Practice Areas
Andrew is head of the St Mary’s private law team. He regularly represents parents and children through their rule 16.4 guardians at all stages including FHDRA, DRA, fact-finding and final hearings. His work covers all areas of private law from basic child arrangements through to complex cases involving allegations of domestic abuse or abuse of children.
Andrew plays a key role in organising our annual private law conference. He often delivers seminars on private law topics to solicitors.
Andrew is keenly interested in developing his and St Mary’s practice in this field through non-court dispute resolution such as arbitration and the use of private DRAs.
Andrew has had a lot of success, including very recently, in appealing decisions made in the lower courts.
Andrew frequently undertakes FR work at all stages including contested multi-day final hearings. Andrew’s work ranges from complex, high-value cases down to the most modest needs cases. His cases have involved companies and assets worth in the several millions or have had international elements to them.
Andrew has also delivered seminars to solicitors and spoken at our annual Financial Remedy conferences.
Andrew regularly represents parents and children in care proceedings, often in very complex cases involving issues such as non-accidental injuries, FII, or international or jurisdictional issues.
Andrew has undertaken the vulnerable witness training. He has also delivered seminars to solicitors and social workers.
Last year, Andrew was led by a silk in a fascinating and complex fact-finding hearing concerning alleged NAI that ultimately concluded with the child being returned to the parents as the injuries were attributed to an as-yet undiscovered bone disorder.
Cases & Publications
Andrew conducted a delicately-balanced private law case on behalf of a father from the first hearing to final hearing. Over the course of two years, beginning with the mother taking the two children to a confidential location and alleging domestic violence, the case concluded with the father being awarded residence of the children
He also represented a severely disabled wife in financial remedy proceedings in order to achieve a fair outcome for her and her teenage daughter to continue living together in a case with limited assets.
Last year, Andrew was led by Susan Grocott KC acting for a father in a fascinating and complex finding of fact hearing concerning alleged NAI that ultimately concluded with the child being returned to the parents as the injuries were attributed to an as-yet undiscovered done disorder.
Andrew also represented the children in a High Court case with international jurisdiction issues.
Testimonials
Get in touch
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