Children's Rights

The Garden Court Children's Rights team is at the forefront of protecting and upholding children's rights domestically and internationally, from child victims of trafficking and criminal exploitation to children's rights in education and climate security.

To contact the Public Law Clerks, please email Gavin John (gavinj@gclaw.co.uk)

+44 (0)20 7993 7600

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Our multi-disciplinary expertise enables us to offer children holistic legal advice to ensure we are at the cutting edge of developing children’s rights. 

We have considerable expertise in working with key domestic and international laws and Conventions including the Children's Act 1989, Human Rights Act 1998 and United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. 

Our team have authored leading textbooks and has worked with leading children’s rights organisations such as Alliance for Youth Justice, Children’s Rights Alliance England, Coram, ECPAT, Just for Kids Law, JUSTICE, Save the Children and the Youth Justice Legal Centre. 

Many of our team have first-hand experience working with children and are committed to upholding their rights, from unaccompanied asylum seekers to children facing deprivation of liberty, whether in the family courts or as a child defendant. We strive for the highest standards for children and provide seminars, training and guidance to continually improve legal knowledge and expertise on children’s rights.

 

KEY AIMS

  • Ensure every child is represented by a barrister with specialist knowledge of children’s rights.  
  • Offer holistic representation to children by providing a multi-disciplinary approach in our casework. 
  • Develop and strengthen children's rights through litigation, policy work and education guided by children’s lived experience and collaborating with NGOs and grassroots organisations. 

 

WHAT WE DO

  • We are at the forefront of strategic litigation in the children's rights field. 
  • We offer consultancy expertise on legislative development, policy and guidance.
  • We provide high-quality training and resources on cutting-edge children's rights issues. 
  • We have unparalleled cross-jurisdictional, multi-disciplinary expertise. 

 

How we work

  • We deliver ongoing internal training on children's rights to ensure we are the leading experts at the forefront of best practice. 
  • We foster multi-disciplinary practice within chambers and generate interdisciplinary casework. 
  • We collaborate effectively with our child rights partners in NGOs and grassroots organisations.  
  • We affect change using our depth of experience working directly with children and young people in the community and institutional settings. 
  • We aim to be trauma-responsive, neurodiverse-friendly and anti-racist.  

OUR EXPERTISE

The Children's Rights Team draws on the multidisciplinary strength of chambers. As such, our work covers a diverse field, including:

  • Right to health, housing and welfare services. 
  • Protection of vulnerable children, including Looked-after Children.
  • Rights of child victims of trafficking and criminal exploitation (modern slavery).
  • Rights of Black and racialised children including Romani, Gypsy & Traveller children.
  • Right to education including children with Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND).
  • Rights of children and conflict with the law (youth justice). 
  • Rights of children detained of their liberty.
  • Rights of migrant and asylum-seeking children. 
  • Rights of girls including child marriage and FGM. 
  • Protection from climate harm at domestic and international levels. 
  • Reparation for breach of children’s rights.  
  • Policy, research and guidance on children’s rights. 

 

Recent notable cases and news

Stella Harris secures acquittal in murder trial

Stella Harris of Garden Court Chambers represented the 15-year old defendant, led by Mathew Sherratt KC of Thomas More Chambers, instructed by Javed Chughtai of EBR Attridge Solicitors.

24 June 2024

Acland Bryant joins Garden Court Chambers as new tenant

We are delighted to announce that Acland has joined Garden Court Chambers as a new tenant.

4 April 2024

Elena Papamichael secures unanimous acquittal for child modern slavery victim after six-week trial

Elena Papamichael is a member of the Garden Court Chambers Criminal Defence and Children's Rights Teams. She was instructed by Darrell Ennis-Gayle at Hodge Jones & Allen.

8 March 2024

Kate Aubrey-Johnson appointed to Michael Sieff Working Group on SEND, Neurodivergence & Youth Justice

We are delighted to announce that Kate Aubrey-Johnson of the Garden Court Children's Rights Team has been appointed to the Michael Sieff Working Group on SEND, Neurodivergence & Youth Justice.

19 February 2024

Good Practice Guidance on Certificates for Assigned Advocate in the Youth Court published

Kate Aubrey-Johnson, convenor of the Garden Court Children's Rights Team, has authored new guidance published by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and Youth Justice Board (YJB)'s 'Youth Justice: Quality of Advocacy Working Group'.

5 December 2023

Rajiv Menon KC submits questions at UK Covid-19 Inquiry Module 2

Rajiv Menon KC, Joint Head of Garden Court Chambers, submitted questions on behalf of children's rights organisations Just for Kids Law, Save the Children UK and Children's Rights Alliance for England.

1 November 2023

UK Covid-19 Inquiry Module 2 Continues - Opening statement on behalf of Core Participants

Several Garden Court Barristers are representing core participants at the UK Covid-19 Inquiry.

4 October 2023

Garden Court secures top tier rankings in the Legal 500 UK 2024

Garden Court Chambers is proud to be recognised as a Top Tier set again in the Legal 500 UK 2024 rankings.

4 October 2023

UK Covid-19 Inquiry Module 2 - Opening statement on behalf of Core Participants

Several Garden Court Barristers are representing core participants at the UK Covid-19 Inquiry.

3 October 2023

Connor Johnston conducting new Law Commission project on reforming social care for disabled children

Connor Johnston is a member of the Garden Court Chambers Community Care team.

13 September 2023

New practical guide for lawyers to help reduce the over-criminalisation of care experienced children and young adults launches today

Dare to Care: Representing care experienced young people, written by Kate Aubrey-Johnson of the Garden Court Chambers Children's Rights Team, and Dr Laura Janes, consultant solicitor at GT Stewart, in collaboration with the policy forum at the Drive Forwa

13 September 2023

Kate Aubrey-Johnson and Elena Papamichael contribute to Legal Action Youth Justice Update

Kate Aubrey-Johnson and Elena Papamichael of the Garden Court Children's Rights Team have written for Legal Action Magazine.

5 September 2023

New edition of Halsbury's Laws on Judicial Review

Ollie Persey of the Garden Court Chambers Public Law Team is the Consultant Editor of the latest edition of the highly regarded public law practitioner text, Halsbury’s Laws on Judicial Review, published this month.

21 July 2023

Blog: Reflection on the Children's Rights Summer Conference

Kate Aubrey-Johnson reflects on the Children's Rights Summer Conference held at Garden Court Chambers on 11 July 2023.

21 July 2023

'Name Me Lawand' Documentary Film Screening Now

A heartfelt documentary about Lawand, a six-year-old profoundly deaf boy from Iraq, who the Home Office tried to deport, is screening now. Lawand was represented by Gráinne Mellon, of the Garden Court Chambers Immigration Team.

17 July 2023

Kathryn Cronin wins Legal Aid Barrister of the Year at the 2023 LALY Awards

We are delighted to announce that Kathryn Cronin is the winner of Legal Aid Barrister of the Year at the 2023 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards.

12 July 2023

Amanda Weston KC successfully secures order setting aside findings against vulnerable teenager

Amanda Weston KC, of the Garden Court Chambers Children’s Rights & Public Law Team, alongside Garden Court Pupil Barrister Josephine Fathers, represented T. They were instructed by Oliver Fisher Solicitors.

7 July 2023

Kathryn Cronin and Danielle Manson shortlisted at Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards 2023

We are delighted to announce that Kathryn Cronin and Danielle Manson of Garden Court Chambers have both been shortlisted for the Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards 2023 (LALYs).

19 May 2023

Irena Sabic KC appointed Deputy King’s Bench Master

Garden Court Chambers is delighted to announce that our colleague Irena Sabic KC has been appointed by the Lord Chief Justice as a Deputy King’s Bench Master, based at the Royal Courts of Justice.

11 May 2023

Elena Papamichael successful in Children's Rights case

Elena Papamichael, of the Garden Court Chambers Children's Rights Team, instructed by Rukhsana Hyatt of Rukhsana Hayat & Co Solicitors.

24 April 2023

Kate Aubrey-Johnson contributes to SRA youth court advocacy guidance

Kate Aubrey Johnson of the Garden Court Children's Rights Team has contributed to the updated Solicitors Regulation Authority's (SRA) 'Good practice guide for youth court solicitors'.

5 April 2023

Mark Gatley KC secures acquittal for murder

Mark Gatley KC of the Garden Court Criminal Defence Team led Jonathan Rose of 4-5 Gray's Inn Square and was instructed by Hockham Suthi of Riley Hayes Solicitors.

23 February 2023

Changes to legal aid rules in SEND appeals following legal challenge

Amanda Weston KC, Oliver Persey, and Isaac Ricca-Richardson of Garden Court Chambers represented the child, instructed by Emma Vincent Miller of Public Law Project.

14 February 2023

Elena Papamichael successfully persuades CPS to discontinue proceedings against her 15-year-old client

Elena Papamichael of the Garden Court Criminal Defence Team represented the defendant.

3 February 2023

Human Rights Assessments: Local Authority concedes Children Act 1989 duties take precedence over residual & discretionary Immigration Act 1999 powers

The claimant, HTT, was represented by Amanda Weston KC and Maria Moodie of Garden Court Chambers. Counsel instructed by Verity Cannell of Bindmans LLP.

20 January 2023

Care Proceedings: Jurisdiction and Placing Children in the EU, post Brexit

Blog post by Hannah Rought-Brooks of the Garden Court Family Law Team.

23 December 2022

Amanda Meusz wins Family Law Case of the Year at Family Law Awards 2022

Amanda acted for the children's guardian in the Supreme Court case of H-W (Children) (No 2) [2022].

29 November 2022

Kate Aubrey-Johnson and Jennifer Twite contribute to Legal Action Group Youth Justice Update

Kate Aubrey-Johnson and Jennifer Twite round up the latest important statistics, publications, policy, legislation, guidance and cases in the latest LAG Youth Justice update.

23 September 2022

Jennifer Twite joins Garden Court Chambers as a new tenant

23 September 2022

The Team

Henry Blaxland KC

Year of Call: 1978

Year of Silk: 2002

Rajiv Menon KC

Year of Call: 1993

Year of Silk: 2011

Stephanie Harrison KC

Year of Call: 1991

Year of Silk: 2013

Sonali Naik KC

Year of Call: 1991

Year of Silk: 2018

Amanda Weston KC

Year of Call: 1995

Year of Silk: 2018

David Emanuel KC

Year of Call: 1996

Year of Silk: 2019

Keir Monteith KC

Year of Call: 1994

Year of Silk: 2019

Anya Lewis KC

Year of Call: 1997

Year of Silk: 2021

Irena Sabic KC

Year of Call: 2002

Year of Silk: 2023

Joanne Cecil KC

Year of Call: 2005

Year of Silk: 2024

Patrick Roche

Year of Call: 1977

Kathryn Cronin

Year of Call: 1980

Stephen Cottle

Year of Call: 1984

Alistair Polson

Year of Call: 1989

Navita Atreya

Year of Call: 1994

David Jones

Year of Call: 1994

Hannah Rought-Brooks

Year of Call: 1999

Helen Butcher

Year of Call: 1999

Sam Parham

Year of Call: 2000

Felicity Williams

Year of Call: 2000

Kate Aubrey-Johnson

Year of Call: 2001

Stella Harris

Year of Call: 2002

Tom Wainwright

Year of Call: 2003

Jodie Blackstock

Year of Call: 2003

Olamide Ogunrinade

Year of Call: 2004

Victoria Burgess

Year of Call: 2006

Sarah Hemingway

Year of Call: 2006

Stephen Lue

Year of Call: 2006

Jennifer Twite

Year of Call: 2006

Giles Newell

Year of Call: 2007

Lee Sergent

Year of Call: 2016

Shahida Begum

Year of Call: 2008

Helen Foot

Year of Call: 2008

Jacob Bindman

Year of Call: 2010

Emma Fenn

Year of Call: 2010

Michael Goold

Year of Call: 2010

Owen Greenhall

Year of Call: 2010

Gráinne Mellon

Year of Call: 2010

Gerwyn Wise

Year of Call: 2010

Emma Fitzsimons

Year of Call: 2011

Maria Moodie

Year of Call: 2011

Una Morris

Year of Call: 2012

Michael Etienne

Year of Call: 2012

Susan Wright

Year of Call: 2013

Tom Copeland

Year of Call: 2013

Audrey Cherryl Mogan

Year of Call: 2014

Meredoc McMinn

Year of Call: 2015

Shina Animashaun

Year of Call: 2015

Ollie Persey

Year of Call: 2017

Steven Galliver-Andrew

Year of Call: 2018

Elena Papamichael

Year of Call: 2021

Acland Bryant

Year of Call: 2019

Fatima Jichi

Year of Call: 2019

Will Hanson

Year of Call: 2021

Brenda Campbell KC

Year of Call: 2002

Year of Silk: 2018

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