Amanda Meusz's practice focuses on all areas of the law relating to children, including the provision of services to children and young people.
Amanda was part of the legal team who won Family Law Case of the Year at the Family Law Awards 2022. She acted for the children's guardian in the Supreme Court case of H-W (Children) (No 2) [2022] UKSC 17. Amanda was shortlisted for Family & Child Law Junior of the Year at the Legal 500 Bar Awards 2022.
FAMILY LAW: CHILDREN'S LAW
Overview
Amanda has always been interested in the rights of children in the context of legal proceedings and in the wider society. Amanda is regularly instructed to act for parents, grandparents, kinship-carers, competent children and children’s guardians in complex care cases.
Cases have involved child and parent fatalities, catastrophic injuries to a child, non-accidental head injuries, poisoning, including a number of cases of salt poisoning, FII, re-litigation of cases involving historical abuse, child sexual abuse, including intergenerational, inter-sibling, maternal abuse, internet exploitation and ritualistic sexual abuse, allegations of witchcraft, radicalisation cases, as well as cases of neglect.
In addition, Amanda is often instructed in cases under the inherent jurisdiction involving hospital trusts where medical treatment and/or end of life treatment and care is in issue. In one notable case, (Re AB(A child) [2018] EWFC 3), the LA care plan would have resulted in the child’s life coming to an end many years after the conclusion of proceedings - the child is still alive and living with his parents.
Amanda is a passionate advocate for the rights of children and the most vulnerable parents in society. She has a wealth of experience in representing parents and children who have been victims of trauma, and parents & children with mental health difficulties and learning disabilities. She also frequently acts for Gillick competent teenagers in care proceedings. Amanda has developed a trauma-informed approach to her work, along with innovative practices to assist vulnerable clients in negotiating proceedings and the aftermath of proceedings. She regularly provides training in how to best represent vulnerable clients.
Her client care is second to none, always compassionate but focused on achieving the best possible outcome for her client.
Amanda is committed to providing trauma-informed representation to survivors of domestic abuse in private and public law proceedings.
Notable Cases
Amanda won Family Law Case of the Year at the Family Law Awards 2022. She acted for the children's guardian in the Supreme Court case of H-W (Children) (No 2) [2022] UKSC 17. She was led by Cyrus Larizadeh QC of 4PB Family Law and instructed by David Barney & Co.
See press coverage: The Times
Re T (A Child) [2021] UKSC 35
The case concerned a young person placed in an unregistered secure placement insufficient where there were no places available in registered secure children's homes and the test was to be applied under the inherent jurisdiction.
Re R and S (Children) (Welfare: long-term foster care) [2022] EWFA B20
Represented a learning-disabled father in a Serious NAI case.
Central Bedfordshire Council -v- F, D, C [2022] EWFC 130
Representing the younger children in a case where serious NAHI was alleged. The court found the injury to be accidental.
Re AB(A child) [2018] EWFC 3
Representing parents of a child with significant life-limiting neurological impairment where the care plan would have resulted in the death of the child. This case had also been the subject of proceedings under the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court.
Re W (No 1) Preliminary issue scope of Hearing [2019] EWFC 75
A complex care case involving a disputed diagnosis of FASD.
Medway Council -v- Kent County Council [2016] EWA Civ 366
Re S (A Child Care Order) [2014] EWHC 529 Fam
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Court of Protection Crossover
Amanda’s experience relates primarily to cases involving 16-17 year olds who lack capacity and the crossover with the Children Act 1989, the Inherent Jurisdiction of the High Court and the Court of Protection. She has undertaken cases involving medical treatment and Deprivation of Liberty. She acted for the Applicant LA in Re T at first instance, in the Court of Appeal and UK Supreme Court.
