1 Crown Office Row Brighton welcomes Ayisha Robertson - Aug 2025
Public Law Children/Care Proceedings
Ayisha passionately represents parents and children, through their guardians, across the spectrum of hearings from Emergency Protection Orders (EPOs) and contested Interim Care Orders (ICOs) to final hearings. She is regularly instructed in cases involving non-accidental injury, chronic neglect, physical abuse, substance misuse, mental health issues, and sexual abuse. She is trusted by her clients and is not afraid to provide firm advice when necessary.
Selected Cases
- Represented a father in a six-day fact-finding and six-day final hearing, including the cross-examination of a child witness. Her success at the fact-finding hearing led the Local Authority to change its care plan at the Issues Resolution Hearing (IRH) to one of rehabilitation of the children to her client’s care.
- Represented a mother who was a minor at the time of the Local Authority’s application. The case involved serious issues around parental mental health and cognitive capacity. Litigation lasted for two years in total and in two parts. Following the conclusion of evidence at the end of a four-day final hearing, Ayisha successfully achieved an adjournment for further assessment of the parents.
- Represented a father in a complex matter with eight respondents. The case involved multiple fathers, previous private law proceedings, regular local authority involvement over a nine-year period, and chronic neglect of the children. Proceedings concluded with Ayisha’s client’s biological child being placed in the care of the paternal grandmother under a Special Guardianship Order (SGO), with Ayisha’s client supporting his child’s care.
