Pegah Sharghy, Amanda Minto, Julie Stather and Natasha Isaac cover different hot topics in the latest Family Law Journal - Feb 2021
Julie has been practising in family law for almost 20 years and was previously in practice in London. She is a qualified family law Arbitrator and Mediator and a trainer of expert witnesses. She accepts direct access work.
She is much sought after for the experience, skill and care that she brings to proceedings. Her preparation is meticulous. She remains calm under pressure and is a down to earth, friendly and reassuring presence for clients. Her style is practical and focused. She is well respected by Judges.
Julie is well known as an author for legal periodicals, writing regularly for Family Law Week. Jordans published her Secure Accommodation Handbook in 2013.
Children (Public Law)Specialising in care proceedings, Julie has particular expertise in cases involving complex medical evidence (especially serious head injuries), chronic neglect and sexual abuse cases. Julie has an invaluable inside understanding of how local authority child care departments operate which gives her clients a considerable advantage, whether she is acting for or against a local authority.
Selected Cases
- A local authority v B [2015]: Representing local authority in a case of infant death and application for placement order for sibling. Complex case involving examination of medical records and post mortem results, with outcome changing expert evidence being obtained from the USA.
- A local authority v C [2015]: Representing the children in case of multi-generational sexual and physical abuse in a 10 day case involving several experts and three generations of family witnesses. Additional findings sought on behalf of the guardian and made.
- A local authority v H [2016]: Representing mother with chronic alcohol and substance abuse problems. Successfully argued that court should not rely on testing results of the last six months and that mother should be given a chance to prove abstinence using the innovative SCRAM device. Application for placement order (adoption) withdrawn and child remained with mother.
- A local authority v D [2016]: Representing father in case where child had a number of additional needs and father had not had the opportunity to learn properly how to meet those needs. Argued successfully that local authority evidence did not meet the new evidential requirements and adjournment and further investigation required. Case concluded with child being placed with father under a Supervision Order.
- A local authority v G [2017]: Representing local authority in case of multi-generational sexual, physical and emotional abuse with both historic and current allegations. This was a complex case requiring forensic analysis of multiple sources of evidence and questioning of several family members. Findings made on all threshold issues and care and placement orders made.
Julie is very experienced in child arrangements disputes and international relocation cases, as well as issues regarding medical treatment and schooling. She has particular expertise in difficult parental alienation cases. She is frequently instructed to represent children through their guardian in complex private law matters. Julie has a particular interest in the important relationship between grandparents and their grandchildren and has written extensively on the topic (see publications below).
Selected Cases
- A v A [2017]: Successfully represented grandfather on his application for contact in a case of parental alienation.
- D v D [2018]: Successfully represented mother in an application for contact at the conclusion of which an application was made for costs of £48,000. That application was successfully defended on the basis that the applicant for costs had been conducting the case unreasonably meaning that a final hearing was likely in any event, that the applicant’s solicitors had incurred unreasonable expense, and that it would be impossible to quantify which costs should be apportioned to whichever element of the case the Court found to have been unreasonably pursued or defended.
Julie is qualified as an Arbitrator under the IFLA scheme and arbitrates in relation to Children Act matters. She has been a qualified arbitrator since 2014 and was co-author of the paper to IFLA which assisted in the extension of the scheme to cover children’s matters. She trains pupils in arbitration practice and writes for Family Law Week on the topic (see publications below). She has presented seminars to solicitors, barristers and to CAFCASS about this important scheme.
Julie is keen to encourage parents to investigate this method of dispute resolution because of the benefits of speed and convenience as well as the significant savings in costs. She is a calm presence in an arbitration, putting parents at their case and gives fully reasoned written Determinations in a timely manner.
Julie accepts work from clients in accordance with our Public Access Scheme. You can view her profile on Barrister For Me here.
Julie Stather looks at internal relocation – avoiding the fait accompli: the difficulty of relocation cases in Family Law Journal - Jan 2021
In the January issue of the Family Law Journal, Julie Stather considers the difficulties of internal relocation cases. Find out more here. Internal relocation presents the court with a starkly...
Children Arbitration and the Family Court - Nov 2020
Today Julie Stather, MICArb, is running a short virtual session, aimed at Judges, about the Children Arbitration Scheme and how it can ease the current burden on the Family Court. She will cover: ...
Family Judge suggests non-court dispute resolution as solution to overburdened Family Courts - Sep 2020
In a much publicised and refreshing judgment, HHJ Wildblood QC has suggested that applications should not be made to the over-burdened Family Court unless they truly require Court involvement. The...
Easing the Covid-19 burden with children arbitration - Sep 2020
Julie Stather gives an overview the development of Children Arbitration and how it eases the burden on the Family Courts. Julie also discusses why clients should utilise Children Arbitration to...
How can I resolve my case quickly and remotely? When Arbitration is the answer - Jun 2020
As the world prepares to return to some form of normality, it is clear that our local courts remain overwhelmed by the backlog of work. The figures for private law applications, which have been...
1COR’s Family Law Forum begins by looking at the ‘new normal’ for family law practitioners - May 2020
The Family Team at Crown Office Row propose a series of "Family Forum" meetings providing a rolling program of the latest family law topics taking place every Tuesday afternoon. Join the 1COR Family...
Pupils Anogika Souresh and Hope Spalding undertake advocacy training for Children Arbitration - Apr 2020
Our pupils Hope Spalding and Anogika Souresh are now on their feet in their second six and receiving instructions. To build their expertise, both have completed training in advocacy for Children...
Arbitration for relocation – the extension of the Children Arbitration Scheme - Apr 2020
The Children's Arbitration scheme has now been extended to cover temporary and permanent relocation to countries which have ratified The Hague Convention and for as long as we remain bound by Brussels...
What to do about children spending time with their separated parents during COVID-19 - Apr 2020
COVID-19 is racing through the country and the nation is on lockdown. Separated parents are already dealing with the logistical difficulties caused by the closure of schools and nurseries....
Resolve your disputes remotely and without relying on the Family Court during COVID-19 - Mar 2020
COVID-19 is having far reaching effects on families throughout Sussex. Arrangements for children are being disrupted and families are not able to access the Family Court in a timely manner. 1COR is...
Celebrate National Pro Bono week with 1COR’s arbitration team - Nov 2019
As part of its commitment to supporting National Pro-Bono week (4 - 8 November 2019), 1COR is offering 3 written pro bono children arbitration determinations on a 'first come first served' basis. ...
Julie Stather speaks to delegates at Sussex Dispute Resolution Day about Child Arbitration - Jun 2019
On 13th June, Julie Stather spoke to the members of East and West Sussex Resolution at their annual dispute resolution day at Buxted Park. Her topic of children arbitration included an outline of the...
An endorsement for arbitration from Mr Justice Moor in CM v CM - Mar 2019
Mr Justice Moor has recently heard the case of CM v CM [2019] EWFC 16 which concerned financial remedy proceedings. Directions had been given for the instruction of an expert to value companies and...
Julie Stather appears in a secure accommodation case at the Royal Courts of Justice in London - Mar 2019
Julie Stather, author of the Secure Accommodation Handbook, appeared in this case in which an application was made to hold a child who was a ward of court in secure accommodation. The child had been...
1COR speak at the annual Thames Valley Family Lawyer’s Society Seminar - Mar 2019
On 20th March 2019, Amanda Minto, Anita Mehta, Julie Stather and Rebecca Davies will all speak to the Thames Valley Family Law Society (TVFLS) about different areas of Family Law which have seen...
Children Arbitration: A guide for solicitors - Mar 2019
Julie Stather, an Accredited IFLA Arbitrator, has written a guide to children arbitration for solicitors in recognition of this growing area of dispute resolution, which can relieve pressure on the...
Julie Stather considers the future of arbitration in family proceedings on Family Law Week - Feb 2019
Julie Stather looks at the recent case of BC v BG [2019] EWFC 7 and how it will effect the arbitration both immediately and in the future. You can find the full article on Family Law Week here. ...
Enhancing the rights of grandchildren to see their grandparents - Jun 2018
Julie Stather advances the case for reform of the law relating to the rights of grandchildren to see their grandparents. It is some six years since I last wrote about the position of grandparents...
Chambers are delighted to welcome Julie Stather and Rebecca Davies as new tenants - Jan 2018