Family Justice Reformed: A Guide to the Family Court since the Children and Families Act 2014, 2nd Edition

Sarah Blackmore is a family law barrister and mediator at 37 Park Square and practices exclusively in all aspects of both public and private child care law. She is regularly instructed in serious, complex cases involving significant non-accidental injury and sexual abuse, appearing on behalf of local authorities, parents, extended family members and Children’s Guardians and often represents parents suffering from mental illness, those with severe learning difficulties as well as child parents. In addition she has extensive experience of private law disputes – dealing with issues of domestic violence on a regular basis, as well other complex cases of alleged abuse, ‘implacably hostile’ parents, child abduction and transsexual issues, both on a direct access and referral basis.

Jacqui Thomas is a family law barrister and mediator at 37 Park Square and specializes in child care law. Her experience includes the representation of Local Authorities, family members and children in complex finding of fact hearings and multi-party care proceedings concerning complex medical evidence, non-accidental injuries, head injuries, and sexual abuse. Jacqui frequently appears in private law cases and finding of fact hearings, both on a direct access basis and by referral. Jacqui has a particular interest in the representation of vulnerable parents and adults in proceedings pursuant to the MCA 2005 and inherent jurisdiction, and has advised local authorities and family members, as well as Guardians acting on behalf of children, in relation to judicial review proceedings, both in relation to the permission stage and at substantive hearings.