About Siân
Siân is an experienced and skilful advocate specialising in financial and children matters. She is joint head of the Financial Remedies team in chambers. Siân is regularly instructed in matters of complexity, providing focussed and clear advice at every stage.
Siân is a member of the FLBA national committee (since 2016) and chairs the FLBA’s Advocacy Working Group which developed the Advocacy and the Vulnerable training for the Family Bar. Siân is one of a small number of qualified Facilitators who deliver this essential training nationally. She is therefore very well placed to cross-examine vulnerable witnesses, including children and is skilled in addressing the needs of vulnerable clients both in and out of court.
Siân is ranked as a leading junior in the Legal 500 for Children and Domestic Abuse.
Family finances
Siân has extensive experience in matrimonial proceedings and is often instructed in cases involving international elements, trusts, businesses, third party interests and hidden assets. She advises and represents clients in relation to pre and post nuptial agreement, jurisdictional issues, and in high net worth cases. Siân focuses on providing considered, clear and practical advice from the outset. She is extremely effective in achieving results through negotiation and in court. Siân is able to assist on applications for financial provision under Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989 and financial disputes between cohabitees under the Trusts of Land and Appointments of Trustees Act 1996. Siân is available to represent clients in arbitration and at private FDRs to act as a private FDR Judge.
Children
Siân is a very experienced children practitioner who puts her clients at ease whilst providing expert representation. She undertakes the full range of private law children matters often representing parents and family members in cases involving complex factual and legal issues including international and jurisdictional disputes. She has expertise in cases involving allegations of coercive control, economic, sexual and physical abuse as well as intractable contact disputes and allegations of parental alienation. Siân’s background in public law work means that she has a wide experience of cases where local authorities are involved including where there is complex medical evidence or allegations of non-accidental injury, sexual abuse, fabricated or induced illness, neglect, substance misuse and emotional abuse. She advises on applications involving specific welfare issues such as proposed relocations (UK and abroad), religious upbringing and school selection.
Recent cases
K v K
Financial remedy proceedings involving determination of third party interests in investment properties.
M v C
Complex financial remedy proceedings involving a third party application for a charging order as well as pre and post separation financial conduct allegations.
N v S
Application for variation of periodical payments orders in high net worth case.
B v W
Application for permission to relocate to the USA and cross-applications for residence.
L v P
Jurisdictional dispute between Scotland and England in children proceedings.
C v S
Non-Hague abduction wardship case involving Pakistan.
D v D
Fact-finding hearing in children proceeding concerning allegations of coercive and controlling behaviour.
- G (Children: Intractable Dispute) [2019] EWCA Civ 548
- Y (A Child) (S.38(6) Assessment) [2018] EWCA Civ 992
- P-G (Children) [2015] EWCA Civ 1025
- Hampshire County Council v A, B, C, D & E [2015] EWFC B186
Professional memberships
FLBA
Resolution