International Children’s Law

Chairperson

Mani Singh Basi

Mani Singh Basi is a Barrister at 4PB and Managing Editor of Family Law Week. He is a specialist in international child abduction disputes and has appeared in 80 published judgments, in the High Court or Court of Appeal.. He has won many awards including the 2025 International Family Lawyer of the Year award,  2023 Family Law Junior Barrister of the Year award, the 2024 Legal Aid Barrister of the Year award, the 2024 Legal Personality of the Year winner and the 2022 Legal Commentator of the Year award. He is also an author in respect of books across different topics of family law.

The Hon Mr Justice Williams

The Hon Mr Justice Williams was called to the Bar, Inner Temple, in 1990, and took Silk in 2013 and was a barrister at 4PB. He was appointed a Recorder in 2016 and High Court Judge, of the Family Division, in 2017. He has presided over many significant international child abduction cases during his time as a full time High Court Judge

Anita Guha KC

Anita Guha KC, a barrister at 7BR, is a specialist in all areas of children law and international family law and was ranked as a Leading Junior for many years by Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 prior to her appointment as Kings Counsel in March 2024.

Kitty Geddes

Kitty Geddes, a barrister at 7BR has developed a strong practice on a broad range of matters. Kitty has appeared in the High Court in international family law cases and also has represented parties securing forced marriage protection orders.

Professor Rob George KC

Professor Rob George KC, a Barrister at Harcourt Chambers and a Professor of Law & Policy, University College London is a leading expert on international family law, particularly in relation to relocation disputes, child abduction, jurisdiction, and international and domestic surrogacy cases. He has published numerous books and papers on these subjects, and been involved with many of the leading cases in related areas.

Paige Campbell

Paige Campbell, a barrister at Harcourt Chambers is an award-winning barrister having received the ‘highly commended’ award in the Young Barrister of the Year Category in 2021 and 2023.

Paige specialises in all aspects of child law, both private and public as well as international. Paige has experience acting on behalf of clients at all stages of proceedings including in complex, multi-day fact-finding hearings, final hearings and in international cases in the High Court.

Carolina Marín Pedreño

Carolina Marín Pedreño is a Partner and Head of Children Department at Dawson Cornwell. Carolina is an award winning “International Lawyer of the Year” and The Times “Lawyer of the Week”.   Her family law practice includes specialisms in international child abduction, registration and enforcement of foreign contact orders, leave to remove, child arrangement disputes and public law cases.

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Edward Bennett

Edward Bennett, a barrister at Harcourt Chambers whose practice focuses on international disputes concerning children or vulnerable adults.

He is a member of the Legal Working Group of the leading child abduction charity Reunite and of the Head of International Family Justice’s International Family Law Committee.

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Janet Broadley

Janet Broadley, a Consultant at Goodman Ray Solicitors specialises in domestic and international family law, particularly matters involving children.  She has specific expertise in child abduction involving Hague Convention and non Hague Convention countries. Janet is accredited by Resolution as a specialist children lawyer in child abduction matters and is regularly instructed by the International Child Abduction and Contact Unit but is increasingly instructed by respondents within these proceedings.

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James Netto

James Netto is a Partner at The International Family Law Group LLP. He specialises in all areas of children law, with particular expertise in international children matters. James is highly experienced in cases concerning the international movement of children. He is a specialist in international parental child abduction cases and is regularly instructed by the parents and children within the UK and abroad, as well as by the Central Authority.

Forum Shah

Forum Shah, a Partner at Dawson Cornwell LLP specialises in private and public children law, with particular expertise in international child abduction and relocation. She receives instructions directly from the International Child Abduction and Contact Unit (ICACU). She acts for both Applicants and Respondents in cases concerning the 1980 Hague Convention, as well as the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court/wardship and non Hague Convention countries.

Kim Lehal

Kim Lehal is a Partner and Head of the International Children department at RWK Goodman in London. She has been an accredited specialist in International Child Abduction and Children Law by the Law Society Family Law Advanced panel since 2013 and is a highly regarded expert committed to supporting families through complex international legal challenges. She is a specialist acting exclusively in all aspects of international and domestic children law, including international child abduction, relocation proceedings, and complex family disputes.

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Stephen J. Cullen

Stephen Cullen is head of Family Law & Private Clients Group at Miles & Stockbridge, based in Washington D.C. Stephen is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and the International Academy of Family Lawyers. He represents parents and children in state, interstate, UCCJEA and international family and child law cases and is an expert on the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.

Oscar Smith

Oscar Smith is a Partner at Expatriate Law.  He advises clients on a wide range of family law including the financial and children issues which arise upon the breakdown of a relationship in married or unmarried couples. Oscar is experienced advising clients that have an international element, with a particular interest in cases within the EU.

Gemma Lindfield MCIArb

Gemma Lindfield MCIArb is a barrister and arbitrator (children scheme) at 5SAH specialising in family and extradition. Gemma has particular expertise in international cases, particularly where there are multiple jurisdictions here and abroad. Gemma is well known for her ability to tenaciously advance arguments in complex cases where there is no clear precedent.

Mark Smith

Mark Smith is a barrister at 5SAH practising in family, extradition, and immigration law. He has particular expertise in cases involving cross-border issues and parallel proceedings across multiple jurisdictions. Mark regularly appears in cases with an international element before the Family Division and in extradition appeals before the Administrative Court.

Niamh Wilkie

Niamh Wilkie, a barrister at 5SAH practices exclusively in family law. Prior to joining the Bar in England, she worked as a Barrister and in other legal disciplines in the Republic of Ireland, the Middle East, and the USA. Niamh holds a specialist qualification in international arbitration. Within her private children practice, Niamh is regularly instructed on international child abduction cases and relocation cases. Niamh has experience with both Hague Convention and non-Convention proceedings concerning child abduction.

Iwona Durlak

Iwona Durlak is a Co-Founder and Senior Partner at IMD Solicitors LLP and an expert in international family law. She specialises in high-value financial settlements, cross-border divorce, and complex child relocation and abduction matters. Iwona frequently represents clients in high-stakes, multi-jurisdictional disputes, and is recognised for her strategic, client-centred approach.

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