Public Children Law Virtual Conference 2026

HH Stephen Wildblood KC

Stephen Wildblood KC, Editor-in-Chief of Family Law Week, was the Designated Family Judge for the Bristol area for ten years before stepping down in November 2023. He practiced at the Family bar for 27 years, the last 8 ½ in silk. Stephen has extensive experience in all areas of family law, with particular expertise in public law children cases, including care proceedings and local authority matters.  He has written in over 20 legal textbooks on issues of family law and often lectures on the full range of family issues. He continues to sit, part-time, in the Family and High Courts.

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.

Dr Freda V Gardner

Dr Freda Gardner is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist who has worked therapeutically with children, adults, and families for over 30 years. Dr Gardner works with complex presentations including developmental trauma, attachment difficulties, and other mental health and psychological difficulties. Dr Gardner has clinical experience and theoretical knowledge in a range of psychological models and interventions.

Dr Gardner also provides assessments for the family courts in respect of mental health and psychological state, risk assessment, cognitive functioning and assessment of capacity.

Cleo Perry KC

Cleo Perry KC, a barrister at 4PB, is a specialist children’s law barrister. She is widely recognised for her expert handling of difficult cases involving complex evidence, allegations of violence or abuse and cases involving an international element, including removal from the jurisdiction. She is also highly in demand within public law proceedings, including those with complex medical and factual backgrounds and allegations of very significant harm.

For more information about Cleo click here

Shiva Ancliffe KC

Shiva Ancliffe KC, a barrister at Coram Chambers, is an established tenacious silk, specialising in all aspects of private law children cases and public law care cases. 

She also has considerable experience in public law care proceedings and undertakes complex cases including non-accidental injury, serious sexual abuse, and factitious illness. Her practice also involves, forced marriage, child abduction and adoption.  

For more information about Shiva click here.

Tim Parker KC

Tim Parker KC is a barrister, arbitrator and mediator specialising in family law, inquests and the Court of Protection at Deka Chambers. Tim’s public law child practice concentrates on proceedings involving fatality, non-accidental injury and sexual abuse. In addition he advises on Human Rights Act claims arising from family proceedings, deprivation of liberty applications, special guardianship, placement or relocation of children overseas, foreign adoptions, judicial review of local authority decisions and forced marriages.

For more information about Tim, click here.

Dorothea Gartland KC

Dorothea Gartland KC, a barrister at 4PB, is a leading silk and specialist in the law in relation to children.

In public law care proceedings she is instructed on behalf of Local Authorities, parents and most often on behalf of the children through their Children’s Guardian in the most serious types of care proceedings involving allegations of sexual abuse, child sexual exploitation, serious injury and honour based violence.

For more information about Dorothea click here.

Christopher Poole KC

Christopher Poole KC, Barrister and Joint Head of Chambers at New Court Chambers, practises family law, focussing on cases involving children. In public law proceedings, Chris often represents the Local Authority or the children / Children’s Guardian. Chris is regularly instructed in complex cases against Silks and leading juniors both at first instance and on appeal.

For more information about Chris, click here.

Imogen Mellor

Imogen Mellor, a barrister at 4PB, is a specialist children barrister and court of protection barrister. She is ranked as Up and Coming at the Family Bar by Chambers and Partners (2025) and ranked by Legal 500 as a Rising Star at the Family Bar (children and domestic abuse) (2024 and 2025) and Court of Protection (Health and Welfare) (2025).

Imogen has acted as sole counsel in care, private children proceedings and international cases at the High Court. She has also been led on complex cases.

For more information about Imogen click here.

Srishti Suresh

Srishti Suresh, a barrister at Coram Chambers, is a specialist children law practitioner. She is sought after for her approachable manner, no-nonsense advice, and commitment to de-escalating conflict and reaching a sustainable conclusion. She has an eye for detail, and is particularly experienced with vulnerable clients and cases involving complex cultural considerations.

For more information about Srishti click here.

Laura Hibberd

Laura Hibberd, a barrister at Deka Chambers, is instructed in a range of civil, criminal and family matters. Her varied practice provides for a versatile advocate; she has experience of multi-day trials and discrete applications across each practice area.

Laura’s family practice is predominantly public care work. She frequently appears for Local Authorities, parents, grandparents/interveners and guardians in all aspects of public care cases and emergency applications including Deprivation of Liberty applications.

For more information about Laura, click here.

Hannah Nielsen

Hannah Nielsen, a barrister at 7BR, is a barrister with a broad Family Law practice in Private Law Children, International Family Law, Care, Adoption, Family Finance, Divorce, Forced Marriage and Surrogacy. Hannah appears in the Family Courts and the High Court, with experience acting alone and as a junior in both. She has extensive experience of multi-day fact findings and final hearings involving serious allegations of abuse and cross-examination of experts.

For more information about Hannah click here.

Jemimah Hendrick

Jemimah Hendrick is a barrister at New Court Chambers who practices in all areas of family law, including public and private law children, financial relief and TLATA.

Jemimah also undertakes work in the Court of Protection.

For more information about Jemimah, click here.