Janet 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.
In cross border jurisdictional disputes, Janet is regularly instructed on international matters to resolve jurisdictional disputes. Whilst many disputes can be resolved through mediation/consent orders, this area of law can be complex and requires clarification from the courts to be resolved.
Janet is regularly instructed by parents who wish to relocate abroad with their child/children, whether temporarily or permanently, and parents who are experiencing difficulties in reaching agreement with child arrangements following separation. She is also instructed in divorce and has particular experience and knowledge in resolving complex matters involving intractable disputes. Janet has extensive advocacy experience and regularly appears in court on behalf of her clients keen to narrow issues and resolve matters.
Whilst specialising in children matters relating to relationship breakdown Janet has extensive experience in dealing with financial disputes on divorce including those involving complex financial structures and disputes involving an international element.
Awards
Janet won the International Family Lawyer of the Year award at Family Law Awards 2014.
Reported cases
- TF v PJ [2014] EWHC 1780 (Fam) – setting aside of a Hague Convention final return order
- Re KP (A Child) 2014 EWCA Civ 554 – successful appeal to the court of appeal
- Re F (A Child) [2014] EWCA Civ 275 – appeal to the court of appeal to set aside a return order within Hague proceedings
- Re LC [2014] UKSC1 – instructed by reunite in the intervention of an appeal to the Supreme Court
- Z v Y [2013] EWHC 3381 (Fam) – return order under Hague Convention
- Case C 497/10 PPU (Case C/497/10)[2011] 1 FLR 1293 – referral to the CJEU in the case of Mercredi and Chaffe on the question of the definition of habitual residence
- Mercredi v Chaffe [2011] EWCA Civ 272 – seeking a return of a child on the basis that they were habitually resident here in England and welfare issues should be decided here
- Re U (Abduction: Nigeria) [2010] EWHC 1179 (Fam) – instructed by the respondent mother to secure substantial undertakings upon an order for return to a Non-Hague country
- Re A (Abduction: Interim Directions: Accommodation by Local Authority) [2010] 1 FLR 1 (Court of Appeal)
- Re W (Abduction: Child’s Objections)[2010] 2 FLR 1165 (Court of Appeal)
- Re I (A Child) (Contact Application) (reunite and centre for family law intervening)[2010] 1 FLR 361 (Supreme Court) – successful appeal to the Supreme Court as to whether the courts in England had jurisdiction to hear a case involving a child living in Pakistan. This case is the leading case on the European Family Law Regulation (Brussels II Revised) and the first family case to come before the Supreme Court.
- Re I (A child)(Jurisdiction: Habitual Residence outside European Union)[2009] Fam Law 1134 (Court of Appeal)
- X v X (CPS Intervening) [2005] EWHC (Fam); [2005] 2 FLR 487 –financial relief proceedings involving confiscated assets.
- Re M (A child: Residence Order) [2002] All ER (D) 226 (May)) – application to the court of appeal to set aside an order for a change in residence
- Ciccone v Ritchie (No 2) [2016] EWHC 616 (Fam) Judgments (22/03/2016)
Application for permission to withdraw proceedings under the 1980 Hague Convention. Application granted.
- Ciccone v Ritchie (No 1) [2016] EWHC 608 (Fam) Judgments (22/03/2016)
Mother’s application under the 1980 Hague Convention for the summary return of her 15 year old son to the USA. Review of the principles to be applied when considering whether to make a child a party to proceedings under the Convention.
