Peggy is an excellent child lawyer.
- Chambers and Partners, 2025
Peggy is one of the most prominent practitioners in this space.
- Chambers and Partners, 2025
Peggy Ray is renowned for the wealth of experience she brings to complex, sensitive public law disputes. Her respected practice covers cross-border abduction cases. She has further expertise in placement disputes and cases involving human rights issues.
- Peggy Ray in Chambers and Partners 2023
Peggy Ray is extremely experienced, thorough and one of the best in the business.
- Peggy Ray in Chambers and Partners 2023
Peggy Ray has a powerful and acute intelligence, and grapples imaginatively, with maturity of judgement, and (where appropriate) forcefully with difficult and challenging cases. She is a legendary class act.
- Peggy Ray in Chamber and Partners 2023
Peggy has made a real impact in children law. She is always tenacious, which is backed by her wealth of knowledge and experience.
- Peggy Ray in Chambers and Partners 2023
There is no case or situation that Peggy Ray hasn’t been in. She is a brilliant lawyer who is always calm in the most difficult circumstances.
- Peggy Ray in Chambers and Partners 2023
She is a stellar practitioner and takes a courageous approach to her cases; Peggy is known for her dedication and care to her clients.
- Peggy Ray in Chambers and Partners 2023
Peggy is known as Mrs Care – she is a real figurehead in this area.
- Peggy Ray in Chambers and Partners 2023
Even if she has to present a difficult position, she does it expertly and brings people along with her. She is very good at case planning and strategy.
- Peggy Ray in Chambers and Partners 2023
It has been incredible to work with Peggy Ray of Goodman Ray.
Her attention to detail is extraordinary. I have felt truly supported in what has been a difficult situation and because of her commitment, I have hope that our family situation can be resolved. A successful outcome for our family is everything to me and I know it is for Peggy too. I’m so grateful. I would recommended anyone to work with Goodman Ray, they are an amazing team.
- Mr G, Client of Peggy Ray
Even if she has to present a difficult position, she does it expertly and brings people along with her. She is very good at case planning and strategy.
- Client of Peggy Ray
About
Peggy specialises in complex cases concerning children. She acts for children, young people and parents involved in both complex cases between parents and in care proceedings. She also undertakes adoption and other child related cases. She works in both privately paying and legal aid cases.
For many years Peggy has been involved in shaping policy and promoting the rights of children and young people. She was closely involved in the consultation process that preceded the Children Act 1989, being Chair of the Children Committee of the Solicitors Family Law Association (now Resolution) at that time. She is frequently asked to contribute to policy consultations. She is currently involved in policy considerations concerning deprivation of liberty orders.
She regularly speaks, writes and lectures on related issues. Between 2007 and 2019 she sat as a Recorder in the Family Court.
In 2001 she was named UNICEF Child Rights Lawyer of the Year, and was the driving force behind the development of a unique website for children in care, a joint venture between Resolution and the children’s charity Action for Children (previously NCH).
Peggy was a dual American/UK citizen who settled in the UK in 1971. She co-founded Goodman Ray in 1985. Since 2014 she has been a governor of an award winning alternative provision school in London based on a systemic family therapeutic model; she is an advisory member of the Board of Just for Kids Law.
Awards
- Citywealth Magic Circle Award, Entrepreneurial Individual of the Year, 2018
- Shortlisted for Family Law Partner of the Year at the Family Law Awards, 2018
- Cornwell Award for Outstanding Contribution to Family Law, Jordan Family Law Awards, 2014
- Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year (Family), 2005
- UNICEF Child Rights Lawyer of the Year, 2001
Directories
- “Peggy is one of the most prominent practitioners in this space.”
- “Peggy is an excellent child lawyer.”
Chambers and Partners, 2025
Peggy is consistently highly recommended by the leading legal directories. She is top ranked as a leading individual by Chambers and Partners and highly recommended in the Legal 500:
- “What stands out is the strong leadership of Peggy Ray and the coherence of the family team. It always feels that behind the instruction of each solicitor, you are getting the Rolls-Royce service of the whole team. Their breadth of practice is second-to-none.”
- “Peggy Ray really is a pioneer when it comes to justice in family law. I am always utterly impressed by the kind of actions she is taking, not just on a case-by-case basis, but on matters of policy and trying to change the way the family legal system works at a government level.”
The Legal 500, 2024
- “Peggy Ray is renowned for the wealth of experience she brings to complex, sensitive public law disputes. Her respected practice covers cross-border abduction cases. She has further expertise in placement disputes and cases involving human rights issues.”
- “Peggy Ray is a titan in this field – when she says things people listen.”
- “She has such emotional empathy and helps her clients from a position of no judgement – she is remarkable.”
- “Peggy is a fantastic advocate whose energy and commitment is unrivalled.”
Chambers and Partners, 2024
- “Peggy Ray has a powerful and acute intelligence, and grapples imaginatively, with maturity of judgement, and (where appropriate) forcefully with difficult and challenging cases. She is a legendary class act.”
- “Peggy Ray is extremely experienced, thorough and one of the best in the business.“
The Legal 500, 2023
- “Even if she has to present a difficult position, she does it expertly and brings people along with her. She is very good at case planning and strategy.”
- “Peggy is known as Mrs Care – she is a real figurehead in this area.”
- “She is a stellar practitioner and takes a courageous approach to her cases; Peggy is known for her dedication and care to her clients.”
- “There is no case or situation that Peggy Ray hasn’t been in. She is a brilliant lawyer who is always calm in the most difficult circumstances.”
- “Peggy has made a real impact in children law. She is always tenacious, which is backed by her wealth of knowledge and experience.”
- “Peggy Ray is renowned for the wealth of experience she brings to complex, sensitive public law disputes. Her respected practice covers cross-border abduction cases. She has further expertise in placement disputes and cases involving human rights issues.”
Chambers and Partners, 2023
- “Peggy Ray is a phenomenal solicitor and a powerhouse who demonstrates a real warmth and instinct with clients. She has her finger on the pulse of family law, and she takes a robust, pragmatic approach towards cases.”
- “She’s a great tactician with a brilliant, strategic brain.”
- “She’s incredibly tenacious and has brilliant judgement. She relentlessly fights her client’s corner.”
Chambers and Partners 2022
- Peggy Ray – the doyenne of family law. Kind, down to earth despite being magnificent at every aspect of her role, she fights for her clients with courage and compassion‘.
- Peggy Ray is imperious as a children and human rights lawyer‘.
Legal 500 2021
- “She’s very good and has a wonderful manner. Her instincts are really thoroughly excellent. She’s also persuasive, child welfare-driven and a good fighter.”
- “She’s a very strong advocate. She will bend over backwards to help the client.”
Chambers and Partners 2021
- “incredibly empathetic and supportive”
- “clear and straightforward advice.”
Chambers and Partners 2020
- “…maintains a reputation as one of London’s foremost children’s lawyers. She has a particular specialism in public law matters, which sees her acting on behalf of children and parents in cases of severe abuse that often involve complex medical evidence. Commentators describe her as an “intellectually elegant” lawyer who “guides her clients with the benefit of much accumulated experience and real empathy.”
Chambers and Partners 2019
- ‘Peggy Ray has a powerful and acute intellect, and grapples with difficult and challenging cases.”
Legal 500 2019
Significant Reported Cases
- Re M [2020] EWHC 2103 (Fam)
- Newman v Southampton City Council & Ors [2021] EWCA Civ 437
- 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.
Professional Memberships
- NAGALRO
- ALC
- Resolution
- Law Society Children Panel
News
