Family/Children Law: Public Law Matters
UK Guide 2025 : UK-wide
Band 2
About
Provided by Duncan Lewis Solicitors
The Family and Child Care department, based across England and Wales, are experts in all aspects of family and child care law. The department offers representation in a wide range of matters, including care proceedings, deprivation of liberty, FGM, culturally complex cases, and act through guardians’ cases involving self-harm.
The team are also regularly appointed by guardians to represent babies and young children in cases involving serious non-accidental injuries and factitious illnesses, also assisting in cases where a child has passed away due to alleged harm.
Many of the clients represented by the team are extremely vulnerable, including those with mental health difficulties, and victims of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse.
The London based team includes Solicitor Advocates, and Law Society Children Law panel members, many of whom are also members of the Association of Lawyers for Children, and/or members of Resolution. Collectively the panel members have a significant following of Cafcass guardians and are one of the most instructed firms in London by Cafcass.
Duncan Lewis is also one of only a select number of firms that are on the International Child Abduction & Contact Unit (ICACU) referral list. ICACU is responsible for administering Hague Convention (Child Abduction) proceedings work in England. The team also includes the founding member of the Child Abduction Lawyers’ Association.
Visit Duncan Lewis Solicitors’ website for further information.
Chambers Review
Duncan Lewis Solicitors has a reputable family practice which garners praise for its public children law expertise. The department has experience in care proceedings involving mental health issues and FGM, among other complex matters, and is bolstered by additional strength in deprivation of liberty cases. The firm's lawyers frequently act on behalf of vulnerable clients as well as guardians.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"I felt supported by Duncan Lewis all the way through my case. They are hard-working and nothing is ever too much trouble."
"Duncan Lewis is brilliant and has got junior solicitors who are also great to work with and a testament to the firm."
"I felt supported by Duncan Lewis all the way through my case. They are hard-working and nothing is ever too much trouble."
"Duncan Lewis is brilliant and has got junior solicitors who are also great to work with and a testament to the firm."
Notable Practitioners
Emine Mehmet regularly represents vulnerable clients and third parties in highly sensitive public law cases involving such issues as abuse allegations and mental health.
"Emine has a high attention to detail, understands the brief and is robust. She doesn't step away from ensuring she gets what she needs for the case."
"Emine is an excellent lawyer and works extremely hard for the children she represents. She is reliable, knowledgeable, committed and a pleasure to work with."
Alia Lewis is adept at advising on public care proceedings and has a particular focus on cases concerning neurodivergent children. She runs the firm's specialist neurodiversity unit within its child care team.
"Alia is very thorough and efficient, with particular awareness around special needs cases."
"Alia is a gifted and tenacious lawyer who has a real speciality in representing parents and children who are neurodiverse. She is alive to all their challenges and is a tireless fighter for them."
"Alia is a fantastic lawyer who is incredibly well prepared on cases."
Ranked Lawyers at
Duncan Lewis Solicitors
UK-wide
Members
Provided by Duncan Lewis Solicitors
Adeeba Naseem
Alia Lewis
Amanda Willmore
Emily Wright
Head of Department
Forida Hakim
Genet Amare
Jasbir Raindi
Julie McNamara
Kathy Walker
Krina Parmar
Head of Department
Laila Bhunnoo
Mandeep Kaur Benning
Mindy Chall Mehat
Olamide Olayemi
Head of Department
Rupinder Jagdev
Shazia Rana
Sophie Fretten
Vanket Appalakondiah