About
Provided by Payne Hicks Beach LLP
Payne Hicks Beach Family includes some of the most highly regarded practitioners in children law and has been involved in some of the most high profile and cutting-edge cases in the children law field.
We are highly experienced in advising parents and acting on their behalf in relation to all legal matters concerning children, from applications for child arrangement orders to dealing with internal and international relocation applications and are accustomed to liaising with practitioners in other jurisdictions. We are experienced in dealing with child abduction and in public law cases where social services have become involved. We also have a well established modern families division focusing on surrogacy, adoption and Court of Protection work.
We understand that disputes concerning children are delicate and emotional that require sensitive handling. Our priority in most cases will be to seek a resolution without recourse to the courts but we are equally well versed in pursuing cases vigorously through the courts when needed. We recognise that every family is unique and that a bespoke solution to meet particular circumstances is essential. We endeavour to conduct matters relating to children with the minimum amount of acrimony, recognising at all times that after proceedings the familial relationships will remain.
We put our client's best interests at the heart of everything we do and this is never more important than in the highly emotive arena of children law.
Chambers Review
The family team at Payne Hicks Beach advise clients on private children matters in addition to handling high-value financial disputes. The team garners recognition in particular for its cross-border work, including Hague Convention proceedings, as well as its focus on highly contentious Children Act cases.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Payne Hicks Beach is a quality outfit with a reputation that speaks for itself."
"They bring dedication and interest to their cases and understand that each one is foremost a client’s story, not just another case."
"Payne Hicks Beach is a quality outfit with a reputation that speaks for itself."
"They bring dedication and interest to their cases and understand that each one is foremost a client’s story, not just another case."
Notable Practitioners
Harriet Errington advises on a wide range of children law matters, including international relocation and abduction cases. She also has specialist knowledge in surrogacy law.
"Harriet's attention to detail is excellent and she is extraordinarily good with clients, punchy in her correspondence and robust when she needs to be."
"Working with Harriet is like having your own personal legal superhero. She's strategic, kind and incredibly supportive."
"She's got this calm, reassuring vibe that just puts you at ease. It's like having a friend in your corner, someone who's not only wicked smart but also genuinely cares about what you're going through."
Sarah Williams heads the modern family team at Payne Hicks Beach and is deeply knowledgeable on the law surrounding fertility, surrogacy and adoption. In addition to this, she advises clients on private child disputes concerning contact, residence and welfare issues.
"She is one of the go-to lawyers in the country for anything alternative family related. She is very efficient and she sees the bigger picture."
"Sarah brings the qualities and experience of her time at the Bar and employs it very appropriately in her position as partner. She has exceptional client care."
"Sarah is extremely adept at dealing with tricky modern family matters. She is very much at the cutting edge of case law and her client care is phenomenal."
"Sarah wears her heart on her sleeve and she works incredibly hard for her client. She really goes the extra mile for them."
Ranked Lawyers at
Payne Hicks Beach LLP
London (Firms)
Members
Provided by Payne Hicks Beach LLP
Alex Curran
Aoife Devereaux
Ben Parry-Smith
Camellia Buckmaster
Charlotte Skea-Strachan
Evelyn Collins
Fiona Shackleton
Isabella Savill
Katie Parkes
Kelly Gerrard
Laura Hallahan
Luke Scarratt
Marina Fitzalan Howard
Matthew Booth
Nick Manners
Head of Department
Orlaith Devereaux
Philip McGuirk
Rachel Tiffen
Simon Beccle
Victoria Hingston