Katie is a partner in the Family team and a children’s law specialist. She is one of only a few family law solicitors in the jurisdiction who only practices in children’s law and domestic abuse cases. She is an expert in complex private children’s law cases, acting for parents, grandparents and other family members regarding arrangements for children. Katie predominantly acts in cases where there is high conflict, substance misuse, criminal allegations or convictions, abuse towards a child or other parent, or mental health issues. She is an expert in relocation (moving the child within or outside of the jurisdiction) and child abduction, including preventative measures.
What was your career path to your current role?
I attended Warwick University – BA/QD in Law and Business. I wasn’t 100% sure whether I wanted to be a lawyer or go into business so I combined the two. The business aspect of my degree (as well as being brought up in a family business) has helped my law career too, in terms of building and managing teams and people.
I then went to law school in Chester. Afterwards, I went straight into my training contract in Manchester. After six months, I started in family. I worked for the managing partner, who was head of family. He was hugely well known and respected. His approach was to throw me in the deep end – sink or swim! I stayed in family for the rest of my training contract – 18 months. I did public law work (when children are taken into care by the local authority). It was an eye-opening experience. I was working directly on cases, meeting other professionals and doing my own advocacy as a trainee. It made my career.
I then went to work at a specialist family law boutique firm in Cheshire. The owner specialised in international children work and he taught me all about this. I practised solely in children law from being newly qualified.
I was then approached to start a specialist children law department at another firm. I joined in August 2018 – just me as a children lawyer. By 2024 I had built a team of nine specialist children lawyers. I was head of department and joint youngest partner.
I was then approach by Knights and joined, as a partner, for a new, exciting challenge.
Did you have any other career ambitions?
My father had plans for me to take over the family construction business but that wasn’t for me. I was the first in my family to go to university and to go into law. I wanted to be in the police but was talked out of it by family, mainly my mum who worried about the safety of the role.
I wanted to be a lawyer but also more than this – to develop junior lawyers and manage teams.
What keeps you motivated in your work?
Seeing the transition from clients at the start, who are at the worst point in their lives, to the end, where things are resolved.
What has been the best development in family law in the last 20 years?
Children law hasn’t changed much in the last 20 years. The legislation is from 1989. The best developments are cases that come out that help give guidance on how we should apply the legislation.
And the worst?
A lot of people will say the presumption that a child should have a right to see both parents, on the basis that it is safe, was the worst development. This changed the law to bringing in a presumption. This is now being reversed – the court will consider whether it is safe and appropriate for the children to have a relationship with both parents – there will be no presumption. This is quite a controversial area.
If you could bring in one new piece of legislation for the sector, what would it be and why?
Legislation is unlikely to be brought in. Guidance is the most important thing in children law. I would like more guidance around fact find hearings.
What piece of legislation would you take off the statute books and why?
There is only one piece of main legislation for children law so I can’t remove that one! I think it needs updating though.
What’s the best piece of advice anyone ever gave you regarding your career?
I remember someone saying to me, “You can take a horse to water but you can’t make it drink”. That always stuck with me as when I was younger, I would worry that I was giving advice and clients sometimes wouldn’t take it or they would do things that would negatively affect their case and it would really worry me. I use this phrase: “You can only do so much.”
What advice would you like to give to someone just starting out?
Children law is very quick paced. It is easy to become overwhelmed by it, particularly as a young lawyer. The most important thing is to take time out – even five minutes to walk round the office or, better still, outside, and then come back. Make a list, break it down into what needs to be done this morning, this afternoon, what can wait until tomorrow, etc. Small chunks.
Tell us something people may be surprised to know about you…
In my work, I haven’t ‘lost’ a relocation case (I’ve probably jinxed this now!). On a personal level, I’m a huge Man City fan.
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