No 18 Chambers

28/08/2026

*Quarterly Children Update Webinar*
Tuesday 15th September 2026 - From 5.00pm

No.18 Chambers Children Update Webinar hosted by Sara Chalk & Elicia Davis. Sara & Elicia and members of the Children Team will provide an update of case law changes to legislation and outline any new rules in relation to private law children procedure.

The next Webinar will be held on the Tuesday 15th September 2026 @ 5.00pm

The webinar will be held via Zoom, if you would like to attend please contact [email protected]

No.18 Chambers Children Update Webinar hosted by Sara Chalk & Elicia Davis. Sara & Elicia and members of the Children Team will provide an update of case law changes to legislation and outline any new rules in relation to private law children procedure.

04/08/2026

No.18 Chambers is delighted to welcome the return of Robin Watson (2022)

Robin will be available to accept instructions from the 6th August 2026.

Robin transferred to the Bar after almost a decade in private practice as a solicitor, including as a partner specialising in employment law. He subsequently served as Head of Legal Services, Deputy Monitoring Officer and, most recently, Director of Law and Governance and Monitoring Officer for a large local authority.

As the Council's chief legal adviser, Robin advised elected members, senior officers and HR on a broad range of legal matters, including employment, constitutional and public law. He also led legal teams across employment, child protection, contracts and commercial, adult social care, property and litigation.
Having instructed counsel as both a solicitor and chief legal adviser, Robin understands what professional clients expect from counsel.

Robin accepts instructions in employment, private family law and civil litigation. He is also available to accept appointments as an independent investigator in workplace and local government matters.

Robin transferred to the Bar after almost a decade in private practice as a solicitor, including as a partner specialising in employment law. He subsequently served as Head of Legal Services, Deputy Monitoring Officer and, most recently, Director of Law and Governance and Monitoring Officer for a la...

03/08/2026

Family Listing Guidance Update

The Family Listing Guidance was first issued by Sir Andrew McFarlane (then the President of the Family Division) in February 2024. The guidance is designed to assist leadership judges in their oversight of the courts and the welfare of judges; to provide a consistent, standard source of guidance for new and less experienced judges; and to promote consistency, where appropriate, across the family justice system.

Read more here:

The Family Listing Guidance was first issued by Sir Andrew McFarlane (then the President of the Family Division) in February 2024.

31/07/2026

Gary Fawcett (1975) looks at Re H 2026 EWFC 106 (B) (Adoption of Child aged 18 at date of order)

This was an application by a sole adopter (H’s uncle) to adopt H under the Adoption and Children Act 2002, s 51; the requirements in s 49 as to domicile/habitual residence being met.

Gary writes how this case is "an unusual situation of someone of H’s age wanting to be adopted, but it is a case where the judge carefully weighed up all the factors, and made a decision in H’s interests, both physical and psychological".

Read here:

Sometimes you get a judgement that is well worded and hard to précis in under 1000 words, and I found that to be the case here. Consequently, if ‘something is lost in the translation’ forgive me for that, or not, as you will!

30/07/2026

If you didn't know there has been another update from Mr Justice Peel: Standard Orders – July 2026

Discussions have taken place between the Standard Orders Group and the Legal Aid Agency (“LAA”) with a view to updating the recitals in the Standard Orders concerning the family advocacy scheme so as to provide the necessary information needed by the LAA to process claims for fees quickly and efficiently.

As a result of these discussions, the LAA has updated its document “The Family Advocacy Scheme: Information for the Judiciary” in edition 4 which was released in April 2026.

Document found via our website:

Discussions have taken place between the Standard Orders Group and the Legal Aid Agency (“LAA”) with a view to updating the recitals in the Standard Orders concerning the family advocacy scheme so as to provide the necessary information needed by the LAA to process claims for fees quickly and ef...

14/07/2026

No.18 Chambers Employment Seminar 2026

Our Employment Seminar is aimed at those currently practicing all aspects of Employment law and those who are otherwise interested.

We are planning on an informative and relaxed seminar at £41 per person (incl of VAT) for 5 hours’ CPD. We will be holding this seminar on 18th September 2026 at Double Tree by Hilton, Bracken Place, Chilworth SO16 3NG.

Click here to find out more about this seminar:

Our Employment Seminar is aimed at those currently practicing all aspects of Employment law and those who are otherwise interested. We are planning on an informative and relaxed seminar at £41 per person (incl of VAT) for 5 hours’ CPD. We will be holding this seminar on Friday 18th September 2026...

06/07/2026

News Flash: Re YZ (Declaration of Parentage: BATUK: DNA Evidence) [2026] EWHC 1601 (Fam) by Amelia King

This case concerns the paternity of a child, “YZ”, in Nanyuki, Kenya. The mother, and a number of other mothers in that area, claimed that the biological fathers of their children were British servicemen from the British Army Training Unit in Kenya.

A powerful reminder of the weight the courts place on DNA evidence in parentage disputes.

Read here: https://www.no18chambers.com/news/case-summary-re-yz-declaration-of-parentage-batuk-dna-evidence-2026-ewhc-1601-fam

01/07/2026

Stop Press: Tracey Hennessey (2001) & Richard Carroll (2006) appear in the Court of Appeal in Re: A, B and C (Children: Perpetrator Finding) 2026.

Tracey Hennessey, instructed by Catherine Young of Churchers Solicitors and led by Lucy Hendry K.C. of 3PB Barristers
&
Richard Carroll instructed by Chris King of Biscoes Solicitors and led by Aiden Vine K.C. of Harcourt - Family Law appeared in A, B and C (Children: Perpetrator Finding) [2026] EWCA Civ 219 involving care proceedings and an appeal by mother against finding that injury to child was inflicted by her.

Read here: https://www.no18chambers.com/news/stop-press-tracey-hennessey-2001-richard-carroll-2006-appear-in-the-court-of-appeal-in-re-a-b-and-c-children-perpetrator-finding-2026

For the full judgment: https://caselaw.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ewca/civ/2026/219

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30/06/2026

No18 Chambers is delighted to welcome back Sarah Barber (2018) to full time practice

As of the 13th July 2026, we will be welcoming back Sarah to full time practice.

Sarah is a family and child law specialist Barrister and was called to the Bar in 2018. Sarah joined chambers in 2020 after the successful completion of pupillage within chambers. Sarah was seconded to a London Local Authority for 3 years undertaking complex care, adoption, and deprivation of liberty matters, maintaining her Door Tenancy with chambers throughout this time.