I specialise in public law proceedings where there are Local Authority concerns that a child or children are suspected to be at risk of harm. I deal with child protection conferences, public law outline meetings,  care proceedings at court and everything that entails.  I began my legal career in the Crown Prosecution Service in London. I worked with them for 7 years and dealt with all aspects of criminal law, specialising in domestic violence and child abuse cases in South London. I was seconded to the Old Bailey (central criminal courts) for a 2-year period and dealt with the most serious of criminal cases.

In 1997, I moved to the Northeast and began defence work in criminal law.

In 2000, I joined a solicitors working predominantly in criminal and mental health law and became a partner in 2004. I am an accredited Mental Health Panel Lawyer and worked with people subject to detention under the Mental Health Act for the last 20 years.

Over the last 5 years, I have worked in care proceedings as detailed above, gaining accreditation on the Law Society Children’s Law Panel. I retired from the partnership in May 2024 and began working with Watson Woodhouse in September 2024.

Whilst a partner at another solicitors firm, I was the Law Society Training Principal for trainee solicitors.