Practice Areas
Direct Access
Awards
Pro Bono Recognition List (2024)
LexisNexis shortlist: “Family Law Young Barrister of the Year” (2018)
Hubert Greenland Scholarship (2016)
Winner of the Bar Council’s Law Reform Essay Competition (2014)
Family Law Prize, Kaplan (2014)
International Criminal Court Scholarship, Lincoln’s Inn (2014)
Lord Denning Scholarship, Lincoln’s Inn (2014)
Hardwicke Entrance Award, Lincoln’s Inn (2014)
‘Charlotte is a phenomenal advocate, incredibly hardworking and meticulous in her preparation.’
Legal 500, 2025
‘Passionate and completely on top of the case law. Her great skill set and superior client service relax all around her.’
Chambers and Partners, 2025
Experience
Year of Call: 2014
Education
University of St Andrews, MA (Hons) English Literature
The University of Law (Chester), Graduate Diploma in Law
Kaplan Law School, Bar Professional Training Course
Profile
Charlotte specialises in complex children disputes. Her expertise includes international cases in the High Court (including child abduction, FGM, forced marriage and surrogacy), and those cases which involve the most serious allegations of domestic and sexual abuse, and controlling and coercive behaviour. She has extensive experience of advising and appearing in internal and international relocation cases, especially those with tricky factual backgrounds.
She is recognised as a leading junior in both Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500 where she is commended for her strategic approach, meticulous preparation and formidable advocacy.
Since becoming a tenant at 4PB in 2017, Charlotte has been instructed in some of the key appellate cases instrumental in shaping children law, both in the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. She has acted for a number of charities and NGOs as interveners in such matters and is always happy to discuss similar opportunities as they arise. In addition to her work in the Family Court, she was instructed in the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse and has a keen interest in matters which feature an overlap between the Family Court and other areas of law.
Charlotte is part of the Child Abduction Lawyers Association Committee and is a member of the Centre for Women’s Justice legal reference panel. She accepts instructions on a direct access basis where appropriate.
International children law
Charlotte has been described in the Legal 500 as “An exemplary junior with an outstanding knowledge of international matters. Charlotte is a go-to barrister for advice in relation to relocation matters and cross-border disputes”. She has appeared in some of the leading cases on international children law, including the following cases in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court:
– London Borough of Hackney v P & Ors [2023] EWCA Civ 1453
– C v M (A Child) (Abduction: Representation of Child Party) [2023] EWCA Civ 1449
– Re R (A Child: Asylum And 1980 Hague Convention Application) [2022] EWCA Civ 188
– G v G [2021] UKSC 9
– Re B (A Child) (Abduction: Habitual Residence) [2020] EWCA Civ 1187
– Re E (Biia: Recognition And Enforcement) [2020] EWCA Civ 1030
– Re S (A Child) [2020] EWCA Civ 923
– In the Matter of NY (A Child) [2019] UKSC 49
– Re G-E (Children) (Hague Convention 1980: Repudiatory Retention & Habitual Residence) [2019] EWCA Civ 283
– Re S (Abduction – Hague Convention or BIIa) [2018] EWCA Civ 1226
Charlotte maintains a busy practice in the High Court focussing on child abduction cases and international child protection matters, including cases which feature allegations of FGM, forced marriage and honour-based violence. Some of her recent appearances in the High Court, representing parents and children, include the following:
– T v V & Anor [2022] EWHC 3692 (Fam)
– P v O [2023] EWHC 2128 (Fam)
– Re D & Anor [2023] EWHC 2129 (Fam)
– C v M & Anor (No 1 Hague Abduction: Application for Re-hearing) [2023] EWHC 1482 (Fam)
– C v M & Anor [2023] EWHC 1182 (Fam)
– Re P (Inherent Jurisdiction Return: Return Order: Welfare Analysis) [2023] EWHC 225 (Fam)
– Re P (Inherent Jurisdiction Return: Allegations of Female Genital Mutilation and Domestic Abuse: Fact Finding) [2022] EWHC 1722 (Fam)
– ES v DS [2022] EWHC 3397 (Fam)
– H v R & Anor [2022] EWHC 1073 (Fam)
– NP v DP (Hague Convention; Abducting Parent Refusing to Return) [2021] EWHC 3626 (Fam)
– VR v YD & Anor [2021] EWHC 2642 (Fam)
– Re E (A Child) (Mediation Privilege) [2020] EWHC 3379 (Fam)
– Re M (A Child: Hague Convention) [2020] EWHC 3340 (Fam)
– WX v YZ & Anor [2020] EWHC 1782 (Fam)
– Re AB v EM (Jurisdiction Foreign Custody Order) [2020] EWHC 549 (Fam)
Private children law
Charlotte is frequently instructed in cases where there are serious allegations of domestic abuse, sexual abuse and controlling and coercive behaviour. She appeared in the leading Court of Appeal case on coercive control: Re H-N and Others (Children) (Domestic Abuse: Finding of fact hearings) [2021] EWCA Civ 448. She is always pleased to be instructed at an early stage of the litigation and to advise on strategy, in particular with regards to evidential issues.
In addition to her domestic abuse practice, she is well versed in representing applicants and respondents in internal and international relocation cases, including to non-1980 Hague Convention countries where she is able to draw from her international child abduction practice. Charlotte has delivered seminars on preparing such applications (and defending them) to solicitors’ firms.
Charlotte understands that private law children disputes are acutely stressful for those involved in them and is well recognised in the legal directories for her client care skills. She is as comfortable representing high net worth clients as she is those in receipt of legal aid.
In addition to Re H-N, she has appeared in the following private children law cases in the Court of Appeal:
– Re G (Children) (Supervised Contact) [2023] EWCA Civ 1453
– Re B (A Child) [2022] EWCA Civ 1439
– Re A, B and C (Children: Nesting Arrangement) [2022] EWCA Civ 68
– Griffiths v Tickle & Ors [2021] EWCA Civ 1882
Professional Memberships
Family Law Bar Association
Association of Lawyers for Children
Child Abduction Lawyers Association
Resolution
Directories
“Passionate and completely on top of the case law. Her great skill set and superior client service relax all around her.”
“Charlotte Baker is such a promising young talent and really takes a sophisticated approach to her work.”
“Charlotte Baker exhibits brilliant attention to detail and provides superb client care.”
Chambers and Partners, 2025
‘Charlotte is a phenomenal advocate, incredibly hardworking and meticulous in her preparation.’
Legal 500, 2025
‘Charlotte is a tenacious and formidable advocate while possessing the skills to understand and empathise with her clients. She has a phenomenal knowledge of the law. Her advice and input into a case are always invaluable. As an advocate, she is fearless. She is always well-prepared and strategic in her approach, her cross-examination is meticulous, and she leaves no stone unturned.’
Legal 500, 2024
“Extremely intelligent and takes a forensic approach to cases. Her advocacy skills are excellent and her submissions are very impressive.”
“Charlotte is a force of nature. Clients feel that she stands up for their interests and she is tenacious in getting a successful outcome for them. She doesn’t sugar-coat issues for clients and they know where they stand with her: what you see is what you get.”
“She’s very thorough and her paperwork is just as good as her advocacy.”
Chambers and Partners, 2024
“Charlotte Baker is a capable children’s junior whom clients warm to as she’s very approachable. She’s both good at the paperwork and on her feet in court.”
“Charlotte’s client care is very strong. She’s on top of everything and always keeps the solicitor updated.”
Chambers and Partners, 2023
‘Charlotte is a master of detail and picks up relevant points very quickly. She is very supportive of those instructing her in preparing any case.’
Legal 500, 2023
Family law barrister gaining recognition for her children law practice. She is praised for advising on modern family matters including surrogacy, and is notable for her work on wardship cases. She also concentrates her practice on cross-border abduction and leave to remove disputes.
Strengths: “Sympathetic but proactive in advising on how to move cases forward. She is full of sensible, pragmatic advice.” “Charlotte is empathetic, reassuring, responsive and someone who has the clients’ best interests at the forefront of her mind.” “Charlotte Baker is kind, understanding and able to calm client nerves.”
Recent work: Represented Bristol City Council in the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.
Chambers & Partners, 2022
‘An exemplary junior with an outstanding knowledge of international matters. Charlotte is a go-to barrister for advice in relation to relocation matters and cross-border disputes.’
Legal 500, 2022
Top Tier
Rising Star
‘Is simply fantastic; a very skilled advocate, immaculately prepared and totally client-focused.’
Legal 500, 2021
Top Tier
Rising Star