Ralph Marnham

Practice Areas

Direct Access

Direct Access

Awards

Lord Bowen Scholarship
Lord Denning Scholarship
Hardwicke Entrance Award
School of Law Diploma Prize

Experience

Year of Call: 2019

Education

BA (Hons), History (First Class), Trinity College Dublin
MA, International Relations and Defence, University of Paris II, Panthéon-Assas
GDL, Oxford Brookes
BPTC, City University

Languages

French (Bilingual)

Appointments

GLD Junior Junior scheme

Profile

Ralph joined Chambers in October 2020 following successful completion of his pupillage under the supervision of Andrew Powell, Lucy Cheetham and Harry Gates. Ralph specialises in public, private and international children law, as well as the law relating to surrogacy. He has experience appearing at all levels in the Family Court, the High Court and the Court of Appeal. He is known for his empathetic, constructive, and practical approach.

 

Ralph has also worked as a judicial assistant in the Family Division of the High Court. Before joining Chambers, he worked as a family paralegal at TV Edwards where he gained experience in all aspects of family work. He has volunteered as an advocate and independent visitor for the National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS), as a refugee support caseworker for the British Red Cross, at the Personal Support Unit (now known as Support Through Court) and as a prison mentor for young offenders.

Prior to coming to the bar, Ralph worked in management consultancy and public relations. He is bilingual in French having worked and studied in Paris. In his spare time, he enjoys cycle touring, tennis and running.


International Children Law

Ralph has a busy practice in child abduction cases and regularly appears in the High Court on applications under the 1980 Hague Convention, Wardship and the Inherent Jurisdiction. He has been instructed on a number of reported cases, including Re M (A Child)  [2020] EWCA Civ 992, a seminal case on the scope of the High Court’s parens patriae jurisdiction to protect British children abroad.

Private Children Law

Ralph is regularly instructed in complex private law cases, representing parents, children and grandparents at all stages of proceedings, including fact finding and final hearings. He frequently acts in cases involving relocation, allegations of parental alienation, intractable hostility and domestic violence. He has successfully appealed final orders and has experience in enforcement proceedings.

Ralph is particularly interested in the developing area of surrogacy law and has represented parties at final hearings on applications for parental orders in the High Court.

Public Children Law

Ralph has an active public law practice. He often represents parties in proceedings that involve non-accidental injury, sexual abuse and deprivation of liberty. Ralph has acted as junior counsel in complex High Court cases, and has experience in issues relating to capacity and mental health.

Inquests and Public Inquiries

As a pupil, Ralph worked on the IICSA inquiry (Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse), Children in the care of Lambeth Council strand. Ralph assisted 4pb barristers who were representing the core participant, Lambeth council.

Publications/Training

Alongside his practice, Ralph frequently delivers lectures to solicitors and has assisted with the expert witness training of paediatricians at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.

Professional Memberships

Lincoln’s Inn
Family Law Bar Association
Association of Lawyers for Children
Young Legal Aid Lawyers