‘Ceri is a powerhouse. She is accomplished at handling challenging clients and managing their expectations.’
Legal 500, 2025

Experience

Year of Call: 2002

Education

(BA Hons) Oxon
Diploma in Law University of Westminster
BVC Inns of Court School of Law

Profile

Ceri is a specialist children’s practitioner, whose practice covers all areas of children law, including contact/residence disputes, public inquiries and complex public law proceedings. Clients speak highly of her robust and well prepared advocacy. She has an approachable manner and a willingness to always fight the client’s corner, whilst at the same time offering practical, sensible advice. Ceri’s priority is always achieving the best outcome for the client.

Prior to coming to the Bar, Ceri worked in Parliament for many years, which included working for the Home Secretary and running the Parliamentary Office of the then minister with responsibility for social services. She maintains a keen interest in political reform in respect of children’s law.


Private Children Law

Ceri acts for parents and children in all areas of private children law, representing parties at all levels, including  at appeal.  She frequently advises outside of Court when parties are considering whether to bring proceedings or otherwise negotiating with their ex-partner. Ceri’s practice covers the full gamut of private work, including: arguments about where a child should live and what contact they should have to each parent;  whether a child should be allowed to move or travel abroad with a parent; whether one parent’s parental responsibility should be fettered to prevent alleged harm; disputes between parents as to schooling; specialist orders determining a child’s ability to provide consent to foreign property transfer ;and consideration of the impact of Gillick competency on parental decision making.

Public Children Law

Ceri represents parents, children and their Guardians, local authorities and CAFCASS Legal and appears in cases involving, for example, allegations of sexual abuse, non-accidental injury, intractable contact disputes and factitious illness. Ceri has a particular interest in acting for older children who are separately represented, and has experience and skill in managing the sensitivities inherent  in such cases. She appears at all levels of Court, including the Court of Appeal, and has a number of reported cases.

Inquests and Public Enquiries

As junior counsel to the Isle of Man Inquiry into the Care of Young People, Ceri has specific expertise in Inquiry work. She acted in both part I and II of the Inquiry and spent a year working on the case, led by Alex Verdan KC.

International Children Law

Ceri is frequently instructed in cases with an international element and is experienced in Hague Convention matters.  She has recently been instructed on a complex High Court case in respect of difficulties that have arisen after placement under private law Orders in the USA.

Court of Protection

Ceri acts for all parties on Court of Protection cases and has been instructed against silks in these matters.

Publications/Training

Ceri frequently provides training and lectures to instructing solicitor’s firms.

Ceri was one of the primary authors of the relaunched publication of Rayden & Jackson in 2017, with responsibility for the public law section.

Professional Memberships

Family Law Bar Association
Association of Lawyers for Children
Resolution
Women in Family Law
Gray’s Inn

Directories

‘Ceri is a powerhouse. She is accomplished at handling challenging clients and managing their expectations.’
Legal 500, 2025

‘Ceri is a logical advocate. She is concise and pulls out the finite details to enhance the client’s position methodically and how the court will balance the client’s evidence whilst adopting a sympathetic yet robust manner.’
Legal 500, 2024

‘Ceri’s breadth of experience on complex medical issues, in particular neurodiversity allows her to have an insight into cases which allows her to be an authority at court and clients to feel understood and empowered. She has superb demeanour, and her holistic approach to cutting through issues works to great effect.’
Legal 500, 2023


‘Has a manner that means even the most difficult or complex advice can be easily digested by clients. Ceri has a warm yet robust approach that clients appreciate and respect.’
Legal 500, 2021

‘Is a fierce fighter who will leave no stone unturned and goes full out for her clients; she is easy to work with and always knows a case inside out.’
Legal 500, 2020

20/06/24
[2024] EWFC 141
11/06/15
2015] EWCA Civ 584
09/07/14
[2014] EWCA Civ 936