Practice Areas
Direct Access
Awards
Family Law Awards - Case of the year Winner
‘Cyrus is an outstanding family silk. He is calm and measured with excellent client care skills, and his advocacy is poised, focused and devastating.’
Legal 500, 2025
Experience
Year of Call: 1992
Year of Silk: 2016
Education
BA (Kent)
Dip Droit Francais (Bordeaux)
Cyrus was educated at Harrow School, the University of Kent and the University of Bordeaux
Rothschild Scholarship (Harrow)
Hallett Prize for Law (Kent)
Languages
French, Persian
Appointments
Chair of the Family Law Bar Association 2020-2021
Contributing Editor of Rayden and Jackson on Children Law
Mentor and Advocacy Trainer for Inner Temple
Master of the Bench, Inner Temple 2018
Profile
Cyrus Larizadeh KC specialises in the most serious and complex Public and Private Law cases in all matters relating to children. He has a well known expertise in complex relocation cases and private law cases in which allegations of abuse are made and in which parental alienation is an issue. He is a recognised national leader in cases involving sexual and emotional abuse, highly complex medical cases relating to FII and allegations of abusive trauma and causing death to children. He has an extensive practice in the fields of family related media injunctions and medical treatment and end of life cases. He is well known for his calm, thorough and exceptional advocacy and excellent strategic approach. He is also extremely effective with Direct Access clients. He represents parents, children and local authorities in the most serious and intractable of proceedings at all levels of tribunal but in particular the High Court.
Cyrus represented successfully the Access to Justice Foundation in Re S (2015) UKSC 20 on appellate costs. He acted for the alleged killer of Baby P and successfully challenged the medical evidence in the recent Effie Stillwell case – the first case involving EDS IV. Cyrus has appeared in many ground breaking and guideline cases including the MI5 / radicalisation case of Re X Y Z (2016) EWHC 2400 and the end of life case of Re AB (2018) EWFC 3 before Munby P and RL v Nottinghamshire CC (2022) EWFC 13 on reopening of findings of fact. He was successful in Re H-W (2022) UKSC 17 dealing with proportionality in care orders.
Cyrus was invited by the Attorney General of Anguilla to present at their Justice Reform Conference in 2018 and to advise on the drafting of their Child Protection Bill. He has trained a delegation of social workers, medical staff and police in evidence gathering in alleged child abuse cases in the Eastern Caribbean and was appointed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to embed the litigation guardian system in Bermuda.
Cyrus led the Family Law Bar Association during Covid and helped set up the ground breaking remote family court, the FLBA advocacy and vulnerable training programme and the FLBA student/pupil scholarship scheme.
He is a Member of the Magic Circle.
Professional Memberships
Family Law Bar Association
Directories
‘Cyrus is an outstanding family silk. He is calm and measured with excellent client care skills, and his advocacy is poised, focused and devastating.’
Legal 500, 2025
“Cyrus is laser-focused in court and the sort of advocate judges listen to.”
“His outstanding strength is his cross-examination skill.”
“He is an actual magician inside and out of the court.”
Chambers and Partners, 2024
“He is extremely personable and helpful and is always willing to go the extra mile.”
“His humanity shines through in the work he does.”
“He genuinely has a desire to do a good job for the clients.”
Chambers and Partners, 2025
“Cyrus’ advocacy skills are extremely good, and he goes above and beyond for his clients. He is friendly and approachable and always makes clients feel at ease.”
Legal 500, 2024
“A hard worker who is excellent on the law and very charismatic in court.”
Chambers and Partners, 2023
Cyrus is always impeccably prepared and leaves no stone unturned in support of his client’s case. He is fearless in court but an amiable oponent. He combines an assuring presence for his client with tenacious advocacy.’
Legal 500, 2023
“Cyrus has an unassuming quality and is both affable yet devastating in cross-examination.” “He brings passion, commitment and strategic thinking to every case.” “He’s meticulous in his preparation.”
Chambers & Partners, 2022
‘Extraordinarily insightful and robust in equal measure, Cyrus is a one-man masterclass in representing parents in serious non-accidental injury and fabricated and induced illness cases.’
Legal 500, 2022
A specialist children law barrister well versed in non-accidental injury matters. He represents parents and local authorities in international and domestic cases including those concerning factitious illness disputes and placement orders.
Strengths: “Cyrus is a bundle of energy and ambition.” “He is superb in cross-examination.”
Chambers & Partners, 2021
‘A conjurer in court and simply wonderful to see in action. When he stands up to talk, people listen.’
Legal 500, 2021
A specialist children law barrister well-versed in non-accidental injury matters. He represents parents and local authorities in international and domestic cases including those concerning factitious illness disputes and placement orders.
“Very thorough and imaginative in his approach to testing the evidence and problem solving.”
Chambers & Partners 2020
‘Is a skilled advocate who fights his client’s corner with determination and flair.’
Legal 500, 2020
‘A highly organised and skilled advocate.’
Legal 500, 2019
‘Excellent client care and preparation.’
Legal 500, 2017
‘His advocacy is second to none and he always knows the facts of the case inside and out.
Legal 500, 2016
‘Thoroughly charming and a delight to work with.’
The Legal 500, 2015
‘Brilliant forensic skills; his analysis of evidence is sharp and on point.
The Legal 500, 2014
Commonly called upon to handle high-profile and complex sexual abuse and non-accidental injury matters.
Expertise: “Very good; he is a calm and competent advocate.”
Chambers & Partners 2014
Recomended as a Leading Junior in the area of Children law
The Legal 500, 2013
Private and public children law specialist Cyrus Larizadeh is commended for his “excellent courtroom manner.” His recent matters have included a number of cases arising from sexual, physical and emotional abuse.
Chambers and Partners 2013
The ‘meticulous and excellent’ Cyrus Larizadeh – has ‘in-depth knowledge of all aspects of children law, and specialist knowledge of cases involving sex offences or allegations of sexual abuse’.
The Legal 500, 2012
Cyrus Larizadeh handles public law children matters. His cases often involve non-accidental injury and sexual abuse.
Chambers and Partners 2012
Recommended as a Leading Junior in The Legal 500, 2011
Cyrus Larizadeh excels at care cases involving non-accidental injury and complex medical evidence.
Chambers & Partners 2011
Cyrus Larizadeh offers a ‘meticulous approach’ and is ‘well respected by judges’.
The Legal 500, 2010
Cyrus Larizadeh is a good all-rounder who is “conscientious, thorough and knowledgeable.”
Chambers & Partners 2010
A “terrific lawyer” who is enthusiastic and knowledgable about his work,” Cyrus Larizadeh earns the respect of both peers and clients. Complex care proceedings form the mainstay of his practice, with a particular emphasis on matters involving sexual abuse and non-accidental injury.
Chambers & Partners 2009
Cyrus Larizadeh makes his debut in the tables this year, having stood out from the crowd in protracted cases concerning care proceedings. “Working at an incredible level of detail and completely on top of the papers,” observers report that he is also “very good on his feet.”
Chambers & Partners 2008