Chris Barnes, Leading James Nottage, Successfully Challenges an Anonymity Order in the Matter of Tickle and Summers v BBC, PA, and Others
Judgment has been handed down today in the matter of Tickle and Summers v BBC, PA, and Others, an appeal concerning an order anonymising judges who presided over historical proceedings involving Sara Sharif and her siblings.
Chris Barnes, leading James Nottage, acted for the appellants, freelance journalists Hannah Summers and Louise Tickle, who successfully challenged the anonymity order on substantive and procedural grounds.
An additional seven members of 4PB acted for the respondents in the two-day hearing, including:
- Alex Verdan KC, leading Rebecca Foulkes, instructed by Hilka Hollmann (Dawson Cornwell), representing the Children (through their Children’s Guardian)
- Deirdre Fottrell KC, instructed by Surrey County Council
- Cyrus Larizadeh KC, leading Clarissa Wigoder, instructed by Bridget Thomson (Osborne Law), representing Urfan Sharif
- Joy Brereton KC, leading Amean Elgadhy,instructed by Sanam Khan (City Law Chambers), representing Beinash Batool
The appeal was allowed on all grounds, and represents a significant endorsement of the importance of Open Justice in the Family Courts, and the public role that Judges occupy, which means anonymity for Judges will rarely, if ever, be justified, and that other measures should be preferred which would not require a curtailment of Open Justice.
Read the full judgment here.
Jacqueline Renton to be appointed as King’s Counsel
Join us in congratulating Jacqueline Renton, who will be appointed to King’s Counsel.
Jacqueline will be formally sworn in at a ceremony on Monday 24th March 2025, where the Lord Chancellor will present Letters Patent on behalf of His Majesty The King.
Joint Head of Chambers, Charles Hale KC commented: ” We are absolutely thrilled for 4pb and delighted for Jacqueline and her family that she is to be appointed King’s Counsel. Few at the family bar deserve the accolade as much as she does. Jacqueline’s appointment takes the number of Silks in chambers to 26, a remarkable achievement!”
Jacqueline specialises in the field of international children law. Jacqueline has appeared in a significant number of the most important decisions in this jurisdiction (and abroad) relating to the development of international children law. Her cases often involve complex and novel points of law, and she has played an important role in the development of this area of jurisprudence for many years. Running alongside her international practice, she also has a substantial practice in complex and high conflict private children law disputes.
Jacqueline has been consistently ranked for many years in Band 1 of Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500, where she is commended as being “a leading barrister in the field of international cross-border children matters”, and “a phenomenal and extraordinary barrister” who “works tirelessly for clients” and is “extremely well-prepared and robust in court.”
9 members of 4PB featured in the 2025 edition of The Spear’s 500
We are delighted that nine members of 4PB have been featured in the 2025 edition of The Spear’s 500 (Spear’s Magazine), which launched today.
Judith Murray KC and Rachel Chisholm Appeared in The Times Today Discussing the Impacts of Economic Abuse in the Family Courts
In an article published in The Times, Judith Murray KC and Rachel Chisholm discuss how abusers “seek to use the court process to perpetuate further abuse”.
Their piece, titled “Family courts must not let themselves be used as tools of abuse, highlights the tactics employed by abusers, the impact on victims and the challenge facing the family court “to manage the process while guarding against attempted abusive behaviour”.
Click here to read the article.
9 Members of 4PB Appear in the Two-Day Court of Appeal Hearing in the Matter of Re: Sharif Children
9 members of chambers will appear in a two day Court of Appeal hearing 14/15 January 2025. This is an appeal from an order made by Williams J, sitting in the High Court Family Division in December 2024, relating to the historic family court cases involving Sara Sharif. In particular, The appellants challenge the decision to restrain the naming of “any Judge who heard the historic proceedings” concerning Sara Sharif and her siblings. The appeal will likely provide general guidance on the issue of transparency and the naming of judges.
The live streamed broadcast of the appeal will be accessible from the judiciary’s website.
Acting for the respondents:
- Alex Verdan KC, leading Rebecca Foulkes, are instructed by Hilka Hollmann (Dawson Cornwell), representing the Children (through their Children’s Guardian)
- Deirdre Fottrell KC is instructed by Surrey County Council
- Cyrus Larizadeh KC, leading Clarissa Wigoder, are instructed by Bridget Thomson (Osborne Law), representing Urfan Sharif
- Joy Brereton KC, leading Amean Elgadhy, are instructed by Sanam Khan (City Law Chambers), representing Beinash Batool
Chris Barnes, leading James Nottage, appears for the appellant, journalists Hannah Summers and Louise Tickle.
Barbara Mills KC Makes History as Chair of the Bar Council of England and Wales for 2025
Our very own Joint Head of Chambers, Barbara Mills KC, has made history as Chair of The Bar Council of England and Wales for 2025. Her groundbreaking appointment marks several historic firsts. Barbara becomes the first black woman and the first person of colour to hold the role, as well as leading the first all-female officer team in the Bar Council’s 130-year history, working alongside Vice-Chair Kirsty Brimelow KC and Treasurer Lucinda Orr. Barbara also becomes the first Family Law barrister in 35 years to chair the Bar since Sir Robert Johnson.
In her inaugural address, Barbara outlined her personal priorities for the year. She pledged “to raise the profile of family law and to help the Government in its mission to halve violence against women and girls.” She also emphasised the importance of embedding wellbeing as “a skill and a core part of effective practice management” and committed to making “further strides in our pursuit of equality, diversity and inclusion”.
In her closing words, Barbara drew on an African proverb from her Ghanaian upbringing: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” before inviting the Bar to “walk with [her] so we can go far together.”
Charles Hale KC, Joint Head of 4PB, commented:
“I am delighted both for Barbara and for the Bar, that Barbara has now become Chair of the Bar of England and Wales. I know I speak on behalf of all of my Chambers, her family and friends, when I say that we are incredibly proud of what she has achieved and what she will now go on to achieve! There will be young black girls who will see what Barbara has achieved, and they will be inspired to achieve themselves. That in itself is a legacy, even before the year in office is done.”