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Overview
Simran joined Chambers in October 2020 after successfully completing her common law pupillage. Since April 2024, Simran has been the Deputy Head of the Private Child Team.
Simran specialises in Private Children and Domestic Abuse cases and was recently ranked in the Legal500 as a “Rising Star – Tier 1” in children and domestic abuse matters.
Simran regularly conducts fact-finding and final hearings representing a parent or the child through their Guardian. Simran deals with applications for child arrangements orders and enforcement, and has been instructed on cases with an international element, jurisdictional issues, domestic abuse, substance misuse, alienating behaviours and implacable hostility. Simran handles specific issue orders for name changes, schooling and disclosure of documents, as well as prohibited steps orders to prevent removal from the jurisdiction or relocation. Simran is often instructed on injunctive relief work pursuant to the Family Law Act 1996 and Protection from Harassment Act 1997, and has experience in cases involving Forced Marriage Protection Orders.
Simran recognises that private law cases often involve complex and sensitive parties. To that end, Simran successfully completed the FLBA ‘Advocacy and the Vulnerable’ Training and over 20 CPD hours in ‘Narcissism and Family Law’ to ensure that she is skilled and effective in her cross-examination.
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Child Law Private
Simran’s practice includes acting for parents, grandparents and guardians in disputes concerning the following areas:
- Child Arrangement Orders (residence and contact)
- Specific Issue Order (including names, education and proposed relocation)
- Prohibited Steps Order
- Fact-Finding hearings
Cases of Interest:
- H v C (2024) – Represented Mother throughout proceedings in the Father’s application for international relocation of the children. The Section 7 report supported the Mother’s position that the children shall remain in the jurisdiction and thereafter one of the children successfully made an application to be joined to the proceedings.
- D v C (2024) – Represented Father in a 2 day fact-finding hearing on the Mother’s allegations. Some of the allegations, including serious physical assault and stalking, were not proven.
- D v H (2024) – Represented Mother in opposing the grandmother’s application for permission to make an application for a child arrangements order to spend time with the child. The application for permission was refused.
- K v M (2023) – Represented Mother in a 2 day final hearing where the court departed from Cafcass’ recommendation, in favour of Mother, and refused Father’s application to change the child’s school.
- H v B (2023) – Represented Mother in a 2 day fact-finding hearing where the issues centred around a covert recording.
- V v V (2022) – Represented Mother in a fact-finding hearing where Mother had made 21 allegations against the Father, including sexual assaults, controlling and coercive behaviour and criminal damage. All but 2 of the allegations were proven.
- R v R (2022) – Represented Father in a 3-day fact-finding hearing where there were cross-allegations between the parties, including allegations of serious physical harm to the Mother and child. This case involved legal argument on the use of legal judgments from another jurisdiction in the current proceedings. Many of the allegations were not proven.
- W v W (2022) – Represented Father in an appeal against a case management decision and the subsequent fact-finding hearing where some of the Mother’s allegations, including rape, were not proven.
- O v S (2022) – Represented Mother in a 2-day fact-finding hearing where all contentious allegations against the Father were proven. At the subsequent final hearing, Mother was successful in obtaining an order for indirect contact only and a S91(14) barring order, preventing further applications from being made by the Father.
- F v T (2021) – Represented Mother in a 3-day fact-finding hearing where 8 out of 9 allegations of controlling and coercive behaviour were found against Father.
- Re A (2021) – Represented Father in private law proceedings where Mother had made numerous allegations against him, including sexual assault and rape. The two-day fact-finding hearing was a hybrid case, with some parties remote and some in person, where many allegations against him were not proven.
- N v N (2021) – Represented Father in Children Act proceedings and subsequently instructed to represent the client in Finance proceedings where a final order was agreed at FDR.
- K-C v C (2020) – Represented Mother in a final hearing on the issue of contact that resulted in a consent order being approved after constructive discussions.
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Domestic Abuse and Injunctions
Simran is often instructed in cases involving domestic violence and requiring injunctions. Simran is pragmatic and thorough when advising clients on options that would protect the client and reduce the need for further hearings. A sample of cases are referred to below:
- W v W (2023) – Represented the Respondent in non-molestation order and occupation order proceedings where the matter was resolved by way of undertakings.
- Re JK (2022) – Instructed to represent the Second and Third Respondents in a case involving making a Forced Marriage Protection Order in respect of P and a final hearing regarding welfare in the Court of Protection.
- E v V (2022) – Represented the Claimant, who applied for an injunction under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 against her ex-husband’s new partner. The injunction was granted, and the Claimant successfully obtained a costs order.
- M v W (2022) – Represented the Applicant in a contested final hearing concerning her application for a non-molestation order against an ex-partner and successfully argued against a wasted costs order.
- B v M (2022) – Represented the Applicant in occupation order and non-molestation order proceedings resulting in a zonal non-molestation order being made.
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Inquests
Simran has a growing interest in inquests and accepts instructions from all parties.
- Re FJ (2024) – Instructed by the Trust in an inquest into a death involving an accidental fall.
- Re LM (2022-2023) – Instructed by a care home in both the pre-inquest review and the subsequent 3 day inquest into a death involving Covid-19.
