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Overview
For the majority of his 27 years as a solicitor (initially in Brighton but mainly in Kent) Stuart specialised in children law, having been a member of the Children Panel since 1985 and conducting advocacy at FPC, County Court and High Court levels. Following his transfer to the Bar in March 2007 he practised at 4 Brick Court (the chambers of Janet Mitchell), a specialist family law set in London, until moving West and joining Albion Chambers in August 2010. Since 2007 he has appeared on a number of occasions in the Court of Appeal and once in the House of Lords.
Stuart has vast experience in both public and private law children work, with a particular interest in the former. He travels throughout the Western Circuit (and sometimes beyond) representing parents, children (on direct instructions and through Children’s Guardians), local authorities and other parties in care proceedings, other public law Children Act work and applications concerning adoption.
He has frequently been involved in lengthy and complex fact-finding hearings at High Court level, relating to child deaths, non-accidental head injury, other serious physical abuse, FII and sexual abuse.
Not least because of his experience as a solicitor, Stuart believes strongly in the benefits of early involvement in proceedings, of continuity of representation and of working as a team with his clients and instructing solicitors.
Stuart has been led by a number of senior KCs and has himself conducted several heavyweight cases as a leading junior. His caseload is such that he often finds himself opposed by King’s Counsel.