Barristers

Connie joined Chambers in April 2020.

Connie regularly appears in public and private law children matters and she is also instructed in domestic violence injunction proceedings. Connie has undertaken an array of hearings from ex parte applications for non-molestation and occupation orders to lengthy contested finding of fact and final hearings.

Before studying law, Connie read Financial Mathematics at Newcastle University. Thereafter, she completed the GDL at the University of Law and was awarded a Dean’s Award Scholarship for the BPTC at Northumbria University. Whilst at the latter, Connie undertook pro bono family law cases at their Student Law Office and won an international human rights internship a non-profit organisation, Lawyers Without Borders, in the USA.

Upon her return to the UK, Connie worked as a County Court Advocate on the North Eastern Circuit and a parliamentary assistant to the Rt Hon Alan Johnson (then MP) at the House of Commons. She then joined a solicitors’ firm to work as a family law paralegal.

Prior to joining Chambers, Connie successfully completed a mixed family and criminal law pupillage. During the same, Connie prosecuted in the Magistrates’ Court and was regularly instructed by defence solicitors for both Magistrates’ and Crown Court hearings. She advised and represented Defendants in respect of serious offences including knife point robbery and GBH.

Connie represents Local Authorities, parents and children and has appeared at all stages of care proceedings through to contested final hearings. She has experience of cross-examining expert witnesses and has dealt with serious cases involving sexual abuse, non-accidental injury, neglect, substance misuse and mental health difficulties.

Connie has a professional yet considerate nature enabling her to build a successful rapport with lay clients who are often in difficult and emotional circumstances.

Notable Cases

NELC v M & H (2021):
Represented (as Junior Counsel, led by Jacqueline Thomas QC) a Local Authority in a finding of fact hearing which spanned multiple weeks and involved serious allegations of sexual abuse of the children. Following the finding of fact hearing, Connie became sole counsel instructed on behalf of the Local Authority through to conclusion of the case and all final orders sought by the Local Authority were granted by the Court.

Connie has regularly represented parents in private law children proceedings. She has experience in cases involving allegations of all forms of domestic abuse, including controlling and coercive behaviour, serious domestic violence and rape, and allegations of physical, emotional and sexual abuse of children.

Connie works collaboratively with instructing solicitors and lay clients to obtain the best possible outcome.

Notable Cases

H & H v F & F (2021):
Connie represented the applicant maternal grandmother and maternal uncle, who had previously been granted permission to apply for a Child Arrangements Order, in a 5-day finding of fact hearing. The Court found that the serious allegations made against the maternal grandmother and maternal uncle were not true and that the child had been encouraged to make false allegations.

C v O & Others (2021):
Connie represented one of the respondent mothers in a 23-day finding of fact hearing which involved 3 separate sets of consolidated proceedings. The Court made serious the findings of controlling and coercive behaviour and physical and sexual abuse sought by the respondent mothers and a non-molestation order to protect Connie’s client. The issue of similar-in-fact evidence was fully engaged.

Domestic Violence Injunctions
Connie has experience of both seeking and opposing applications for non-molestation and occupation orders.

Member of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple.
Member of the Family Law Bar Association.
Member of the North Eastern Circuit.

Newcastle University, Financial Mathematics BSc (Hons), 2013
University of Law, Graduate Diploma in Law, Distinction, 2014
Northumbria University, Bar Professional Training Course, Outstanding, 2015

In her spare time, Connie likes travelling, watching football and going to the gym. Connie is often found at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as she is a (reluctant) season ticket holder.