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Eleanor Suthern

Barrister

Prior to joining chambers Eleanor volunteered with the National Centre for Domestic Violence and Mencap.

Eleanor has a multi-diverse practice and navigates complex issues through her meticulous preparation and commitment to the case at hand. She is committed to promoting access to justice for vulnerable people and adopts an empathetic approach to her practice. She prides herself as being compassionate and able to build a positive rapport with clients, whilst also providing clear and straightforward advice.

Eleanor provides advice and delivers seminars to local practitioners, including local authority solicitors and social workers on legal updates and best practice guidance.

Public Law Children

Eleanor frequently appears on behalf of all parties, including the local authority, parents, the guardian and intervenors throughout all stages of proceedings, including interim removal hearings and multi-day final and finding of fact hearings. She has experience in dealing with cases with the following issues:

  • Neglect
  • Physical, emotional and sexual abuse
  • Non-accidental injury
  • Domestic abuse
  • Substance misuse
  • Mental health
  • Clients with learning difficulties and capacity issues
  • Fabricated induced illness
  • Non-accidental head injuries (NAHI) / shaken baby allegations (acting as junior counsel)

Eleanor frequently deals with cases involving the deprivation of liberty of children.

 

Private Law Children

Eleanor accepts instructions on behalf of parents, extended family members and children at all stages of private law proceedings. She has experience with multi-day final and finding of fact hearings, often involving allegations of domestic abuse, parental alienation and physical, emotional and sexual abuse of children.

 

Court of Protection: Health and Welfare

Eleanor is regularly instructed by all parties in deprivation of liberty cases and section 21A applications. She is happy to provide advice at all stages of proceedings and is frequently instructed to prepare statement of facts and grounds. Given her mixed practice, Eleanor has an interest in cases where there are also family law issues.

 

Education law

Eleanor often appears before the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability) for appeals brought under the Children and Families Act 2014. She accepts instructions from local authorities, governing bodies and proprietors, and private client solicitors.

Case Law Update: Surrogacy and Step-Parent Adoption Applications

Co-author of Spire Barristers’ family Law and Public Law Newsletters

The University of Liverpool Law Review, October 2021, Volume 7: ‘Sex Workers and the Law

  • Board of Governors at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance
  • Family Law Bar Association
  • Court of Protection Bar Association
  • Court of Protection Practitioners’ Association
  • Member of the Honourable Society of Middle Temple (Winston Churchill Scholar)
  • The Legal 500 2026, Rising Star, Family: Children and Domestic Violence - ‘Eleanor is a fantastic advocate, her communication skills are very good and she is always willing to assist between hearings when needed. Eleanor is empathetic but firm with the more difficult clients, including those with language barriers, mental health difficulties, or both, and her preparation for hearings is always second-to-none meaning she knows her case inside out.’
  • The Legal 500 2026, Rising Star, Court of Protection - She is very hardworking, with extensive knowledge of the law. A junior who is very confident in the courtroom.'

“Eleanor is a fantastic advocate, her communication skills are very good and she is always willing to assist between hearings when needed. Eleanor is empathetic but firm with the more difficult clients, including those with language barriers, mental health difficulties, or both, and her preparation for hearings is always second-to-none meaning she knows her case inside out”

- Legal 500 2026

Articles from Eleanor