Public Law Children

• Reagan is recognised as a leading junior in public law children proceedings and is frequently instructed in complex and high-stakes cases involving the most serious allegations. She acts for local authorities, parents, and children through their guardians, and her practice regularly encompasses issues of inflicted injury, fabricated or induced illness (FII), long-term physical and emotional abuse, and serious sexual abuse.
• Her approach is calm, measured, and forensic. She has extensive experience in managing multi-week fact-finding hearings, cross-examining expert medical witnesses, and dealing with overlapping criminal investigations. Reagan’s clarity of analysis and strategic focus make her a trusted advocate in cases where the evidential landscape is intricate and the stakes for all parties are exceptionally high.
• Reagan is particularly skilled in cases involving parents with learning difficulties or disabilities, ensuring their participation is meaningful and that the court process accommodates their vulnerabilities. She is equally adept in cases raising complex cultural or religious issues, applications for forced marriage protection orders, and matters requiring the involvement of the Official Solicitor.
• Her work frequently involves High Court proceedings, including those concerning non-notification in relinquished-baby cases, disclosure restrictions, and applications relating to medical treatment or placement abroad. She has appeared successfully in the Court of Appeal, most notably in H-D-H (Children) & C (A Child) [2021] EWCA Civ 1192, where she achieved clarification of the test for determining which allegations should be litigated within care proceedings.
• Reagan’s insight into local authority processes—shaped by her previous role as in-house counsel—adds an additional layer of understanding to her representation. Whether acting for parents, children or local authorities, she combines meticulous preparation, empathetic client handling and robust advocacy. She is known for her ability to maintain balance and perspective in emotionally charged cases, offering practical, well-grounded advice and advocacy that is consistently trusted by both lay and professional clients.

Private Law Children

• Reagan has extensive experience in private law children proceedings, acting in cases that demand both sensitivity and firm advocacy. She represents parents and guardians in disputes involving child arrangements, relocation, domestic abuse, parental alienation and jurisdictional issues, including cross-border disputes.
• Her understanding of the emotional dynamics within private law litigation allows her to strike the right balance between firmness and empathy. She is often instructed in cases where there are concurrent or linked public law proceedings, or where the court requires an experienced advocate capable of handling serious allegations with precision and discretion.
• Reagan is well versed in applications under sections 7 and 37 of the Children Act 1989, as well as in cases involving findings of coercive control, emotional harm, and complex safeguarding concerns. She provides clear, pragmatic advice and is adept at identifying constructive outcomes that minimise conflict and promote stability for children.
• Her previous experience as in-house counsel for a local authority gives her particular insight into how children’s services approach case management, assessments and safeguarding decisions. This knowledge enables her to give incisive advice about how local authority involvement may affect private law disputes and to help clients navigate those interactions effectively.
• Reagan’s calm authority, clear communication and child-centred focus make her a trusted advocate in this area of practice. She is valued for her ability to defuse hostility where possible, yet present robust and persuasive submissions when litigation is unavoidable.

Injunctions

• Reagan is frequently instructed to represent vulnerable clients in applications for Non-Molestation Orders, Occupation Orders, Forced Marriage Protection Orders and Female Genital Mutilation Protection Orders. She is acutely aware of the sensitivity and urgency these matters require and has extensive experience dealing with both without-notice and on-notice applications in the Family Court and High Court.
• Her approach combines compassion with precision. She ensures that clients who have experienced abuse, coercive control or cultural pressures feel supported and protected throughout proceedings, while maintaining a clear focus on evidential requirements and procedural fairness. Reagan is adept at gathering and presenting evidence swiftly and effectively, often within demanding timescales.
• She is particularly alert to the need to protect vulnerable parties from re-traumatisation during court processes and ensures that appropriate special measures are in place. Her understanding of how injunction proceedings frequently overlap with private and public law children matters allows her to provide cohesive, strategic advice that safeguards both clients and children.
• Reagan’s expertise in this field, together with her calm and reassuring advocacy style, makes her a trusted practitioner in protection cases. She is known for balancing empathy with firmness—protecting clients from harm while presenting cases with clarity, efficiency and professionalism.

• Chambers & Partners 2026 – ‘A highly regarded children family law practitioner. She handles the full gamut of children law work, including public and private law, international cases and child abduction. She receives particular praise for her expertise in cases involving LGBTQ+ issues.’
• Legal 500 2026 – Reagan is often the first choice for instruction in difficult or unusual matters. Reagan is searingly intelligent, hard-working and dedicated to providing an exceptional service to clients, her advocacy is excellent, calm and confident, and she is robust and pulls no punches in her advice.’
• Chambers & Partners 2025 –  “Reagan is beyond excellent. She is an all-rounder. Her advocacy skills are focused and sharp, her preparatory work is second to none and her written work is concise, accurate and fair.”
• Legal 500 2025 – ‘Fierce and flawless in her advocacy, she approaches all her cases with vigour. With Reagan on your side, you’re in safe hands.’
• Legal 500 2024 – ‘Reagan is a robust advocate who goes above and beyond.’
• Legal 500 2023 – ‘Reagan is a force to be reckoned with – extremely capable and diligent. She is fierce, confident and fearless in court.’
• Legal 500 2022 – “An impressive advocate with a strong eye for detail. She is calm in and out of the courtroom. Conscientious and compassionate, she builds very good rapport with clients and judges.”
• Legal 500 2021 Rising Star – “Reagan’s mind works fast, and draws on the specificity of the case, which is incredibly useful in cases where there are related proceedings, siblings, have been long hearings and there is a lot of detail to draw on. She is confident, which puts the client at ease, especially where other representatives are partisan and can make professional clients feel intimidated or under attack.”

H‑D‑H (Children) & C (A Child) [2021] EWCA Civ 1192

• In this landmark appeal, the Court of Appeal unanimously addressed the scope of fact-finding in care proceedings, reaffirming that the test in Oxfordshire County Council v DP, RS & BS [2005] EWHC 1593 (Fam) remains the guiding authority.
• Reagan Persaud was instructed for the Appellant local authority. In the “C (a child)” appeal she successfully argued that findings should proceed, leading to the Court allowing that aspect of the appeal and clarifying how necessity and welfare-planning criteria apply when deciding which allegations should be litigated.
• This decision highlights her capacity at senior appellate level and her expertise in managing high-stakes, technical children law appeals.

A Local Authority v Y & Anor (Notification of the Father & Relatives) [2023] EWHC 2040 (Fam)

• The High Court considered an application by a local authority under Part 19 of the Family Procedure Rules seeking a declaration that notification of the child’s father (and wider family) was not required before adoption by consent.
• Reagan was instructed by the applicant local authority and had to address the procedural importance ofurgency in such applications.
• The judgment underscores her expertise in adoption/notification cases, strategy, and procedural law in the care system.

Re F (Assessment of Birth Family) [2021] EWFC 31

• This case involved an infant child subject to care proceedings where the mother herself had been adopted. The court was asked whether the local authority had a statutory duty to assess members of the mother’s birth family as potential carers.
• Reagan appeared (on behalf of the local authority) and addressed the arguments about consanguinity, realistic options and the extent of the duty to assess ‘original family’ members. The judgment held that there was no automatic duty and emphasised that assessment must be justified on the individual facts rather than presumed.
• This decision further reflects her strength in nuanced public law children practice, particularly where the family dynamics and legal relationships are complex and non-standard.

A Local Authority v The Mother & Ors [2024] EWFC 229 (B)

• A contested final hearing focused on the emotional wellbeing of three children impacted by a parent with narcissistic personality traits. (B) designation.
• Reagan was instructed by the applicant in this emotionally and factually complex case, bringing her skill in managing high-conflict dynamics, safeguarding issues and the interface of adult personality disorder and child welfare.
• This case further showcases her ability to handle public law children proceedings with intricate adult vulnerabilities and multi‐layered family issues.

• Fee-paid Judge of the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber)– 2025 – present
• Deputy District Judge– 2024 – present
• Freelance Tutor, BPP University – 2020; 2025 – present
• Presenter, MBL Seminars – 2022 – present
• ICCA Accredited Advocacy Trainer– 2024 – present
• Contributor and Author for Family Law Journal, Family Law Week, and Counsel Magazine – ongoing
• Member, Association of Lawyers for Children (ALC)– 2022 – present
• Elected Member, Bar Council– 2021 – 2024
• Committee Member, Family Law Bar Association (FLBA)– 2021 – 2024
• Member, Bar Council Equality, Diversity & Social Mobility Committee– 2021 – 2024
• Examiner/Assessor, Bar Professional Training Course – 2019
• Public Access Accredited Barrister– 2017 – present
• Member, The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple– 2013 – present
• Member, North Eastern Circuit– 2015 – present

• “Let the child speak: forgotten considerations around children giving evidence in care proceedings” [2024] Fam Law 777
• “Supporting parents with learning difficulties in care proceedings: Part Three – The final hearing challenge”[2024] Fam Law 129
• “Supporting parents with learning difficulties in care proceedings: Part Two – The process of assessment and teaching” [2023] Fam Law 1496
• “Supporting parents with learning difficulties in care proceedings: Part One – Good practice in the first few weeks of proceedings” [2023] Fam Law 1251
• “The treatment of transgender individuals in the Family Court – Good practice” [2023] Fam Law 97
• “Practical guidance: how social care should work with a family whilst potential non-accidental/inflicted injuries are being investigated – Part 1” [2021] Fam Law 1322
• “Practical guidance: how social care should work with a family whilst potential non-accidental/inflicted injuries are being investigated – Part 2” [2021] Fam Law 1553

• “The DNA test says… you are not the father: Guidance for local authorities when paternity causes chaos” (October 2025)
• “The Family Court’s jurisdiction in care proceedings involving children who have come to the United Kingdom following the commencement of the war in Ukraine” (April 2023)

• “How to effectively interact with trans people throughout the justice system” (May 2023)

• “A history of LGBTQ+ rights in the UK: remembering the past to inform the future” (February 2024)