Tom Harrill

Family Law Barrister at St Ives Chambers

[Kirsty Brimelow KC @Kirsty_Brimelow]

“Justice is mostly a human task” - illustrating that lawyers in the same chambers can reach a different interpretation of the law.
Stéphanie Encinas from Paris Bar speaking on AI @europeanbar1

[Open Justice Court of Protection Project @OpenJusticeCoP]

"I have the Court of Appeal telling me I have to send this lady to prison, effectively”, said Mrs Justice Lieven before arranging for the child to be taken into care and the mother arrested and taken to prison.

#openjustice

https://t.co/6p9vxwxyMS via @OpenJusticeCoP

[Family Law News @familylaw]

A and B (Children) (Strangulation: Risk Assessment), Re [2025] EWFC 230 (B) (25 July 2025): Child arrangements proceedings concerning 2 children who had witnessed their father strangling their mother. Ordered that F have fortnightly supervised contact. https://t.co/1ORJPUgOZJ

[Family Law News @familylaw]

G (A Child: Scope of Fact-Finding) [2025] EWCA Civ 1044: Care proceedings. Appeals by LA & guardian against refusal to hold fact-finding in relation to the death of the mother's first baby, which had occurred 6½ years earlier. Appeals dismissed. https://t.co/zSWHp6o7VS

[Family Law News @familylaw]

F v M [2025] EWFC 208 (20 June 2025): Child arrangement proceedings, in which the children were moved from the mother to the father, following finding that the mother was preventing contact with the father. https://t.co/ccAkweDegE

[Judicial Office @JudiciaryUK]

The Court of Appeal judgment in Re S (Placement Order Contact) is now available on the judicial website: https://t.co/tis7GQ7Dix

[Tom Harrill @harrill575]

“The role of journalists in reporting on care cases is clearly in the public interest. However, care proceedings cannot be regarded as an available source of material for journalistic endeavour that has nothing to do with the aims of the open justice principle”

[Judicial Office @JudiciaryUK]

The Court of Appeal judgment in X and Y -v- BBC and others can now be found on the judicial website: https://t.co/xFnIM809kp

[Tom Harrill @harrill575]

A father’s Art 6 rights were breached where, on the evidence available, the press were informed of the application against him before he was.

No determination on the issue of ‘tipping off’, nor on the disclosure of journalistic sources (but one to watch, perhaps)

[Family Law News @familylaw]

Louise Tickle v The Father & Ors [2025] EWFC 160 (9 June 2025):
Judgment within private law proceedings concerning issue of disclosure by journalist of who had tipped them off about a hearing. https://t.co/nJIizFfigr

[Family Law News @familylaw]

https://t.co/vOjBW9mHde

[suesspicious minds @suesspiciousmin]

Serious injuries to a child in a residential assessment https://t.co/EuxTT0rwnR

[Family Law News @familylaw]

A, B and C, Re (Child Arrangements: Final Order at Dispute Resolution Appointment) [2025] EWCA Civ 55:
Appeal by mother against summary dismissal of her application for a child arrangements order at a Dispute Resolution Appointment. Appeal dismissed. https://t.co/CXYwe7w7QN

[Family Law News @familylaw]

Tickle & Anor v The BBC & Ors [2025] EWCA Civ 42 (24 January 2025):
Appeal from refusal to name judges in historic Family Court proceedings relating to Sara Sharif. Appeal allowed. https://t.co/h3sDiBpf0t

[The Bar Council @thebarcouncil]

How do you become a barrister?

We've revamped our careers webpages to help answer this very question. Our becoming a barrister hub is now a one stop shop where you'll find all you need to know, whichever stage you’re at.

Everything you need is at your fingertips, including:
- Resources, guidance and tips
- Work experience, volunteering and development opportunities
- Blogs, videos, articles and more

Take a look and begin your journey to the Bar⬇️
https://t.co/daus18FnjR

#aspiringbarristers

[Family Law News @familylaw]

X and Y, Re (Children: Adoption Order: Setting Aside) [2025] EWCA Civ 2:
Appeal by adoptive mother against refusal of application to revoke adoption orders, on basis that ct lacked jurisdiction to set aside a validly made adoption order. Appeal dismissed. https://t.co/t2EKm9fdMG

[Family Law News @familylaw]

C (A Child)(Change of Given Name) [2024] EWCA Civ 1582 (18 December 2024):
Appeal against dismissal of M's application to change name of child who identifies as non-binary from one of a male person to one commonly used by either gender. Appeal allowed. https://t.co/b9gEqID8Jd

[Nuffield Family Justice Observatory @NuffieldFJO]

In her appearance before the Select Committee yesterday Lady Chief Justice explained why the private law pathfinder is working, praising the presence of "stunning actual data" that points to shorter case lengths, and an increase in early resolution. 

She also praised the transformative impact of the Family Drug and Alcohol court, noting its strong evidence base and compelling business case.

Watch here:

https://t.co/81KPhq971O

[The Bar Council @thebarcouncil]

Civil legal aid: "There is a real crisis now as a result of decades of underinvestment... Capacity will take time to rebuild so we must start as soon as possible,” - our response to @MoJGovUK announcement on housing & immigration funding. Read more: https://t.co/b4q5kMePoi

[Tom Harrill @harrill575]

The Family Justice Response to Domestic Abuse - The Report https://t.co/AsolbCpo9N

[Family Law News @familylaw]

EF v Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority [2024] EWHC 3004 (Fam):
Application for a declaration that it is lawful for the applicant to use an embryo created using his sperm and his late wife's eggs in treatment with a surrogate. Declaration made. https://t.co/VDLidM8k28

[Family Law News @familylaw]

N, Re (Children: Fact Finding - Perplexing Presentation/Fabricated or Induced Illness) [2024] EWFC 326 (11 October 2024):
Fact-finding in care proceedings, in which the mother was found to have fabricated or induced children's illnesses. https://t.co/bKDxRyojqJ