Chambers & Partners 2014 - A family law specialist who receives instructions on a number of complex care proceedings, including allegations of sexual abuse and contested placement orders.
Naomi specialises in a whole range of children related disputes with an emphasis on complex public law cases concerning non-accidental injury to children and sexual abuse. She is ranked as an individual in Chambers & Partners 2013 and appears in all tiers of the court. She is hard-working and persuasive in court and is dedicated to providing a professional and friendly outlook, putting clients at their ease.
Naomi is an ADRg trained Family Mediator.
Naomi is approved by the Ministry of Justice to undergo Mediation Information and Assessment Meetings.
Naomi has a particular interest in Judicial Review claims but also offers mediation to public bodies and individuals as a means of reaching settlements where possible, as an alternative yet conciliatory approach to court proceedings being initiated.
As part of her Court of Protection practice, Naomi further deals with vulnerable adults who lack capacity under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, care, contact and residence issues, appointment of deputies and disputes over registration of powers of attorney, deprivation of liberty, forced marriage and medical treatment decisions.
The Financial remedy work which Naomi is experienced in includes claims between spouses, civil partners and cohabiting couples. Naomi is familiar with issues involving intervenors, pensions, inherited wealth, business assets, multiple properties and enforcement.
R-E (Children)  EWHC (Admin) 1348 - Representing Children's Guardian supporting the Father's appeal. The Local Authority opposed the Father's appeal to review the finding that he had sexually abused his daughter. Appeal allowed - Thorpe LJ and Black LJ consider review of findings to be undertaken as part of the ongoing care proceedings and considered the Guardian's position to be the most significant.
Re: B  - Junior Counsel for Local Authority in two month case concerning factitious illness and upper airway obstruction resulting in the death of two children. Findings made against the mother. Mother appealed. Appeal dismissed by Court of Appeal.
R (on the application of H) and Kingston upon Hull City Council  EWHC 388 (Admin) - Within care proceedings, grandparents who had care of the children were told that the Local Authority were going to remove them within a matter of hours having placed the children there in the interim with seemingly no concerns. The claimant mother sought judicial review alongside the grandparents and father. Declarations were made that the Local Authority had acted unlawfully in making the decision to remove and that the Local Authority had a duty to consult and it had failed to do so.
This was a significant issue to be tried in that it was the first case of its kind to use Judicial Review as a means to challenge the removal of children within care proceedings.
Naomi has presented a number of seminars to solicitors and other professionals in aspects of Family Law and in Court of Protection, contributing to recent Chambers seminars across Yorkshire and the Humber.