Profile
Adele currently accepts all instructions in Family, Civil and Criminal Law and has a particular keen interest in developing her Family and Civil areas of practice.
Adele is keen to promote access to justice for all clients and is committed to a Legal Aid practice in Criminal, Civil and Family matters. In her career thus far, Adele has dedicated time to providing pro-bono legal services with various institutions, including the Vocalise and Griffin Projects at Gray’s Inn, the National Centre for Domestic Violence and the Birmingham Community Law Centre. Having worked with a wide-cross section of society, Adele has a natural ability to build rapport and to adapt her style to suit clients’ individual needs. Through these experiences, Adele has already built extensive experience in representing vulnerable clients.
Family
First Six
During the first half of pupillage, Adele gained experience in wide areas of Chambers’ practice, including advising in matters that are sensitive and raise complex issues.
Adele can advise on cases that include but are not limited to those with an international dimension, domestic abuse, substance misuse and financial remedy proceedings. The areas of Family Law that Adele had exposure to and assisted with during her first six are:
- Domestic Violence and Abuse;
- Parental Alienation;
- Applications under the Hague Convention and Inherent Jurisdiction;
- Children in Care proceedings including Supervision, Interim and Final Care orders and Discharge/variation of the same;
- Divorce and Nullity and;
- TOLATA and Financial Remedies following relationship breakdowns.
Adele also assisted with a busy caseload of public and private children proceedings including working with Cafcass Guardians. Adele is particularly keen on building her practice in public law proceedings having worked closely with the Local Authority through her experience as a Foster Carer.
Second Six
Since beginning her second six in April 2023, Adele has already started to build and maintain a busy practice in all aspects of Family Law including:
- Private Law proceedings for child arrangements, prohibitive steps and specific issue orders from early directions to contested application hearings and;
- Injunction applications for Non-Molestation and Occupation Orders up to contested final application hearings, involving multiple allegations of domestic abuse.
- Obtaining and using special measures and;
- Effectively using intermediaries and interpreters.
Adele is also currently instructed on an appeal acting for the Respondent in relation to Family Law Act 1996 proceedings. In this case a Non-Molestation Order and Occupation Order were granted by the court in favour of her client. The Appellant purports these were incorrectly granted.
Civil
Prior to pupillage at Lamb Building, Adele worked as a County Court Advocate representing clients in over 1000 civil matters in wide-ranging areas of civil litigation. This experience allowed Adele to develop a firm understanding of the day-to-day realities of legal practice and the importance of developing strong professional relationships. In Adele’s role at Represent Law, Ltd she played a major role in progressing civil cases from start to finish, achieving the best outcomes for her clients whilst providing the highest standard of client care. Adele was often called upon by colleagues to conduct research of law and procedure and tasked with drafting various court documents. Adele used her time at the firm to equip herself with the experience and skillset required for a smooth transition into pupillage and beyond. Adele continues to accept instructions in civil matters, including but not limited to:
- Property disputes (Landlord & Tenant and Mortgage Repossessions)
- Civil Applications (Applications to set aside judgment, relief from sanctions, summary judgment, to strike out statements of case and security of costs);
- Personal Injury (Infant settlements, Stage 3 Disposal Hearings, including advising on quantum in respect of Adults and Children);
- Lender services;
- Debt Recovery;
- Small claims Track / Fast Track trials (contract, road traffic accidents, consumer credit parking, and credit hire);
- Return of goods;
- Insolvency – (Bankruptcy Petitions and Winding Up Orders)
- Enforcement Proceedings (including charging orders, attachment of earnings, third party debt orders) and;
- Costs Proceedings
Education
BPTC, The University of Law London, Very Competent
LLB with honours, The University of Birmingham, 2:1
Awards and Scholarships
Kalisher Trust Advocacy Course Scholar
University of Birmingham Mooting Camm Cup- Finalist.
University of Law Debating and Mooting Society
Ann Goddard Gray’s Inn Scholarship
Memberships
The Family Law Bar Association