Paula Rhone-Adrien manages a busy Court practice that encompasses both private and public family law. Paula’s successful practice has enabled her to hone her expertise over the last 20 years, providing client’s with a solid, but specialist advice in complex proceedings that could involve financial remedies, jurisdictional issues, child abduction, domestic abuse, child sexual abuse, non-accidental injury, and cases where substance misuse (including alcohol) feature.

Family Law cases require a barrister to possess, not only an understanding of the law and its application to the realities of individual cases, but the barrister must understand how to advise a client on how a Judge is likely to approach the case on the facts and how the client should prepare themselves for that outcome, particularly where costs could run high.

Paula is a seasoned litigator but has not allowed this to harden her judgement. Her open and sensitive approach means that she not only hears what the Judge or professionals have to say, but she remains an avid listener of the client’s concerns.

Paula’s extensive career has advanced due to the broad spectrum of clients she has enjoyed representing over the years. International clients; business owners; parents; those eligible for legal aid and those who are not. Paula has a strong reputation for being hard working and has cultivated her loyal client base, which has resulted in her continued success.

Away from the Bar, Paula writes, appears on various tv programmes, and uploads videos to her social media handle (familylawguruuk) to support those who struggle to access Family Law support (see media list below).

Current TV:

Piers Morgan Uncensored (contributor and social commentator)

Jeremy Vine Channel 5 (contributor and social commentator)

Storm Huntley Channel 5 (contributor and social commentator)

DNA Journey ITV (contributor)

Lorraine ITV (contributor)

Certified BBC Expert

Vanessa (Feltz) (contributor)

Jeremy Kyle (contributor and social commentator)

Further Professional Information

Paula is a member of LADR and has been a trained mediator since April 2009. Paula is an ardent advocate of mediation and conflict resolution and underpins this belief by ensuring her mediation training remains up to date and relevant.

In February 2020, Paula was featured in the Times as Lawyer of the Week. Read the full article here

Paula holds a 3^rd Dan Black Belt in the Korean Martial Art – Tang Soo Do, and when not chopping breeze blocks with her bare hands, enjoys entertaining her children, wild water swimming and the gym.

Publications

Paula’s articles are regularly viewed in a wide variety of publications. For example; Counsel Magazine, Woman’s Own, The Sun and Gay Times

Civil

• Mediation

Family

• Adoption
• Children (Private Law)
• Children (Public Law)

W v. N-F [2023] Recorder Hellens MK21P00387 (child abduction, joint lives with order to father who Paula represented after the Father had spent many years pursuing spending time with his children)

Akhter v Khan and The attorney General [2018] EWHC 54 (validity of marriage, Paula represented the respondent, Mr Khan in this case. The applicant claimed that the parties Islamic ceremony of marriage, conducted in England, should be recognised as a valid marriage. Mr Justice Williams, found it should, The Attorney General, as supported by the respondent (running the same arguments) appealed and were successful)

Re T (Parental Alienation) [2019] EWHC 3854 (Fam) (Paula represented the respondent mother in this case. The proceedings had been ongoing for several years before Paula met with the mother. The father had been pursuing spending time with his daughter for many years. The Court transferred the child’s residence, moving her from the mother to live with her father)