Joanne O’Shea
Call: 2000
Joanne O’Shea
Middle Temple
FLBA
Direct Access
Accredited Mediator
Vulnerable Witness Trained
Legal Aid Supplier Number 942MD
Contact
T: 01274 722 560 or 0113 246 2600
Joanne O’Shea practises exclusively in Family Law.
Joanne is an experienced family practitioner who is regularly instructed in cases of considerable complexity covering the full spectrum of Children Act proceedings where she represents parents/ grandparents and guardians ad litem. Joanne has specialised in Children Act proceedings for over 15 years and has an insightful and sensitive approach while robustly representing her clients to achieve the best outcomes.
Joanne is able to distil the real issues in a case quickly and is an accomplished negotiator achieving sensible realist outcomes for clients both by agreement and via litigation.
There is a frequent overlap between Children Act and criminal proceedings where Joanne’s previous practice in crime gives her further insight and advantage.
Joanne is a well-respected member of the Family Team at Broadway House Chambers; she has extensive and broad experience in terms of her legal knowledge and client care. Joanne has a depth and breadth of experience in terms of range of cases undertaken and is able to draw on and share those necessary insights when advising clients.
Joanne’s experience as a practitioner enables her to be incisive, practical and pragmatic in order to resolve cases effectively for clients including resolving matters by way of agreed orders with represented and non-represented parties.
Joanne is registered with the Bar Council to undertake direct access work.
Reputation
Joanne hosts seminars for Broadway House Chambers. Joanne speaks at the Family Law Annual Conference and discusses care and private children in the family law webinar series. Seminars have included but are not limited to:
• Children Act Updates
• Private Law: Parental Alienation from a Practitioner’s Perspective
• Role of courts and social workers in care proceedings; role of Official Solicitor
Client testimonials:
“Joanne was amazing, she really is a talented barrister, and so considerate and easy to work with. I really appreciated working with her.”
“Client over the moon with the outcome.”
“Joanne was amazing and achieved everything I wanted.”
“Thorough and searching in cross examination whilst being tactful and sensitive.”
Expertise
Private Law
Joanne has a wealth of experience in representing parents and children in all private law matters at all court levels ranging from non-molestation and occupation orders, s8 /child arrangements orders/91(14) orders, internal and international relocation to cases, same sex parent cases where legal parenthood is raised by a party as an issue, to complex multi party fact find cases where alienation and fabricated sexual abuse allegations feature..
Public Law
Joanne undertakes a wide range of Public Law work; she represents parents and children at all levels including at High Court and Court of Appeal. She has a wide range of experience in all key areas which include FGM, inflicted injuries and neglect cases. She has also conducted public law proceedings through the Official Solicitor.
Notable Cases
West Yorkshire (2024)
Child arrangements order application by F. Representing father. Mother opposed the application. Mother sought fact find. Proceeded to fact find. Very limited findings made. S7 report. Father did not have face to face direct contact with children for majority of life of case. District Judge made Shared care as final order in respect of both parents.
West Yorkshire (2024)
Child arrangements application . Same sex couple .Issues of legal parentage raised by respondent parent. Ultimately agreed that both had legal parentage. More complex and nuanced in that multiple children of the family with different birth parents.
South East Midlands (2024)
Long running case with repeated applications.
Findings made against one parent that had alienated the child. S37 and S7 reports ordered. Other parent sought initially a change of residence. Shared care with both parents ultimately ordered by Circuit Judge in respect of the child . Costs order made against the parent who alienated the child.
Wakefield (2023)
Child Arrangement Order application by father. Representing father. Mother opposed father’s application for shared care on basis of child’s young age, her primary relationship with the child and the low level of contact agreed to date by mother. Both parents local to one another. Shared care highly workable and no welfare issues. Justices made shared care order made.
Newcastle (2023)
Enforcement/ CAO application by father. Representing mother. Father acted as a litigant in person. Resolved orders by agreement.
York (2023)
Enforcement/ Child arrangement application by father. Representing mother. Father acted as litigant in person. Resolved matters by agreement at first hearing.
Scarborough (2023)
Child arrangement application by father. Finding of fact hearing listed. Findings made against father. Father completed DAPP. Mother psychologically assessed as traumatised by father’s conduct. Mother needed very specific therapy before being able to consider or manage contact between father and child. No contact recommended including indirect. Father’s application for contact dismissed.
Multi day Fact Find Lincoln (2022)
Represented father where mother had alleged domestic abusive in terms of coercive control, excessive drinking, over chastisement of the children and rape. No findings made of the above. Ultimate outcome was that father’s unsupervised contact was restored with an order for overnights in term time and holiday contact.
Relocation Case, Middlesbrough (2021)
Multi day hearing. Representing father where Mother’s application was to relocate with children from Teesside to Home Counties. Shared care already in place for children in Teesside. Application refused on basis of ages of children, their wishes and feelings, disruption/harm caused by the proposed move and the need to maintain a close and consistent relationship with both parents. Term time contact, if the children moved, would be insufficient to maintain relationship with father and would have detrimental effect on the children. Concern that children may become resentful of frequent travel and contact arrangements to Teesside. Shared care order continued.
Clerks
Susan Sanders
Call: 2015
Susan Sanders
MA (Hons), University of Edinburgh, Persian and Social Anthropology (1999)
Graduate Diploma in Law (2014, Distinction)
Bar Professional Training Course (2015, Outstanding)
Middle Temple
Queen Mother Scholar (2014)
Family Law Mediator
Legal Aid Supplier Number 02ENW
Contact
T: 01274 722 560 or 0113 246 2600
Susan joined Broadway House in September 2016 after successfully completing a mixed pupillage.
She practises family and immigration law and has a particular interest and expertise in the overlap between these two areas. She is qualified to undertake work on a direct access basis.
Susan has an insightful approach and is regularly instructed to represent those who require sensitive and considerate client-care.
Before coming to the Bar Susan worked for human rights organisations and campaigned and carried out research in Afghanistan for Amnesty International. Susan speaks French and Farsi.
Susan is a family mediator and is available to mediate in cases involving child arrangements disputes and financial issues after separation.
Reputation
Articles
Unreasonable law – contested divorce and the case of Owens v Owens
Seminars
- Public Law Children: Deprivation of Liberty (2018)
- Disclosure of Material: Family & Criminal Proceedings (2018)
- Gatekeeping the IAC- Restrictions on appeal rights: Third Country, Clearly Unfounded and Remove First Certificates (2018)
- Trafficking and Age assessments (2019)
- ‘Immigration Applications for Children in Care & Immigration Issues for Kinship Carers/Parents Abroad’ (2021)
- How to prepare for a Deportation Appeal – Family and Private Life (2022)
Legal Directories
“She advocates with clarity and confidence, helping the client and the tribunal panel with complex procedural and legal issues.” (Legal 500, 2026)
“Her approach to advocacy is creative and engaging, whilst also being measured and sensitive. A junior who demonstrates careful and methodical reasoning.” (Legal 500, 2025)
“Susan is a very diligent barrister, with extensive knowledge of asylum and immigration law. She is an excellent communicator, and her ability to listen to clients puts them at ease during stressful situations for them. She is pragmatic and clear when giving advice” (Legal 500, 2023 and 2024)
“Susan is very dedicated and has in-depth knowledge of immigration law. Her advocacy is thoughtful and measured. She is particularly attentive to the needs of vulnerable clients and quickly builds a rapport with them.” (Legal 500, 2022)
Expertise
Family
Susan has a busy practice in all areas of family law and represents privately and publicly funded clients from directions hearings through to contested final hearings. She is regularly instructed in private law finding of fact hearings involving serious allegations, including rape, and in public law proceedings for the local authority. She is also involved in cases of domestic abuse, forced marriage, and those with an immigration element. She regularly advises local authorities in relation to immigration issues within public law proceedings.
She is a sensitive and effective communicator. One lay client said she is “absolutely wonderful and very professional with her work, [a] fantastic lady with big experience and commitment”.
Immigration
Susan regularly appears in the First Tier and Upper Tribunals and is committed to providing first class representation to those seeking asylum. She is often asked to advise and drafts judicial review claims as well as applications for permission to appeal.
Before coming to the Bar Susan worked for many years as a legal representative for asylum seekers at Refugee and Migrant Justice and in private practice. She is passionate about representing vulnerable individuals and carries out pro bono advocacy for the Manuel Bravo Project and Bail for Immigration Detainees. Her experience working in Central Africa, Iran and Afghanistan provides invaluable background for this work.
“The clients were very happy with the way the appeal was prepared and presented, [and] asked that I extend the family’s thank you to you. I am attaching a copy of the Tribunal’s decision … the appeal was allowed. This is an excellent result in a potentially tricky case with a long and difficult history" (Instructing Solicitor)
Notable Cases
Family
Re X – Represented mother in successful application to terminate a father's parental responsibility. This unusual application was made following the father's conviction for coercive and controlling behaviour and rape of the mother.
Re D – Junior counsel in High Court hearing considering allegations of child sexual exploitation
A v A – Finding of fact dealing with allegations of shooting and attempted kidnap
H v H – Finding of fact successfully represented a father facing allegations of sexual and physical abuse. No findings were made.
N v H –Successfully argued for set-aside of a declaration of trust on the basis of fraud at a preliminary issue hearing in financial remedy proceedings
Immigration
JG v SSHD – Successfully appealed decision to deport Jamaican national convicted of burglary, appeal then upheld by UT
EB v SSHD – Permission to appeal granted by the UT on basis of application of European case law to article 3 medical case, pending Supreme Court hearing of AM (Zimbabwe)
GK v SSHD – Upper Tribunal allowed human rights appeal of elderly Indian relative, finding paragraph 276ADE(1)(vi) was met. Appeal had been dismissed by First Tier Tribunal.
Advised EEA extended family member who, as a result, obtained residence permit on the basis of the EU Court of Justice case of Lounes
Clerks
Anna Sutcliffe
Call - 2015
Anna Sutcliffe
BPP University; BPTC; Outstanding
University of Cambridge, Fitzwilliam College, BA (Hons) Law; 2.1
Qualified Family Mediator
Family Law Bar Association
Resolution
Honourable Society of Middle Temple (Astbury Scholarship – 2014)
Contact
T: 01274 722 560 or 0113 246 2600
Anna is a specialist family law barrister who has maintained a deliberately mixed practice encompassing matrimonial finance and both private and public law children work. This enables her to advise clients on all aspects of their family law case, particularly where different areas of family law overlap. Anna spent the first 9 years of her practice at a leading family law set in London and she has experience appearing at all levels up to and including representing clients in the High Court. She is equally happy appearing in her own right or being led as junior counsel.
Anna also conducts private FDR hearings (with experience as both counsel and pFDR “judge”), and is a qualified mediator for both children and finance matters.
Reputation
Tier 2 (Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners 2026)
“Unfailingly well prepared and excellent with clients” – Chambers & Partners 2025
“Anna is efficient and approachable to work with. She provides highly technical advice and great client care” – Chambers & Partners 2025
“Anna takes difficult cases in her stride and is always calm, reassuring and to the point – judges love her.” – Chambers & Partners 2024
“Anna is a tremendous fighter. She is compassionate with vulnerable clients” – Legal 500, 2025
“Anna is a confident advocate who combines excellent knowledge of the law with a compelling style. She knows when to fight and when to negotiate and is incredibly calm under pressure.” – Legal 500, 2025
Family Law Awards: Shortlisted for Young Barrister of the Year (2019)
Expertise
Children Act
Anna regularly acts in applications for Child Arrangements Orders, Prohibited Steps Order and Specific Issue Orders (including disputes over issues such as schooling, holidays and name changes). She has a particular interest in domestic and international relocation proceedings. Anna conducts multi-day fact-finding hearings within Children Act proceedings, often involving serious allegations of abuse, and has acted in a number of cases involving the appointment of a Children’s Guardian. She regularly represents vulnerable clients.
Care
Anna acts in public law children proceedings on behalf of Local Authorities, parents, guardians and extended family members and has experience representing vulnerable clients (including those assisted by an intermediary).
Finance
Anna acts in all aspects of family finance proceedings, including financial remedies and Schedule 1 of the Children Act. She has experience dealing with cases involving high-net-worth individuals, third party interventions, pre/post nuptial agreements, and jurisdictional disputes. Anna also acts and advises in enforcement and variation proceedings.
Private FDR
Anna is available to conduct private FDRs.
Mediation
Anna is qualified to mediate in both financial and children disputes.
Notable Cases
H v W (2025): Jurisdiction dispute in respect of financial remedy proceedings, with parallel proceedings currently ongoing in competing jurisdictions.
M v F (2025): Anna acts for a mother in private law proceedings with the appointment of a r.16.4 Guardian. Serious allegations of abuse and intractable opposition to contact.
H v W (2023): Junior counsel in HNW financial remedy proceedings heard in the High Court. Instructed by the Official Solicitor. Achieved favourable FDR indication leading to settlement.
H v W (2023): Representing a wife/mother in parallel children and finance proceedings, which culminated in a combined arbitration of both issues. Oral evidence required from both parents and an ISW. Outcome obtained in favour of Anna’s client on both issues, alongside a costs order.
H v W (2023): Application for a freezing injunction over c£2.5m from sale of foreign shares
M v F (2023): Anna acted for a father throughout high-conflict private law proceedings involving serious allegations of abuse. No findings were made against the father and the mother’s application to relocate with the children was successfully resisted. Findings were made in respect of the mother’s influence over the children and a shared care arrangement was implemented.
M v F (2023): Anna acted for a father throughout long running and highly acrimonious proceedings which involved, at various stages, applications by the mother to relocate overseas and internally withing the UK both of which were successfully resisted, with a shared care arrangement being implemented instead as sought by Anna’s client. The case involved particular sensitivities arising out of differing level of religious adherence between households.
Clerks
Fen Greatley-Hirsch
Call: 2018
Fen Greatley-Hirsch
LLM Legal Practice (Barristers) – BPP Law School
Adv. LLM Public International Law – Leiden University
LLB Law with French Law – University of Warwick
ADM-ODR International Qualified Civil Commercial Mediator
Baron Dr ver Heyden de Lancey Prize (Middle Temple)
The Queen Mother Scholarship (Middle Temple)
White Rose (WRoCAH) Doctoral Scholarship (Arts and Humanities Research Council)
Grade 3 Prosecutor
Contact
T: 0113 246 2600
Fen joined Chambers in December 2020 after completing a common law pupillage under the supervision of Giles Bridge and Paul Smith.
He accepts instructions in family and criminal cases and is available for consultation in conference or written advice.
Fen’s practice is shaped by his experiences in academia and working in client-facing roles with a several national and international charitable organisations, including Citizens Advice Bureau, the Free Representation Unit, and Nightline.
This work put him in regular contact with individuals from all walks of life and particularly vulnerable populations, young people, persons with disabilities and mental health conditions, and non-native English speakers. As a result, Fen understands and responds to a wide range of client needs. He approaches all matters with the utmost commitment to client care and is often praised for taking the time to ensure clients’ questions and concerns are addressed and that they feel fully represented.
Fen’s academic research focuses on issues of mental and legal capacity in criminal law using vulnerability theory. He has served on the editorial board of academic journals, worked as a research assistant for an NGO conducting strategic human rights litigation, and delivered papers at academic conferences around the world. As such, he is is able to build and present complex information and arguments in a clear and accessible way.
Reputation
Expertise
Family
Fen accepts instructions in private and public Children Act proceedings at all stages, from first hearings to final hearings. A well-rounded practice sees him represent parents, Local Authorities and intervenors alike.
He has a real strength in client care and is often commended for ensuring his clients fully understand the developments in and prospects of their case and leave hearings feeling heard and fully represented.
Fen has gained particular expertise in contested and fact-finding hearings, assisted by a keen eye for detail and a forensic approach honed through criminal practice.
He regularly deals with cases involving allegations of a very serious nature – such as domestic violence, non-accidental injuries, and sexual harm – and does so with sensitivity and tact.
Fen has considerable experience representing vulnerable clients, including young persons, persons with disabilities, those with mental health issues, and those who do not speak English. He welcomes instructions in cases involving non-traditional families and those with international or intercultural elements.
Crime
Fen both prosecutes and defends at all stages – pre-trial, trial, sentence, and appeal.
He regularly appears in courts across the North Eastern and Northern Circuits in relation to the following types of offences:
- Assaults (up to and including s18);
- Road traffic;
- Public order (affrays);
- Dishonesty (handling stolen goods; burglary; robbery);
- Drugs offences (possession with intent to supply; production);
- Sexual offences (sexual assault; indecent images)
Fen is a member of the CPS General Crime Panel at Grade 3.
For the last couple of years he has been building his Crown Court trial practice and welcomes defence instructions.
He has completed the vulnerable witness training and, particularly given his experience dealing with similar matters in the family courts, is well-equipped to defend in rape, sexual assault and other such sensitive matters.
More generally, Fen’s background in academia has equipped him with the ability to quickly process and familiarise himself with large volumes of documents, as well as to make complex information accessible to a lay audience. It has also given him the research skills to locate useful case law that sometimes makes all the difference.
He has been praised by solicitors, benches and clients themselves for his skilled and sensitive witness handling and an ability to resonate with juries.
Fen builds rapports with clients easily, which quickly allows him to elicit the information needed both to build the strongest case and to address the opposing one effectively.
He has a keen eye for detail and in evidential hearings is particularly adept at witness handling, cross-examining with a forensic approach honed through criminal practice.
Fen has considerable experience representing vulnerable clients, including young persons, persons with disabilities, those with mental health issues, and those who do not speak English.
Notable Cases
R v X - Leeds Crown Court (Defence 2025)
Fen Greatley-Hirsch secured acquittal. Client at trial charged with multiple counts of voyeurism (s67 Sexual Offences Act 2003) over a 3-year period. Significant issues relating to the admissibility of several key aspects of the Crown’s case - including a video recorded interview and forensic downloads – in the context of adherence to ABE guidance, chain of custody, and principles of character evidence.
R v H - Bradford Crown Court (Defence 2024)
Fen and Nicola Hoskins secured a suspended sentence for father and son clients who were charged with intent to pervert the course of justice.
https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/24427369.lying-father-sons-story-fell-apart-police-dug-deeper/
R v Shaw - Leeds Crown Court (Prosecution 2023)
Prosecuted 'professional burglar' who was sentenced to 32 months imprisonment. https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/crime/career-criminal-rammed-police-car-as-he-drove-professional-burglary-team-around-leeds-4422603
R v Ndokajwas - Bradford Crown Court (Prosecution 2023)
Prosecuted man after cannabis farm worth £670k found. Marsel Ndokajwas was sentenced to two years imprisonment for the production of cannabis. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-67571625
R v X - Youth Court (Defence 2023)
Fen defended in the Youth Court in a serious sexual assault trial.The trial involved child witnesses and implementing the s28 procedure. Fen made a successful submission of no case to answer, which prevented the need for the defendant to give evidence. https://www.broadwayhouse.co.uk/news/fen-greatley-hirsch-youth-court-2023
R v X - Leeds Crown Court (Defence 2023)
Fen Greatley-Hirsch Secures Suspended Sentence for his Client in a Serious Three-handed Affray. https://www.broadwayhouse.co.uk/news/fen-greatley-hirsch-secures-suspended-sentence
Clerks
