Introduction
Kelly is a highly accomplished public law children and adoption advocate who acts on behalf of local authorities, parents, and guardians. She is known for her technical expertise, meticulous attention to detail, and empathetic approach. Kelly is experienced in cross-examining vulnerable witnesses, including children, protected parties, and vulnerable adults. She is committed to ensuring that parents with learning disabilities feel fully supported and understood throughout legal proceedings.
Prior to joining 33 Bedford Row, Kelly was a trial advocate in public law children matters for several local authorities. This background provides her with an in-depth understanding of the decision-making processes of local authorities. This insight offers a distinct tactical advantage when advising and representing local authorities, and yields a unique strategic edge when representing parents and conducting cross-examinations on their behalf. It has also enabled her to navigate complex regulatory frameworks when placing children both domestically and internationally.
Areas of Expertise
Public Law Children
Kelly is regularly instructed in complex cases involving non-accidental injury, sexual abuse, chronic neglect, psychological abuse, and radicalisation. She has a particular interest, and is frequently instructed, in cases involving the following complicating factors:
- Family Disability: Cases involving a parent or child with physical or learning disabilities.
- International Jurisdictions: Contested applications for assessing family members or placing children in foreign jurisdictions.
- Exploitation: allegations of Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking of parents and/or children.
- Adoption Breakdown: Disrupted adoptions and revocation of adoption orders.
- Concurrent Proceedings: Cases running parallel to active criminal investigations into parents or subject children.
Adoption (International and Domestic)
Kelly holds a special interest in adoption law. She possesses specific expertise in matters involving international adoption, including cases where children are brought into the United Kingdom for the purposes of adoption. She also has experience in contested adoption applications brought by a step-parent.
Surrogacy & Fertility Law
Kelly maintains a growing practice in fertility law and its connection to family law. She frequently advises and represents adoption agencies and local authorities before and during proceedings involving surrogacy arrangements and donor-conceived children.
International Family Law
Kelly provides expert written advice and representation at all stages of international child abduction and relocation proceedings under the 1980 and 1996 Hague Conventions. She has particular expertise in the recovery of children abducted while in foster care placements.
Notable Cases
- Re H (Surrogacy: Step-Parent Adoption) [2023] EWFC 214, represented the adoption agency in matter that considered whether the non-biological parent of a child born through surrogacy had the right to choose to apply for an adoption order, as opposed to a parental order to secure their legal parental status.