Family

Christina Warner is a highly accomplished practitioner specialising in Children Act and Family Law Act matters, with particular expertise in cases involving vulnerable individuals, including those with disabilities. Her practice is distinguished by its sensitive and strategic handling of complex family proceedings, especially where issues of capacity, safeguarding, and welfare intersect. She is particularly experienced in matters concerning the care and protection of companion animals within the context of family breakdown and domestic abuse, recognising the profound role animals play within family life and the evidential relevance of harm to animals in coercive and controlling behaviour.

Christina has developed a strong and trusted client base within the Spanish and Portuguese-speaking communities in the United Kingdom. She works closely with charities and community organisations, providing culturally informed representation and advocacy to individuals who may otherwise face barriers in accessing justice.

She is widely respected for her work supporting families with non-traditional or alternative family structures, including non-biological parents, single caregivers, and same-sex couples. Christina provides clear, authoritative advice to clients navigating complex legal frameworks, ensuring they fully understand their rights, responsibilities, and available remedies.

With over a decade of experience as both a prosecution and defence trial advocate in criminal proceedings, Christina brings formidable forensic skill to her family practice. She is particularly noted for her meticulous evidence analysis, strategic case preparation, and exceptional witness handling — skills that are invaluable in contested fact-finding hearings and cases involving serious allegations.

A distinctive feature of Christina’s practice is her specialism in animal protection within family law. She has advised and collaborated with animal welfare and domestic abuse organisations in the UK and internationally, focusing on safeguarding companion animals in cases involving domestic abuse, coercive control, and relationship breakdown. Her work frequently addresses situations where children are subject to Children Act proceedings and where the welfare of animals forms part of the wider safeguarding landscape. She is internationally recognised for advancing an integrated approach that acknowledges the interconnectedness of child protection, victim safety, and animal welfare.

Christina holds Direct Public Access and Litigation Extension qualifications and is committed to delivering rigorous, compassionate, and strategically focused representation. Her practice is defined by its commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals and advancing progressive developments within family and animal law.

International Crime

Christina was seconded to the Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court, The Hague, where she made significant contributions to the Prosecution Division’s policies on children. In this role, she provided critical support in prosecuting cases involving child soldiers and children subjected to sexual slavery, demonstrating a deep commitment to the protection of vulnerable individuals under international law.

Alongside her prosecutorial work, Christina contributed to the ICC’s advocacy training program, serving both as a member of the training panel and as an assessor. Her efforts have helped ensure that future generations of legal professionals are equipped to navigate the complex challenges of international criminal law. In recognition of her expertise and dedication to justice, she was appointed Associate Counsel to the ICC in December 2017, enabling her to represent victims of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.

Christina’s expertise also extends to animal protection, where her work has received international recognition. She has been cited in academic and legal literature in Canada, Spain, and Northern Ireland, reflecting the global impact of her advocacy. Notably, under her leadership, Ruby’s Law has significantly influenced the implementation of the United Nations’ General Comment 26, shaping how intergovernmental bodies approach the protection of animals. The campaign has been cited in representations concerning Morocco’s mass culling of dogs ahead of its FIFA 2030 preparations, illustrating its international policy influence.

Through her work at the intersection of human rights, family law, and animal protection, Christina has established herself as a leading practitioner committed to safeguarding vulnerable individuals and promoting progressive legal reform globally.

Introduction

Christina Warner is an experienced advocate specialising in private Children Act and Family Law Act proceedings, with particular expertise in cases involving vulnerable individuals, including children and adults with disabilities. She provides advice and representation on parental rights, spending time arrangements, child protection, and relocation, ensuring families with disability-related challenges have equal access to justice.

She also supports families with non-traditional structures, such as non-biological parents, single caregivers, and same-sex couples. With over a decade of experience as a criminal trial advocate, Christina brings strong skills in evidence analysis, case strategy, and witness handling to her family law practice.

Christina has a distinctive focus on animal protection within family law, advising on the welfare of companion animals in domestic abuse and family breakdown cases. Her work has been recognised internationally and cited in academic and legal literature in Canada, Spain, and Northern Ireland. Ruby’s Law, which she founded, has influenced the implementation of the United Nations’ General Comment 26 and was referenced in advocacy concerning Morocco’s mass culling of dogs ahead of FIFA 2030.

Her practice combines family law, disability rights, human protection, and animal welfare, reflecting a holistic approach to safeguarding vulnerable individuals and promoting justice.

Seminars

Selected Keynote & Panel Engagements

·       Panellist, Roundtable Discussion, Ruby’s Law, Stormont, Belfast, Northern Ireland, 10 January 2026

·       Yale Interdisciplinary Center for Ethics, Ruby’s Law: Companion Animals in the Context of Domestic Abuse, Yale University, 14 November 2025

·       Keynote - All-Party Parliamentary Group, Ruby’s Law, Houses of Parliament, Westminster, 21 October 2026

·       Speaker - Causeway Coast Dog Rescue, Animal Law Conference, Belfast, Northern Ireland, 10 October 2025

·       Speaker - British Society of Criminology Annual Conference – Environmental Victimisation, 28 October 2025

·       Keynote – All-Party Parliamentary Group, Ruby’s Law, Houses of Parliament, Westminster, 25 March 2025

·       Panel Speaker – Launch of the Middle Temple Disability Forum, 5 December 2024

·       Panel Speaker - International Criminal Court Bar Association – Panel Discussion, Disability in International Humanitarian Law, 25 January 2024

·       Speaker - All-Party Parliamentary Dog Advisory Welfare Group, Meeting with Naturewatch Foundation, 24 October 2023

·       Panel Speaker – Disability, Crime, Law & Policy, Disability Expo, July 2023

·       Speaker – Family Law Seminar: Domestic Abuse and the Disabled Community, 33 Bedford Row Chambers, 29 March 2023

·       Speaker – First 100 Years, International Women’s Month Event, 2 March 2023

·       Speaker – National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Conference: Recognise & Respond, 9 May 2019

Publications

 Selected Publications

·       Barrister Magazine, Ruby’s Law: A Critical Reform for the Protection of Pets in Domestic Abuse Cases, December 2025

·       Counsel, Ruby's Law: Protecting Pets in the Family Courts, May 2025

·       Counsel, Breaking the Silence: Addressing Animal Sexual Abuse (co-authored with Maya Badham, SAHSDA), March 2025

·       Counsel, The Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Is the CRPD Fit for Purpose?, February 2025

·       Family Law Journal, Undermined, ignored and shamed: the invisible victims of domestic abuse and the role of the family justice system, December 2023

·       Counsel, Assistance Animals, Access and Ableism, April 2023

·       Counsel, DNR Orders, Disability and the Right to Decide, June 2023

·       Counsel, Is the Distality Confident Scheme up to the Task?, March 2023

·       Barrister Magazine, The cost-of-living crisis and the disabled community, Hilary Term 2023

·       Counsel, Child exploitation: trafficking and abuse – an abrupt end to childhood, Michaelmas Term 2022

·       Barrister Magazine, UN Security Council considers devastating impact of international conflict on disabled women and girls, Hilary Term 2022

·       Barrister Magazine, The Cyber Violence Crisis – why are women still the primary victims?, Hilary Term 2022

·       Counsel, War crimes in Ukraine: The international legal response, May 2022

·       Counsel, COVID’s impact on the welfare of companion animals, February 2022

·       Counsel, Banning Conversion Therapy, February 2022

·       Family Law Journal, LGBT+ Families – Beyond the 'Alternative' Structure, 24 May 2021

·       Counsel, The ICC, the Rome Statute and crimes against the LGBT community, July 2021

·       Global Journal of Animal Law, Protecting Companion Animals from Domestic Abuse: A comparative analysis of legal developments in the U.S. and the U.K. (co-written with Dr Marion C. Willetts), Vol. 9, 2021

·       Barrister Magazine, The ICC’s Approach to Disability: Making or Breaking Foundations, December 2024

·       Criminal Bar Quarterly, How departure from the ICC by African states has triggered immunity vs impunity debate, Spring 2018

·       Criminal Law & Justice Weekly, NATO’s Article 5, 5 August 2017

·       Criminal Law & Justice Weekly, How medical fraud is highlighting growing danger of press freedom in Mexico, 26 May 2017

·       Criminal Law & Justice Weekly, Is the Minsk ceasefire working?, 28 January 2017

·       Criminal Law & Justice Weekly, The International Criminal Court’s draft policy on children, 15 October 2016

·       Journal of Animal Welfare Law, Domestic violence: the impact on pets, December 2014

Appointments

• Disability Panel, Bar Council, February 2022.
• Bar Council Social Mobility Advocate, October 2021
• Counsel at the International Criminal Court – 2017
• Middle Temple advocacy trainer
• Magistrate – family court – 2014
• Magistrate – crown court (appeals) – 2013
• Admitted to the roll of solicitors - 2012
• Magistrate – criminal court (adult) – 2008 

Languages

• Spanish - Native proficiency
• Portuguese - Full professional proficiency
• French - Professional working proficiency
• Afrikaans - Limited working proficiency
• Russian - Elementary proficiency

Awards & Prizes

• Finalist – Lexis Nexis Legal Awards, March 2025: Legal Personality of the Year and Diversity & Inclusion Champion

• Finalist – Women and Diversity in Law Awards 2025: Woman of the Year, Unsung Hero and Advocate of the Year.
  

• Highly Commended – DE&I Champion of the Year, Women and Diversity in Law Awards, March 2025

• Finalist – Lexis Nexis Family Law Awards 2024: Champion of the Year and Innovation of the Year

• Shortlisted - Women & Diversity in Law Awards 2024

• Woman of the Year

• Advocate of the Year

• Unsung Hero

• Shortlisted – SheInspires Awards 2023 – SHEro Award

• Winner Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 (Politics & Law) 2023

• Shortlisted – Modern Law Awards 2023 - Private Client - Lawyer of the Year

• Highly Commended - Lexis Nexis Awards 2023

• Shortlisted – Women & Diversity in Law 2022:

• Woman of the Year

• Advocate of the Year

• Unsung Hero

• Mentor of the Year 

• Finalist – Family Law Awards 2022 – Family Law Community Interaction Award

• Finalist – Chambers & Partners 2022 – Diversity & Inclusion Future Leader 

• Winner – Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 (Politics & Law) 2022

• MTSA Disability History Month Exhibition 2021.

• Finalist – Mentor of the Year, FL Leadership Summit & Awards 2021.

• Finalist – Junior Pro Bono Barrister of the Year, Advocate Pro Bono Awards, 2021.

• Finalist – Barrister of the Year, Next 100 Years, Inspirational Women in Law Awards, 2021.

• Finalist – Disability Inclusion, UK Diversity Legal Awards, 2021.

• Finalist – Diversity Champion, UK Diversity Legal Awards, 2021.

• Winner – Family Law Barrister of the Year (UK) – Lawyer Monthly Magazine, Women in Law Awards, 2021.

• Winner – Rising Star in Law, WeAreTheCity Awards, 2021.

• Shortlisted – Rising Star in Law, WeAreTheCity Awards, 2019.

• Finalist – Lawyer of the Year, UK Diversity Legal Awards, 2018.

• Finalist – Diversity Champion, UK Diversity Legal Awards, 2018.

• Listed in Amnesty UK’s Suffragette Spirit campaign, March 2018

Animal Law

Christina Warner is the founder of Ruby’s Law, a pioneering legal campaign established to ensure that victim-survivors of domestic abuse are not forced to choose between their own safety and the safety of their pets. The campaign seeks to close a critical gap in family law by explicitly including companion animals within protective orders, ensuring legal protection for both humans and their animals in cases of domestic abuse.

Ruby’s Law advocates for legislative reform in England and Wales to formally recognise pets within the framework of domestic abuse protection orders. The campaign is grounded in extensive research demonstrating the link between animal abuse and coercive control, and promotes a legal model that reflects the interconnected nature of human and animal welfare.

Under Christina’s leadership, Ruby’s Law has developed into a groundbreaking legal reform initiative operating at the intersection of family law, animal welfare, and human rights. The campaign advances a progressive model recognising the interdependence of human, animal, and environmental protections, and continues to gain endorsement from MPs, academics, and both domestic abuse and animal welfare organisations worldwide.

Ruby’s Law represents a significant contribution to the evolving field of animal law, offering a replicable legislative framework designed to ensure that no individual is forced to leave a companion animal behind in order to escape abuse.