David Rowlands

synopsis

Family Law 

The majority of David's instructions relate to Care Proceedings. He receives instructions from several Local Authorities whilst also acting regularly for family members and Children's Guardians. David has acted in many cases involving complex and conflicting medical evidence including Factitious and Induced Illness, Poisoning, Shaken Baby Syndrome, Sexual and all forms of Physical Abuse.

David also accepts instructions in ancillary relief proceedings including in recent years a number of high value cases and cases involving offshore trusts.

Court of Protection

David has established a practice acting for both Local Authorities and family members.

David appears regularly in the High Court and County Court and has made several appearances in the Court of Appeal. He has often advised Local Authorities upon points of law and procedural issues.

notable cases

• Re M 2010 EWCA Civ 1043 (CA) : Appeal in Contact proceedings against the wrongful delegation of the Courts discretion to a Local Authority
• Re B (Fact-Finding Hearing: Evidence) 2009 2 FLR 14 (CA) : physical abuse case. Issue concerned the trial Judges fact finding with specific reference to the expert evidence.
• Re F (ICO) 2007 2FLR 891 2007 EWCA Civ 516 (CA : Care Proceedings. Issue related to proportionality of trial Judges decision taking into account findings of physical abuse.
• Y (Evidence of abuse: Use of Photographs) [2004] 1 FLR 855 : Care proceedings. Sexual abuse case. Reliability of expert witnesses relying upon photographic evidence rather than an intimate examination of a child.
• Y and K (split hearing: Evidence) [2003] EWCA Civ 669 [2003] 2 FLR 273 CA : Care Proceedings. Sexual abuse case. Reliability of conflicting medical evidence in issue
• Re C (Leave to remove from Jurisdiction) [2000] 2 FLR 457 (CA) : Appeal against Judges refusal to allow a child to permanently leave the Jurisdiction.
• Wilson v. Webster [1998] 1 FLR 1097 (CA) : Appeal against a sentence following committal for breach of a domestic violence injunction on grounds that the sentence was too short.

education

• LLB (Hons) Manchester University
• Lawson Scholar (Second in Law Finals)
• Penguin Books Dissertation Prize
• Inns of Court School of Law

memberships

• Northumbria Family Justice Council (Bar Representative)
• Family Law Bar Association

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