James Brown
Year of call: 1990
areas of practice
synopsis
James Brown specialises exclusively in family law with a particular interest in care and court of protection matters encompassing best interest declarations relating to mentally incapacitated adults.
James regularly represents Local Authorities, Guardians and parents in care proceedings, appearing in both High Court and County Court jurisdictions. He has undertaken numerous complex factitious and induced illness cases and has also conducted shaken baby and salt poisoning cases during his 21 years at the bar.
As well as representing various parties within care proceedings James is regularly instructed to provide written and oral advice to Local Authorities in care and court of protection matters and by solicitors to provide private individuals with oral and written advice pertaining to ancillary relief and private law contact and residence matters.
James continues to represent clients in high value ancillary relief cases and is renowned for his thorough preparation and sensible approach. James’s wealth of experience particularly in relation to care proceedings resulted in his appointment as a Recorder in 2008. James regularly sits as a Recorder in Sheffield, York and Teesside County Courts.
A prominent and well respected local instructing solicitor recently said of Mr. Brown’s conduct of care proceedings:
“James is tremendous with clients, has a very good manner, is always impeccably prepared and is an extremely competent all round performer.”
notable cases
- Represented father in case of serious NAI resulting in attempted murder charge in High Court. Allegations of fabricated illness.
- Court of Protection Deprivation of Liberty. A leading case on issue of deprivation of liberty.( Re PS [2007] 2 FLR 1083)
- Represented Local Authority in Court of Protection in action for damages by an incapacitated adult claiming breach of human rights Re MM [2009] 1 FLR443
- Court of Appeal represented children in case of transfer of residence from implacably hostile mother to father. Re C [2008] 1 FLR 211
- Court of Appeal represented Local Authority on appeal by mother following long and complex care proceedings. Re M EWCA Civ 845.
education
- Inns of Court School of Law 1989-90.
- Newcastle University 1986-89 (LLB Hons 2:1)
- Ermysted's Grammar School Skipton 1979-1986
appointments
- Appointed Recorder 2008
