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2026 Private Child Law Conference

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Details

Speaker: Various

Date: Tuesday 20th October, 2026

Time: 09:30 - 16:00

Areas of Law: Family

Competencies: B

Venue:
Online or In Person At:
Winston Taylor International,
Edward Pavilion Royal,
Liverpool,
L3 4AF

Course Code: S4980

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Description

Join leading practitioners, barristers and child-focused professionals for an insightful and practical conference examining the latest developments in private children law. Bringing together specialist barristers and professionals working across the family justice system, the conference will examine some of the most significant issues currently facing practitioners. Sessions will cover achieving child-focused outcomes in cases involving domestic abuse, the legal and practical challenges arising from allegations of alienating behaviour, strategic and effective advocacy in fact-finding hearings, and the growing emphasis on ensuring children’s voices are heard through CAFCASS and child-inclusive practice.

Delegates will also gain practical insight into the enforcement of Child Arrangements Orders, developments arising from the Private Law Pathfinder Pilot and its impact on the experiences of children and families, and a comprehensive case law update reviewing the changing landscape of private children law.

This is an essential event for family law practitioners seeking expert analysis, practical guidance, and the opportunity to engage with leading figures shaping the future of private children proceedings.

*Multi Delegate Discount Offer for Members* Pay member rate for 1st delegate, then £99 for 2nd & only £49 for all other delegates (+vat)

Booking total will show full price but invoice will be discounted. Multi delegate discounts cannot be used in conjunction with the Training Passport

This event can be attended in-person or virtually (via MS Teams). When booking, please select if you wish to attend ‘Face-to-face’ or ‘Virtual’. All bookings, whether you attended in-person or virtually will be able to access a recording post event.

Registration

Welcome

Child Focused Outcomes when there is Domestic Abuse in Private Law Proceedings - Anna Warters, 18 St Johns Street

Alienating Behaviour – Legal and Practical Challenges - Joshua Brindle, Exchange Chambers

Joshua’s talk will focus on navigating the Family Justice Council Guidance on Allegations of Alienating Behaviour (December 2024) in the Child Focused Courts.

Refreshment Break

Fact-Finding Hearings: Strategy and Advocacy - Alex Cracknell, 7 Harrington Street

Key topics covered in the session

  •  When is it necessary;
  • How to determine scope;
  • How judges decide what has happened;
  • Strategy and advocacy.

Children’s Voices in Proceedings - CAFCASS and Child Inclusive Practice - Zoe Harwood, Child Action North West

This session will put children’s voices at the heart of the conversation. We will explore why children’s voices matter, what it means to genuinely listen to them, and whether we are truly getting it right.

Through real-life accounts and children’s lived experiences brought to life through the presentation, we will hear proceedings from the perspective that can sometimes be lost amongst professional voices, reports, meetings and decisions — the child’s voice.

We will consider what children need from the adults around them, how we can make proceedings less daunting and more accessible, and what practical steps professionals can take to ensure children feel heard, informed and involved.

The session will also introduce resources designed to support children throughout proceedings.

Ultimately, this is an opportunity to pause and ask ourselves: If we put ourselves in the child’s shoes, would we do anything differently?

Enforcement and Compliance with Child Arrangements Orders - Sian Holmes, Linenhall Chambers

Siân’s session will comprise a summary of the up-to-date law in England & Wales in relation to the enforcement of and compliance with Child Arrangements Orders, along with a discussion of what that looks like in practice, including reference to emerging trends within the family courts in light of the Pathfinder programme rollout, which focuses on earlier identification of harm, the voice of the child and problem-solving

Lunch and Refreshment Break

Private Law Pathfinder Pilot: understanding the experience of children and families - Natalia Levine, St Johns Building

The Changing Landscape of Private Children Law - Case Law Round Up - Richard Harrington, Parklane Plowden

Speaker Biographies

Alex Cracknell studied Philosophy at the University of Manchester before qualifying for the Bar in 2014 via a conversion course and the then BPTC, also completed in Manchester. She secured pupillage at 7 Harrington Street in January 2015. During her early years of tenancy, she developed a mixed practice encompassing crime, civil and family law before choosing to specialise exclusively in family law during the pandemic. She now practises in all areas of law relating to children, acting for parents, Local Authorities and children themselves in both public and private law proceedings.

Zoe Harwood is Head of Service for Family Services at CANW. A qualified social worker, Zoe has over ten years of frontline experience working within child protection and fostering locality teams across the North West. She brings extensive practice experience and leadership expertise within children and family services, with a particular focus on supporting families and improving outcomes for children.

Siân Holmes has practised in Family Law for almost ten years and joined Linenhall Chambers in 2019. Siân deals with a mixture of private and public law children cases, along with injunctions. She is also a qualified mediator.

Anna Warters (Call 2011) With her legal experience spanning private and public law, combined with her skills derived from her previous military career, Anna delivers a non-nonsense and forthright approach to her work.  Anna combines such qualities with being a bold yet sensible advocate, with an ability to deliver robust, yet straightforward advice whilst not losing sight of the need for sensitivity towards clients, especially when representing vulnerable clients or those with mental health difficulties.  Anna has a particular interest in cases which involve domestic abuse, and where coercion, controlling behaviour, manipulation of parent/child relationships and parental alienation are features.

Joshua Brindle is a specialist family law barrister with a practice focused principally on complex private law children work and financial remedy work.

Prices
Member £155
Non-member £205
Training Passport Free
Note: 20% VAT added at checkout