The Liver Building

2025 Private Child Law Conference (hybrid)

Details

Speaker: Various

Date: Wednesday 10th September, 2025

Time: 09:30 - 15:00

Areas of Law: Family

Competencies: B

Venue:
Taylor Wessing
Edward Pavilion,
Albert Dock,
Liverpool
L3 4AF
Or ONLINE

Course Code: S4906

Description

*WORK IN PROGRESS* please keep checking back to see sessions & speakers as confirmed!

A must-attend training event for legal professionals involved with family law, providing a round-up key developments in law & practice

*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.

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.

Multi delegate discounts cannot be used in conjunction with the Training Passport

Registration & refreshments / Log In

Welcome & introduction ~ DJ O’Neill

Issues arising from cross channel migrant minors and families ~ Ruth Kirby KC, 4PB

  • Abduction from non-Hague home countries and Hage third countries
  • Inherent jurisdiction remedies instead of care proceedings
  • Care proceedings relating to unaccompanied minors and domestic abuse
  • Interaction of family proceedings with immigration law proceedings (especially when children enter illegally entry via the Channel).

Enforcement of Child Arrangements orders ~ Gemma Thomas, 7 Harrington Street

  • Powers available to the Court
  • Procedure
  • Managing the client’s expectations

Comfort break – refreshments served for in-person delegates

TBC ~ Alpha Biolabs

AWAIT INFO

TBC

Comfort break - Lunch & networking for in-person delegates

TBC

TBC

Summary & thanks ~ DJ O’Neill

Speaker Biographies

Ruth Kirby KC practices primarily in children and Court of Protection work. She has particular experience in representing high profile families and individuals and of representing very religiously-observant families and families embroiled in political and cross-jurisdictional issues, sometimes with their own Governments.  She deals with all aspects of private and public family law – both domestic and international. Ruth is dual qualified in the Irish Republic and has rights of audience before the Irish courts.  She also is instructed as an expert witness in Irish and European family law cases.

District Judge Philip O’Neill was called to the Bar in 1983. He practiced at 7 Harrington St Chambers where he dealt with Public and Private Children work as well as Financial Remedy work. He was appointed a Full Time District Judge in 2005, sitting at Birkenhead and Liverpool. Since November 2017 Judge O’Neill has sat exclusively at the Family Court in Liverpool where he deals exclusively with Public and Private Children work.

Gemma Thomas of 7 Harrington Street Chambers, is a dedicated and experienced barrister with a specialist practice in family law, focusing on financial remedy applications and private law proceedings involving children and domestic abuse. Known for her sensitive yet robust approach, Gemma, represents clients in complex private law disputes involving allegations of parental alienation, coercive control, emotional harm, and financial, physical and sexual abuse. With a deep understanding of the dynamics of abuse and trauma, Gemma advocates tirelessly for the safety and best interests of children and vulnerable individuals.  Ranked as ‘Leading Junior’ by Legal 500 in 2025 Gemma is praised for clear, strategic advice and a calm, compassionate courtroom manner.

Prices

Member £175
Non-member £225
Training Passport Free
Note: 20% VAT added at checkout