Chris Wallace is an independent barrister at Central Chambers, specialising in family law with experience across both public and private children proceedings. He is regularly instructed in cases involving domestic abuse, acting for both victims and alleged perpetrators, including in complex and high-risk matters, as well as cases involving neglect, substance misuse, and serious harm. He is known for delivering clear, practical advice tailored to the needs of the client, particularly in sensitive and challenging cases. Before coming to the Bar, Chris had a career in the games industry and later ran his own business in photography and graphic design. He completed his legal training at the University of Law, was awarded a scholarship by Middle Temple, and obtained a Distinction in his LLM.
Tim Shortt is a specialist family barrister who regularly appears in courts all across the Northern Circuit as well as in North Wales, the Midlands and the North Eastern Circuits. He has also regularly acted for clients seeking non-molestation orders, successfully arguing that such orders are necessary. He is experienced in representing vulnerable clients who are the victims of domestic abuse, appreciating the difficulties they may have participating in proceedings where they may have to indirectly interact with their abusers.
Inspector Maciej Matusiak is the MOSOVO (Management of Sexual and Violent Offenders) Inspector for Merseyside Police, with governance responsibility across three specialist functions: MAPPA, the Violent Offender Unit (VOU), and the Domestic Abuse Offender Management Team (DAOMT). He provides strategic and operational oversight for the force’s highest-risk offenders, ensuring effective multi-agency risk management, safeguarding, and public protection arrangements. His responsibilities include governance of more than 150 MAPPA offenders, approximately 80 violent offenders managed through VOU, and high-risk domestic abuse perpetrators managed through DAOMT, including those subject to Stalking Prevention Orders, MATAC, and other offender-management frameworks. As the force lead for MAPPA, Maciej oversees the full MAPPA process, chairs complex Level 2 and participate in Level 3 meetings, manages police-led cases, and ensures compliance with national standards. He works closely with Probation, local authorities, health services, prisons, and safeguarding partners to coordinate risk management and protect communities. Within VOU, he leads proactive offender management activity, overseeing intelligence development, enforcement opportunities, disruption tactics, and performance monitoring to reduce reoffending and improve public safety outcomes. In DAOMT, he has established and strengthened domestic abuse offender governance across multiple local authorities, developing effective partnerships with Probation, Housing, IDVA services, and safeguarding agencies. His focus is on moving beyond information sharing to active offender management, disruption, and behavioural change. Having attended and chaired over 500 MAPPA and related risk-management meetings, Maciej provides leadership across tactical, operational, and strategic levels, Stalking Prevention Orders, partnership working, and evidence-based offender management to improve safeguarding outcomes across Merseyside.
Rachael Banks is in house Counsel at MSB Solicitors and has over 30 years experience as a Family Law barrister. She is known for her pragmatic and sensitive approach in all types of family proceedings working closely with the Family team providing advocacy support and strategic legal advice through decades of experience and knowledge. Rachael is an extremely experienced family practitioner. She practises regularly in the Family Court, be that in the Court of Appeal or the High Court, as well as in the lower courts and Supreme Court. Rachael has a particular expertise in private law and matrimonial finance work, often representing clients in respect of both aspects of their case. Rachael is instructed in cases dealing with complex financial disputes, including high net worth assets, as well as high conflict children cases involving allegations of harm, alienating behaviours and cases involving permanent relocation. She represents parents in cases where there is disagreement in respect of the day to day living arrangements for their children, as well as those cases that require the resolution of specific issues in respect of children’s education, health or religion. Rachael is committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in order to ensure that people from all backgrounds can be part of the legal community. She is a staunch supporter of access to justice for all and undertakes pro bono work to support those that struggle to access legal advice. Rachael maintains close links with Domestic Abuse Safety Units, provides pro bono advice to residents of a local domestic abuse hostel and is committed to being a mentor to current and prospective members of the legal community.
