Appeal arising from Hague Convention proceedings in which the High Court Judge at first instance made an order for DNA paternity testing of the child. The Court of Appeal held such direction to be premature, and instead that the Court should have awaited the outcome of expert evidence in relation to Latvian law to establish whether the respondent father had a “right of custody” without the need for the father to be a biological parent

Robin Powell, representing the Local Authority, successfully appealed against a finding made by the Judge at first instance that four rib fractures suffered by a baby were sustained accidentally by overlying while co-sleeping with her mother. The Court of Appeal allowed the appeal and remitted the case for rehearing. To read a full case summary, please click here

Appeal against ICO; injunction under Human Rights Act 1998, to keep mother and child together, considered. Appeal dismissed.

Baby exchange scam in Nigeria. DNA test confirmed the parents were not the biological parents of the baby. Parents found to be innocent of any wrongdoing. Which future placement was in the best interests of the baby?

Fact-finding hearing regarding a baby-exchange scam in Nigeria. DNA test confirmed the parents were not the biological parents of the baby. The question was whether the parents had knowingly participated in the scam.

Coleridge J considered whether parents were complicit in bringing a young baby to the UK from Nigeria and holding him out as their own. Robin Powell successfully represented the parents, the Court finding that they were in fact duped and entirely innocent

Unsuccessful appeal by Local Authority from Recorder’s order refusing interim care orders in relation to the two youngest (of four) children where the Recorder had granted interim care orders in relation to the older children.

Robin Powell, instructed by the Local Authority, successfully defended an appeal brought against the Court’s decision to make Placement Orders in respect of two children, despite errors made by the Local Authority during the substantive proceedings

An appeal by the mother against an order for summary return was granted because the judge at first instance failed to give reasons for his finding that the child would not be at risk of grave harm despite a video of the father making threats to kill the child and the mother making allegations of the father threatening to kill her and her children during episodes of heavy drinking.

Paternity testing in abduction case.