Christopher is instructed to act on behalf of parents and children in the most complex of private law disputes, often involving alleged intractable hostility and/or serious allegations of parental abuse. He has extensive experience of litigation concerning the proposed permanent international relocation of children.

Christopher regularly appears on behalf of local authorities, parents and children’s guardians in cases involving complex expert medical evidence and/or disputed scientific evidence. He also has a particular interest in public law cases which have an interface with immigration or international issues.

Recent cases of note

Re JH (A child) March 2018

Christopher Miller represented the father of a child who had suffered significant intra-cranial and spinal bleeding linked with hypoxic-ischaemic brain damage and retinal haemorrhages. There was a consensus between 6 experts at an experts’ meeting that the child’s presentation was most likely as a result of an inflicted shaking or impact type injury. However, the parents’ team were able to identify features of the pathology which indicated that it was just as likely to have been caused by a combination of birth processes, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and a spinal abnormality. The local authority withdrew the case half way through the fact-finding hearing and the child was returned to the parents’ care shortly thereafter.

28th October 2015 | Bailii

Re CB (No. 3) (Adoption and Children Act 2002) [2015] EWHC 3274 (Fam)

Christopher Miller represented the Local Authority in the third reported judgment in these proceedings.  Here, Moylan J deals with the proposed adopters' application for an Adoption Order, which was opposed by the mother - supported by representations made on behalf of the Latvian authorities.  The application was granted.

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16th August 2015 | Jordan's

Re CB (A Child) (No. 2) (Adoption Proceedings: Vienna Convention) [2016] 1 FLR 1286, [2016] 2 WLR 470

The Court of Appeal provides definitive guidance on issues relating to the interface between ECHR Law, BIIa, the Vienna Convention and domestic adoption jurisprudence. The Latvian Ministry of Justice intervened in the appeal in opposition to the Local Authority and in support of the mother. The mother's appeal was dismissed.  Christopher Miller represented the Local Authority.

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19th December 2014 | Jordan's

Re CB (A Child) (No. 1) (Adoption Application: Permission To Oppose) [2016] 1 FLR 1261

Christopher Miller represented the Local Authority in an application, made by the mother, for permission to oppose an adoption.  The mother, supported by the Latvian authorities, applied for a transfer of the proceedings to the Latvian court under Art 15 Brussels II Revised, permission to oppose the adoption and contact.  All three applications were refused by Moylan J

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31st March 2011

Re W (Residential Assessment) [2011] EWCA Civ 661; [2011] 2 FLR 1024

Care proceedings — Residential parenting assessment — Public funding of application — Mother mentally ill — Whether appropriate to order residential assessment before psychiatric report obtained — Whether mother's application for residential assessment to be dismissed or adjourned — Funding considerations

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12th August 2008

Re S (Residential Assessment) [2008] EWCA Civ 1078; [2009] 2 FLR 397

Care proceedings — Residential assessment — Delay — Mother's behaviour — Risk that child would lose foster placement — Whether assessment required

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Christopher regularly represents high net worth clients and appears in cases that involve issues such as foreign assets, trusts, nuptial agreements, linked POCA proceedings and complex business assets.

Recent cases of note

L v L October 2018

Matrimonial finance case involving a British Virgin Islands Trust owned by a Hong Kong Trustee. Complex issues involving the tax consequences of de-enveloping part or all of the trust in addition to whether or not the trust was a sham and, if not a sham, whether or not it was a nuptial settlement capable of being varied.

McN c McN and B v McN March 2017

Christopher represented the majority ultimate owner (through various offshore legal entities) of an oil brokerage company in actions brought against him under schedule 1 of CA 1989 by the mother of his youngest child and matrimonial finance proceedings brought by his ex-wife at a time when the multi-million dollar sale of his oil brokerage company in tranches was pending. Complex issues arose concerning the balancing of risk arising from aggressive taxation planning, currency fluctuation and contingent pricing of tranches of the company depending on future performance.

Chris has been interested in the international movement of children and the conflict of laws from the outset of his career. He has represented clients in reported cases concerning the Hague Convention (abduction of children), Brussels II Revised and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations at both High Court and Court of Appeal level.

16th August 2015 | Jordan's

Re CB (A Child) (No. 2) (Adoption Proceedings: Vienna Convention) [2016] 1 FLR 1286, [2016] 2 WLR 470

The Court of Appeal provides definitive guidance on issues relating to the interface between ECHR Law, BIIa, the Vienna Convention and domestic adoption jurisprudence. The Latvian Ministry of Justice intervened in the appeal in opposition to the Local Authority and in support of the mother. The mother's appeal was dismissed.  Christopher Miller represented the Local Authority.

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19th December 2014 | Jordan's

Re CB (A Child) (No. 1) (Adoption Application: Permission To Oppose) [2016] 1 FLR 1261

Christopher Miller represented the Local Authority in an application, made by the mother, for permission to oppose an adoption.  The mother, supported by the Latvian authorities, applied for a transfer of the proceedings to the Latvian court under Art 15 Brussels II Revised, permission to oppose the adoption and contact.  All three applications were refused by Moylan J

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7th November 2014 | Bailii

C v S [2014] EWHC 3799 (Fam)

Father's application for the summary return of his son to Australia. Application granted.

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