Clare Bishop

Clare has experience across all aspects of private law proceedings including complex fact-finding and final hearings in contact disputes and internal and international relocation cases.

Clare is regularly instructed in highly contentious disputes featuring serious domestic abuse, sexual abuse and welfare concerns. Clare provides clients with clear and realistic advice, helping them to achieve the best possible outcome in their case.

Clare also accepts instructions in proceedings under the Family Law Act (non-molestation and occupation orders, and transfer of tenancy), in particular in relation to applications linked to Children Act proceedings and/or involving vulnerable parties and children.

Some of Clare’s recent cases include:

• obtaining findings of serious domestic abuse, including coercive and controlling behaviour, which resulted in an order for no contact;
• representing a party after the court had made serious findings of sexual abuse and inappropriate behaviour towards the child;
• successfully opposing an application for parental responsibility and to spend time with the child, on the basis of a caution for assault against the mother and breaches of a non-molestation order;
• successfully resisting an application to take the child on holiday to India, due to concerns that the child would not be returned to this jurisdiction;
• successfully opposing applications to relocate to Australia, India and Portugal (and in other cases succeeding in applications for relocation to the USA and within Europe);
• representing a Rule 16.4 Children’s Guardian in a seven-day rolled up fact-finding and final hearing in a high conflict case. Findings of alienating behaviour were made, resulting in a change of residence.

Clare has appeared on behalf of parents, Guardians and other family members at all stages of public law proceedings. Clare has handled complex cases involving significant domestic abuse, substance misuse, chronic neglect and mental health issues.

Clare has very significant experience dealing with vulnerable parties. Clare will always ensure that vulnerable clients understand the legal process and that their expectations are managed appropriately.

Recently Clare represented a respondent mother in a five-day final hearing where she successfully resisted findings being made in relation to the mother’s alcohol usage despite positive hair strand tests.

Clare has represented clients at all stages of financial remedy proceedings including enforcement, variations, interim applications for maintenance pending suit and LSPO-type applications, as well as applications under Schedule 1 of the Children Act. Clare also has experience of arbitration in particularly acrimonious cases.

Clare also accepts instructions in proceedings under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act (TOLATA) in matters related to family law.

Clare has a meticulous approach in analysing financial disclosure as she draws upon her previous career where she was involved in analysing extensive financial information in relation to terrorist financing.

Clare has acted for both applicants and respondents in cases brought under the Hague Convention as well as in child abduction cases to non-Hague countries.

In February 2024, Clare was nominated for a Bar Pro Bono Award for her involvement in several complex international cases for Advocate, despite being only three months post-pupillage.

In her recent cases Clare has acted for the respondent mother in a case brought under the Hague Convention for the child to return to France. Clare successfully argued that the case should not have been brought under the Hague Convention due to the father consenting to the move. The father’s application was dismissed.