Damian Stuart
Damian Stuart
MCIArb
barrister
Call: 2009
Solicitor: 1998
Damian Stuart is a specialist in proceedings under The Children Act 1989 primarily representing parents and children in care proceedings.
Formerly a solicitor (admitted in 1998), he transferred to the Bar in 2009 and has been part of the FOURTEEN family since 2013. As a solicitor, Damian was a member of the Law Society’s Children Panel and held higher rights of audience (civil proceedings).
Since 2023 Damian has been an Arbitrator qualified to sit in proceedings relating to children. For further information on when Arbitration, rather than the traditional court route, may be the right solution, please see IFLA.
Damian is said to have a sympathetic manner with clients and is known for his tenacious, thorough and forensic manner. His presentation of legal arguments (whether in writing or orally) has won praise from judges.
Damian Stuart is a specialist in proceedings under The Children Act 1989 primarily representing parents and children in care proceedings.
Formerly a solicitor (admitted in 1998), he transferred to the Bar in 2009 and has been part of the FOURTEEN family since 2013. As a solicitor, Damian was a member of the Law Society’s Children Panel and held higher rights of audience (civil proceedings).
Since 2023 Damian has been an Arbitrator qualified to sit in proceedings relating to children. For further information on when Arbitration, rather than the traditional court route, may be the right solution, please see IFLA.
Damian is said to have a sympathetic manner with clients and is known for his tenacious, thorough and forensic manner. His presentation of legal arguments (whether in writing or orally) has won praise from judges.
Specialist in:
Damian has a wealth of experience dealing with private law Children Act matters and often acts for parents, children and extended family members. In 2016, Damian represented a mother in the Court of Appeal in a case concerning allegations of honour-based violence.
Damian was a member of the Law Society’s Children Panel until his transfer to the Bar. He continues to represent local authorities, parents, family members and children in care proceedings. He is highly regarded for his work concerning non-accidental injuries and cases involving child sexual abuse. Damian has a particular skill in extracting the truth in fact finding hearing and recently extracted a witness box confession from a father who had broken his baby daughter’s leg.
Damian has recently acted for a mother who was supporting the placement of her baby with a family member in circumstances where the local authority and Guardian were supporting a Placement Order being made. The child is now with the family member under a Special Guardianship Order. In another recent case, Damian successfully resisted a finding being sought in a case where a grandfather was accused of sexually abusing two young girls.
Damian has a sympathetic approach to vulnerable witnesses and clients, but can be firm where required. His written work also frequently attracts praise from Judges.
Damian writes articles for Family Law and Family Law Week and gave a talk at White Paper 2016.
SB v A Local Authority [2012] EWCA Civ 1269
Appeal by the father against findings of fact of a sexual nature made in a three-week trial. Appeal dismissed.
Re G and E (Children) (Vulnerable Witness) [2011] EWHC 4063 (Fam); [2013] 2 FLR 1556
Preliminary application as to whether G should give oral evidence in public law proceedings relating both to herself and her younger brother, E.
Re T (A Child) [2009] EWCA Civ 1208
Mother’s application for permission to appeal against the findings of fact mad following a 5-day hearing concerning the causation of the child’s injuries in the course of the care proceedings
Damian has experience of representing parties and lecturing about the Court of Protection. He represented sisters in the case of Re FT [2015] EWCOP 49, where they faced an application for reconsideration of an order appointing them as deputies. The application was refused and an interesting costs order made against the applicants.
Re FT [2015] EWCOP 49
Application for reconsideration of order appointing two siblings as P’s deputies. Application refused and costs ordered against the Applicants.
Re G and E (Children) (Vulnerable Witness) [2011] EWHC 4063 (Fam); [2013] 2 FLR 1556
Preliminary application as to whether G should give oral evidence in public law proceedings relating both to herself and her younger brother, E.
Damian has experience of representing parties in applications for orders in family finance cases.
Damian has experience in cases concerning applications for permission to remove children from the jurisdiction and where children have been unlawfully removed. He is happy to act in out of hours emergency applications.
N (A Child) [2019] EWCA Civ 1997
Re FT [2015] EWCOP 49 Application for reconsideration of order appointing two siblings as P’s deputies. Application refused and costs ordered against the Applicants.
SB v A Local Authority [2012] EWCA Civ 1269 Appeal by the father against findings of fact of a sexual nature made in a three-week trial. Appeal dismissed.
Re G and E (Children) (Vulnerable Witness) [2011] EWHC 4063 (Fam); [2013] 2 FLR 1556 Preliminary application as to whether G should give oral evidence in public law proceedings relating both to herself and her younger brother, E.
Re T (A Child) [2009] EWCA Civ 1208 Mother’s application for permission to appeal against the findings of fact mad following a 5-day hearing concerning the causation of the child’s injuries in the course of the care proceedings
What the directories say
“He prepares cases very thoroughly and shows a real attention to detail.”
“Damian takes a pragmatic approach but deals with clients in a sensitive and friendly way.”
“He has a calm manner in court but his cross-examination is lethal.”
“A very intelligent advocate, who is very tactically astute.”
“Clients appreciate having him in their corner.”
“Damian is a pleasure to work with and a man who never shies away from a fight.”
Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2025
“A tenacious fighter for his client’s cause.”
“He’s very knowledgeable and is very committed to his clients.”
“Damian Stuart goes the extra mile and is always willing to help at short notice.”
Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2024
“Loves to get stuck in and will always fight for the underdog. He’ll always give it 100% such that the client feels he’s really given it his all.”
Chambers & Partners 2023
Awards
Professional Memberships
Family Law Bar Association
Resolution
Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple
Data Protection
Damian Stuart's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) registration number is ZA155735.
Please see here for his Data Privacy Notice.