James Mulholland

James is regularly instructed in complex private children law proceedings. His experience includes:

• Applications for Child Arrangements Orders, including disputes as to living arrangements and contact. James routinely acts in matters involving allegations of parental alienation, physical, sexual and domestic abuse
• Applications for Specific Issue Orders, including disputes concerning education, medical treatment and holidays
• Applications for Prohibited Steps Orders, including cases concerning the removal of children from the jurisdiction or disputes relating to schooling
• Enforcement proceedings, including applications to ensure compliance with existing court orders
• Surrogacy matters, including applications for parental orders and other matters under the Human Fertility and Embryology Act 2008

James has experience of representing parents, grandparents and children at all levels of complexity. James has a particular interest in representing vulnerable parents in public law proceedings.  James is regularly instructed in lengthy hearings regarding allegations of sexual abuse, non-accidental injury, domestic abuse, emotional abuse and neglect.

James has experience of representing clients in matters concerning health, personal welfare and the deprivation of liberty. He welcomes instruction from all parties to proceedings.

James is regularly instructed in children cases with an international dimension, including disputes concerning jurisdiction, the cross-border movement of children and applications for permanent or temporary relocation. His experience includes:

• Applications under the 1980 Hague Convention, acting for both applicants and respondents in international child abduction proceedings
• Wardship and proceedings involving the inherent jurisdiction
• Applications for leave to remove children permanently or temporarily from the jurisdiction, and opposition to such applications

Oxfordshire County Council v M & Ors [2025] EWFC 256 (B)
James Mulholland instructed by Ruth Sharon of Boardman Hawkins & Osborne LLP represented a mother in a matter where the Local Authority sought final care and placement orders in respect of 4 children. The mother and Guardian sought for the children to be placed in to long term foster care for the duration of their minority. The Court determined that the children should remain in long term foster care and declined to make any placement orders.

A & B (Separate Representation) [2024] EWHC 2834 (Fam)

James Mulholland led by Richard Harrison KC successfully opposed an application before the President of the Family Division for children to be separately represented by a Solicitor Guardian; they already had representation from a CAFCASS Guardian and Solicitor in a Hague abduction matter and a summary return order had already been made

HR (Parallel Child Abduction and Asylum Proceedings) [2024] EWHC 1626 (Fam)

James Mulholland led by Richard Harrison KC of 1 Kings Bench Walk appeared before the President and a Judge of the Upper Tribunal in a successful application for a summary return of two children under the Hague Convention. The Court gave guidance on Hague abduction cases when a parent has made an asylum application.

F v M & Ors [2022] EWFC 124

D (A Child: Private Law Proceedings) [2014] EWHC 2749 (Fam)