Joanna Smith

Joanna regularly appears for parents and grandparents in a wide range of applications including disputes over shared care, schooling, foreign travel and the urgent return of children retained in breach of an order. Joanna has particular experience representing parents in contested hearings regarding allegations of domestic abuse, child abuse, historical sexual abuse, and controlling or alienating behaviours. She also regularly represents parents seeking and opposing relocation applications.

A v A – acting on behalf of the respondent mother in a contested fact-finding hearing, Joanna secured findings of controlling and coercive behaviour, (including religious and financial control) sexual abuse and attempted rape.

A v ZA – represented the respondent mother in an application for contact where the child’s older (non-subject) sibling made allegations of historic sexual abuse during the course of the proceedings. Joanna secured findings that the incidents of historic abuse had taken place some 11 years ago and further findings of serious abuse of the mother.

Joanna regularly acts in care proceedings for parents, grandparents and children through their Guardians at all stages of proceedings. She is experienced at navigating a range of issues including chronic neglect, domestic abuse, substance misuse, mental health and cases where the children are at risk of child sexual exploitation.

Joanna represents clients in a broad range of financial remedy disputes including applications on divorce, cohabitee disputes under TLATA 1996 and applications under Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989. Joanna has acted in cases involving third party interests, interim maintenance and LSPO applications.

D v D – Joanna successfully represented the Wife in defending the Husband’s assertion that a) she had any beneficial interest in foreign properties under her mother’s name, nor that b) his mother had a beneficial interest in the property in his name.

M v M – successfully represented the Husband in a dispute over chattels including the family labrador.

A v A Acting on behalf of the respondent mother in a contested fact-finding hearing, Joanna secured findings of controlling and coercive behaviour, (including religious and financial control) sexual abuse and attempted rape.

A v ZA Represented the respondent mother in an application for contact where the child’s older (non-subject) sibling made allegations of historic sexual abuse during the course of the proceedings. Joanna secured findings that the incidents of historic abuse had taken place some 11 years ago and further findings of serious abuse of the mother.

D v D Joanna successfully represented the Wife in defending the Husband’s assertion that a) she had any beneficial interest in foreign properties under her mother’s name, nor that b) his mother had a beneficial interest in the property in his name.

M v M Successfully represented the Husband in a dispute over chattels including the family labrador.