Called to the UK Bar: 2008

Called to the Irish Bar: 2016

Deirdre (Dee) is a highly experienced, dual-qualified barrister called to the Bar in both England and the Republic of Ireland. She is a specialist in family, criminal and regulatory law, with a broad practice that also encompasses civil and commercial proceedings.

Dee adopts an empathetic, client-focused approach, providing strong, compassionate representation for those who struggle to advocate for themselves, including vulnerable adults and children, individuals with disabilities, and clients dealing with mental health challenges.

Prior to joining the Bar, Dee worked extensively in child protection and social care. She served as a Child Protection Officer and Children’s Rights Advocate, obtaining Criminal Injuries Compensation for children in care and visiting disabled children’s homes to ensure safe environments and access to education. Dee’s background in social work, probation, and the Ministry of Justice has given her unique insights across the social care, legal, and prison services, allowing her to adopt a holistic approach when advising and representing clients.

Dee appears regularly in the Family Court, County Court, High Court, Crown Court, and Court of Appeal. Notably, she was part of the legal team in the first-ever televised hearing at the Supreme Court of Ireland, securing a historic victory for her clients.

Areas of Practice

Family Law:

• Care, Adoption, Protection and Child Arrangement proceedings
• All aspects of Local Authority proceedings
• Injunctive proceedings (non-molestation and occupation orders)
  Dee is well-versed in representing both parents and local authorities in complex child protection and care proceedings. Her experience with social services, the probation service, and mental health and substance misuse allows her to support clients with highly sensitive cases, including those involving serious abuse, radicalisation, and complex family dynamics.

Criminal Law:

• Serious violence (GBH, ABH)
• Public order offences, affray and violent disorder
• Sexual offences, drugs, harassment, and motoring offences
• Local authority prosecutions and regulatory proceedings. Dee has extensive experience advising and representing clients in the Magistrates’ Court and Crown Court. She has a deep understanding of sentencing, breach proceedings, parole hearings, and licence conditions gained from her time working within the probation service. Through this experience, she has developed a thorough understanding of rehabilitation and the needs of vulnerable offenders.

Other:

• Landlord & Tenant
• Civil and Commercial
• Asylum & Human Rights
• Parole Hearings
• Mental Health Hearings
• Problem-Solving Court work – Alcohol, drugs, anti-social behaviour proceedings.
• POCA proceedings.
• Education Law
• School Appeals
• Prison Work 
• Probation 
• Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
• Children's Rights 
• Social Work 

International

Direct Access Services:

Dee is authorised for direct access instruction and welcomes briefs from both solicitors and members of the public. Dee is available to accept direct access instructions in the following court centres: Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Coventry, Derby, Gloucester, Hereford, Leicester, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Nottingham, Oxford, Reading, Stoke-on-Trent, Telford, Walsall, Wolverhampton, and Worcester.

Additional Expertise:
Dee holds an LLM in International Human Rights from Birmingham City University and has a keen interest in asylum and judicial review proceedings. She is an accredited ADR mediator and has acted in civil and commercial disputes.

Appointments and Memberships:

• West Midlands Family Bar Association
• Birmingham Law Society Family and Criminal Committees
• Mental Health Lawyers Association
• Criminal Bar Association
• Association of Lawyers for Children
• Midland Circuit and Justice
• Family Law Committee
• Midland Women’s Forum
• Women in Criminal Law

Education and Qualifications:

• Call to the Bar, England (2008), Lincoln’s Inn
• Call to the Bar, Ireland (2016), King’s Inns, Dublin
• LLM International Human Rights, Birmingham City University
• Bar Vocational Course, Inns of Court School of Law, London
• LLB (Hons), University of Wolverhampton
• BA (Joint Honours), American and Political Science Studies, University of Ulster, Northern Ireland
• Certificate in Arbitration, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, London
• ADR Civil and Commercial Mediation

Reported Cases:

• Re S (A Child) [2016] EWCA Civ. 495 (Court of Appeal)
• Re J.G.H v Residential Institutions Review Committee and Anor [2017] IESC 69 (Supreme Court of Ireland)

Additional Interests:
Outside of her legal practice, Dee serves as a director for a not-for-profit community housing company and works with serious risk offenders to support their rehabilitation and successful reintegration into the community. An accomplished martial artist, Dee has represented Northern Ireland at the European Judo Championships.