Family Group Newsletter: Summer 2021 Edition
To view the latest edition of the Family Group Newsletter please click here. Within this update you will find a range of articles including: ‘TT...
Read moreRebecca is popular with solicitors and clients in difficult, complex and/or high-conflict private children cases. Rebecca receives instructions in private law proceedings acting for both parents, grandparents, connected carers and children (through their Rule 16.4 Guardian).
Rebecca has wide experience in the representation of parties in private law proceedings. This includes experience of:
• Complex child arrangement proceedings such as those involving allegations of domestic abuse, allegations of alienation and challenge to section 7 reports;
• Transfer of living arrangements;
• Cases involving Re W determinations and where appropriate, the cross-examination of children (and other vulnerable witnesses);
• Cases with an international element including international relocation;
• Applications relating to surrogacy and declarations of parentage;
• Female genital mutilation (FGM);
• Forced marriage;
• Allegations of factitious illness;
• Child and parental death;
• Cases involving the invocation of the inherent jurisdiction;
• Proceedings which have current or previous local authority involvement;
• Special guardianship
• Adoption.
On a number of occasions, Rebecca has secured favourable costs orders, including against publicly funded parties.
Rebecca represented the children, instructed by the National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS), in a case spanning 27 months. The case concerned a finding of parental alienation by one expert of two, and the impact of domestic abuse on child arrangements. The proceedings were described by the expert psychiatrist as “about as acrimonious as they get”. To view this reported case, please click here.
Rebecca also receives instructions in applications for injunctive relief under the Family Law Act 1996.
Rebecca is happy to represent clients in all forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution, including Arbitrations and Early Neutral Evaluations.
Qualifications
Bar Professional Training Course, Nottingham Law School, 2015
Bachelor of Laws (LLB), University of Birmingham, 2014
Memberships
The Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn
The Honourable Society of Inner Temple (Ad Eundem)
Family Law Bar Association
West Midlands Family Law Bar Association
Midland Circuit
Midland Circuit Women’s Forum (committee member)
Resolution. Rebecca sits on the committee of Young Resolution West Midlands as Education Officer and Assistant Treasurer
Reported Cases
Re V and T (Placement application; disabled child) [2022] EWFC 125
Rebecca Cross represented parents with learning difficulties whose child has significant physical and developmental needs. The local authority’s application for a final care order and placement order was successfully resisted.
To read this reported case please click here.
K v L Re M, N [2019] EWFC B50
In private children proceedings Rebecca represented the children, instructed by the National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS), in a case spanning 27 months. The case concerned a finding of parental alienation by one expert of two, and the impact of domestic violence on child arrangements. The court heavily criticised one of the expert witnesses. The proceedings were described by as “about as acrimonious as they get”. To read this reported case, please click here.
Awards/Scholarships
James Crouch Scholar (major BPC Scholarship), Gray’s Inn 2014
1st Place, No. 1 High Pavement Plea in Mitigation Competition 2015
3rd Place, Nottingham Law School 50th anniversary essay competition (judged by Lord Saville) 2022
Advanced International Advocacy Course scholar (Keble College, Oxford) 2022
Further Information
Prior to joining the Bar, Rebecca worked in Westminster as a Parliamentary Assistant to a Member of Parliament and thereafter two peers in the House of Lords, working on a wide variety of policy areas including the Armed Forces Bill and the Syrian refugee crisis.
Rebecca was nominated by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association to represent the UK at the 8th Commonwealth Youth Parliament in Victoria, British Colombia in November 2016, an annual event that is held in a different Commonwealth region each year.
Publications
Co-author of the book ‘A Practical Guide to Practice Direction 12J and Domestic Abuse in Private Law Children Proceedings’ published by Law Brief Publishing in December 2021. The link to the book can be found by clicking here.
Recommendations
Legal 500 2023: “Rebecca is a skilled and persuasive advocate. She is totally dedicated to her clients and achieves fantastic results through her calm and sensible approach. Her preparation is impeccable, with meticulous attention to detail.”
Legal 500 2022: “Rebecca is pragmatic in her approach, realistic, prepared to argue the client’s case strenuously and has a good manner with clients. She’s bright and I think is one to watch for the future in terms of financial remedy as she develops her practice area and takes on bigger cases.”
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