St. Philips
Yolanda Pemberton

Introduction

Yolanda is ranked in Chambers UK and as a Leading Junior in Legal 500. She is also a founding Board Member of Women in Family Law. Yolanda has a particular emphasis on complex public law children. Yolanda specialises in all aspects of child law with an extensive background in all aspects of public law, private law children work, Forced Marriage (including FGM), Brussels II, Wardship and Inherent Jurisdiction.

Yolanda has an extensive background and experience of representing local authorities, parents and children in public law cases involving serious injuries to children, FII, fractures, bruising, attempted suffocation, sexual abuse (including subject child as victim and perpetrator), complex medical issues, mental health, including parents who require the assistance of the Official solicitor (acting for both parents via the Official Solicitor) and child death. In addition, Yolanda has experience of representing both parents and local authorities in adoption proceedings.

In private law children work this includes representing parents, grandparents, children and all other family members in cases involving child arrangements orders including high conflict and intractable disputes (including involving 16.4 appointments), applications to remove children from the jurisdiction, applications to relocate children within the jurisdiction, specific issues relating to education, medical and religion, issues of mental health, fact-finding hearings and domestic abuse within families.

Yolanda is known for her meticulous preparation of all of her cases, being able to quickly and expertly get to the core of any dispute and known to be uncompromising in her approach for any client, ensuring they receive the best and most robust representation.

Yolanda excels with vulnerable clients in complex cases.

Yolanda has experience before all levels of judiciary including the Court of Appeal.

Notable Cases

Re I [2020] representing Children in care proceedings in which mother made serious allegations against father and other professionals

Re PH [2020] representing Children in care proceedings in High Court where child found to have suffered non accidental injuries head injuries sin unwitnessed fall

Re H [2019] representing M in successful application to discharge of care order

Re MC [2019] representing local authority in non-accidental injuries finding of fact

Re W [2019] representing Children in care proceedings when M lacked capacity

Re BS [2019] junior counsel representing the LA in respect of a dead baby in the High Court

Re SM [2019] representing Children in care proceedings in the High Court (reported)

Re C [2019] representing Mother in care proceedings where F had a conviction for manslaughter of a previous child

Re K [2019] representing Children in care proceedings in the High Court where M was found to have abducted the child from Mexico

Re M T [2018] representing  Children in care proceedings where parents were convicted of terrorism offences

Re EB [2018] representing father in care proceedings when baby  suffered injuries in alleged shaking incident

Re RB [2018] representing Children in care proceedings in the High Court where parents fled the jurisdiction

Re BA [2018] representing father in care proceedings in the High Court where it was alleged that the child had been radicalised

Re S [2017] representing father in care proceedings where there were concurrent criminal proceedings for the murder of the children’s mother

Re F  [2017] representing mother in care proceedings where she was alleged to concealed her second pregnancy the first have resulted in the death of the baby

Re W [2017] representing the local authority in care proceedings involving  a child where it was unclear whether or not the child was still alive

Re L [2017] representing Children in care proceedings in the High Court where parents had subjected child to gross neglect, bullying and abuse

Re M [2016] representing mother in care proceedings where child had sustained 46 separate injuries

Re E [2016] reported case

Re B [2016] represent Mother in care  proceedings where baby suffered non accidental injuries

Reported Cases

Court of Appeal in Re B (A Child) [2014] EWCA Civ 565

Re E (A Child) [2016] EWCA Civ 473.

A County Council v Mother [2020] EWFC 15

Appointments and Memberships

Association Of Lawyers for Child (ALC)

Family Law Bar Association (Both National and Regional)

ADR Trained Mediator

Direct Access Accredited

Testimonials

“She’s really effective and excellent with clients, and her advocacy and preparation are very good.” Chambers UK 2022
“She’s a very calming influence in any case and is utterly unflappable.” Chambers UK 2022
“Yolanda is a first rate advocate whose attention to detail is second to none. She brings a calmness to her client’s case; a sense that her client is in safe hands and will do all that can be done to achieve the best outcome.” Legal 500
“She’s an excellent advocate who is always very well prepared and provides very effective written material. She has a clear eye on the pertinent issues in a case, and an excellent rapport with clients.” Chambers UK
“A commanding advocate who is always thoroughly prepared.” Chambers UK
“Through dedicated preparation and razor-sharp advocacy, she ensures the best results for her clients.” Chambers UK
“Very well prepared and unflappable, I have absolute confidence in her abilities.” Chambers UK

Yolanda Pemberton

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Yolanda Pemberton
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