Elizabeth Hepworth

Call 2004
Email elizabeth.hepworth@3pb.co.uk
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Elizabeth is a family specialist with an emphasis on Public Law and Private law matters. In Public Law proceedings she represents not only parents, but also Local Authorities and Guardians.

Elizabeth has extensive experience of the family courts in the Western and S.E circuits; this gives her adaptability to differing approaches of judicial style and also to clients of differing background and ethnicities.

In Public law cases, she has dealt with the following matters;-

• unexplained death of infants and small children
• multiple injuries to children involving uncertain perpetrators
• chronic neglect cases
• Cases involving mental health issue, psychosis and BPD.
• Uncertain perpetrator cases
• Section 38(6) applications
• Designated local authority issues
• Cases involving chronic addictions (drugs/alcohol)
• Social work incompetence

In private law cases;

• Intractable parental disputes
• Cases involving allegations of domestic abuse
• Change of name/religion
• Grand parent/wider family applications
• Applications to remove children from jurisdiction
• Blood transfusion objections
• Complex medical issues
• Fact finding hearings
• Hague Convention applications

Elizabeth also undertakes some ancillary relief and advises in TOLATA applications. She also deals with family law act injunctions.

Elizabeth prides herself on being approachable; sympathetic; offering practical, realistic and effective advice. She is able to deal with clients with learning difficulties, having spent some time as a mentor for learning disabled adults. Has acted for the official solicitor in several matters where clients are assessed as lacking competence.

She has represented children as young as 10 years old adjudged as competent to make their own applications.

Speaks conversational French, a little German and can greet clients in Urdu!