Our aim is to give you the advice which will allow you to make the best possible decisions about your family and the future.
Our approach is to seek agreement wherever that is possible, using court proceedings only as a last resort and never for their own sake. Where it is necessary to litigate, we will represent you with care and vigour.
We will give you sensible and sensitive advice; where we feel that you would be best served by an expert from another discipline, as well as or instead of a lawyer, we can help you identify that person.
Kevin is a founder member of Lynch and Co, the predecessor firm of Covent Garden Family Law. His work focuses on children’s law with particular emphasis on working for fathers. His strong forensic background developed over a long period of representing defendants charged with serious criminal offences gives him a particular insight in difficult care cases involving local authorities.
Kevin manages all the administration of the firm and is the first port of call for all general enquiries. Kevin's pragmatism and "can-do" attitude keeps the practice running smoothly.
Angela represents parents and children in public and private law proceedings. She qualified in 1986 and has practised in family and children law in two other high-profile firms before becoming a consultant at Covent Garden Family Law in 2004. She is a member of the Law Society Children Panel and has Higher Rights of Audience. She has conducted appeals in the High Court. She has also lectured social workers and child therapist students on childcare law and procedure.
She spent several years working for a prominent human rights NGO in the West Bank and is regularly contracted by the European Commission and by other agencies (including UNICEF) as an expert consultant on human rights missions, usually in the Islamic world, and in West Africa. She has an LLM in Human Rights and Islamic Law. In the last two years, she has advised on the reform of the legal system in Mauritania, advised on the development of the Ministry of Human Rights in Yemen, advised on child protection in Afghanistan, and has evaluated a child trafficking programmed in Ghana, Mali and Niger.
Alison studied law at Queens’ College, Cambridge and qualified as a solicitor in 1993. Since then she has specialised in family law, particularly children’s cases. She joined Covent Garden Family Law as a partner in 2009 from a well known central London firm, where she was a partner.
Alison can advise about private law children issues, especially those which arise when parents separate, such as contact and residence disputes. She is experienced also in adoption and special guardianship cases, as well as international issues such as child abduction and relocation.
Alison has a particular interest in advising same-sex couples about legal issues affecting their families, such as those involving assisted reproduction. At her previous firm, she was involved in the case of Re G {2006}, a dispute between two lesbian parents which led to a ruling from the House of Lords.
Alison represents parents and children in care cases, and is a member of the Law Society’s children panel. She specialises in cases involving allegations of non-accidental injury, especially head injuries and fractures.
Alison was described in Chambers 2009 as ‘working exceedingly hard for her clients and looking after them to the nth degree’. She has written and lectured widely on family law issues and has appeared on the BBC Woman’s Hour as an expert on lesbian parenting disputes click here to listen. She is an active member of Resolution and sits on its London Committee.
Alison is also recommended by the Legal 500
Haema qualified as a solicitor in 1992 having studied Law at Birmingham University. She has 18 years experience exclusively in the field of family law. She is a member of the Resolution Panel of Accredited Family Law Specialists with portfolios in cohabitation law and private law children work. Haema is also an experienced Collaborative Family Lawyer and is a Committee member of the International Association of Collaborative Professionals. Haema is committed to helping clients resolve conflicts following relationship breakdown and to reach lasting solutions in line with their own priorities and needs, whether through the collaborative process, negotiated settlements or the court system. Haema sits on the Steering Group of Resolution’s Parenting after Parting initiative.
Haema was featured as The Times Lawyer of the Week for her involvement in the case Re: D [2006] EWHC 2 (Fam) concerning the grant of parental responsibility and contact in a case involving a known father and same sex parents where it was necessary to limit the impact of a parental responsibility order so as to protect the integrity of the child´s family. Haema has written articles for New Law Journal and Family Law Week and has given legal seminars for Legal Action Group and Rights of Women.
Haema has developed a wealth of experience in advising on the financial aspects of the end of a relationship. She also deals with issues surrounding arrangements for children including parenting agreements, contact and residence issues. Haema has specialised in the family law issues which affect same-sex couples, including advising on family creation agreements, parental responsibility and surrogacy.
Simon qualified as a solicitor in 1991 and was head of the Family Departments of two well known London firms. He then practiced at the Family Bar for five years in the Chambers of Owen Davies QC and Courtenay Griffiths QC. Simon now works in-house at Covent Garden Family Law as an employed barrister.
Simon has considerable experience of representing both parents and children in particular, vulnerable parents with mental health or alcohol problems in care proceedings. He has also been involved in lengthy and difficult cases involving serious non-accidental injuries; sexual abuse and incest; people trafficking; teenage mothers and also cases with an international element. In addition to his Public Law practice Simon also undertakes Private Law children work and deals with adoption applications and Special Guardianship Orders. Simon was a member of the Law Society´s Children and Mental Health Panels and upon admission to the Bar became a member of the Family Law Bar Association and was also Chair of the London Children Lawyers Group. Simon was instructed in the case of Re: C [2006] 2 FLR 787 which ruled that in exceptional circumstances the court has power to make a declaration that the local authority be absolved from the duty to provide information or consult with a parent about the child.
Philippa studied law at Dundee University and qualified as a solicitor in Manchester in 1995. She now specialises in Public Law children cases and is a longstanding member of the Law Society Children Panel . She has a postgraduate diploma in child studies from King’s College London, which she completed in June 2002.
Philippa acts for both children and parents in childcare cases involving the local authority. She has a high level of expertise which allows her to undertake complex cases. Philippa believes in going the extra mile for the good of her clients, and is well known for her commitment and patience. Philippa joined the firm in 2002 to work with Jane Brodie whose guidance and influence helped her to complete her development as an expert in childcare. Philippa is also very experienced in private law disputes involving residence and contact and has a special interest in Special Guardianship.
