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.
Alison also sits as a Deputy District Judge on the South Eastern Circuit.
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 is recognised for her specialism in cases involving allegations of non-accidental injury, especially head injuries and fractures, and also for acting for parents in entrenched contact and residence disputes.
Alison is ranked in Chambers UK 2012 in Band 1 of Children: Public Law Matters. She is considered to be “enormously experienced and extremely strong both intellectually and academically” while one source labels her “the solicitor of choice for complex care cases”. 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.
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. Haema increasingly works on a collaborative basis and presented a seminar at The International Association of Collaborative Professionals Annual Conference in San Franscisco on the value of collaborative solutions for LGBT family agreements both in relation to children and financial issues.
Haema is ranked in Chambers UK 2012 as a key individual and Chambers quote that sources say “She is an intelligent strategist and a thoughtful lawyer who settles those cases which can be settled, and those she fights she fights to win”
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 primary parents. Haema has written articles for New Law Journal and Family Law Week on collaborative law, same sex parenting issues and family creation arrangements.
Haema studied Law at Birmingham University and has practised exclusively in the field of family law for 20 years. She is a member of the Resolution Panel of Accredited Family Law Specialists and an experienced and enthusiastic Collaborative Family Lawyer. Haema is committed to helping clients resolve conflict 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’s professional style is that of problem solving not conflict creation.
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 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.
