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Grace Morton

Call 2014

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Grace Morton

EXPERTISE

Grace joined Trinity Chambers after successfully completing a common law pupillage having had experience of family, crime and civil law. Her practise swiftly became busy with regular and repeated instructions specialising in family law.

Grace prides herself on being empathetic with clients and on building rapport in order to put forward a strong and detailed case. She demonstrates attention to detail, scrutiny of evidence and strong client care.

Family - Public law

Grace is frequently instructed in care proceedings on behalf of all parties involved in public law proceedings. Her practise involves regular instructions in urgent and interim hearings as well as multi-day finding of fact and final hearings.

She is experienced in Deprivation of Liberty applications, forced marriage, FGMPO’s, applications pursuant to Adoption and Children Act 2002 and those involving jurisdictional issues. Grace is experienced in dealing with applications relating to special measures, ground rules and children giving evidence.

Grace has successfully represented the local authority in complex multi-day trials. She has demonstrated an aptitude in presenting and challenging complex medical evidence and is adept at witness handling and challenging evidence in a detailed and robust manner.

She also regularly represents parents and intervenors in all stages of the proceedings. She has defended applications that have focussed on non-accidental injuries, perpetration of abuse, domestic abuse and cases involving chronic neglect. She has extensive experience in fairly and robustly representing parents opposing care plans for children with a keen focus on the welfare of the children.

Representing the interests of children in public law proceedings, both through and separate to their children’s guardian, Grace successfully advances cases in the best interests of children.

Grace has experience in appropriately dealing with evidence from individuals with learning disabilities, including ground rules hearings and communication with intermediaries.

She has appeared before all tiers of judiciary between the District and High Court bench and before the Magistrate’s court.

Family - Private Law

Grace is also regularly instructed in private family proceedings and often appears in multi-day contested hearings on behalf of parents and children. As a result, Grace has extensive experience of proceedings involving litigants-in-person.

Grace has in-depth knowledge of disputes relating to domestic abuse from the urgent interim stage until final hearing. She successfully represents both parties raising and defending serious allegations of domestic abuse including violence, sexual abuse and abuse of minors.

Ancillary Relief/Matrimonial Finance

Grace has a strong understanding and interest in ancillary proceedings and accepts instructions for all stages of proceedings.

MEMBERSHIPS

  • North Eastern Circuit
  • The Honourable Society of Inner Temple; Called to the Bar in the Trinity Term of 2014

EDUCATION

  • M Law (Exempting) – Northumbria University (2010-2014)
  • Upper Second Class (Hons.), Degree;
  • Very Competent, BPTC.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Away from the law, Grace enjoys keeping active and walks with her Malinois dog. She is also a keen cook and baker, practising sourdough and patisserie, and maintains a vegetable and cut flower garden.

Expertise

Family - Public Law & Children
Family - Finance & Property
Administrative & Public Law

Clerking team

Steven Preen

Lead Family Clerk

Email
|
0191 245 9551

Family & Immigration Clerk

Email
|
0191 245 9531

Family Clerk

Email
|
0191 245 9530

Family & Court of Protection Clerk

Email
|
0191 245 9590

Clerk

Email
|
01642 247 569

Direct Access Clerk

Email
|
01642 247 569

  • In representing a local authority, findings were successfully sought in proceedings involving a young child suffering a subdural haematoma and several fractures. Some of the parties alleged to have inflicted the injuries had learning disabilities and required support from an intermediary; requiring a ground rules hearing and advocacy toolkit compliant cross-examination. The medical evidence was wide-ranging and complex and multiple issues relating to genetic testing were explored.
  • Instructed on behalf of a local authority, Grace successfully proved perpetration of non-accidental injuries on a young child over a sustained period, which involved handling complex timelines on possible time frames for injuries.
  • Representation of a mother in proceedings involving forced marriage, deprivation of liberty safeguards and the use of secure accommodation orders in Scotland.
  • In an application to discharge a placement order, Grace dealt with nuanced and complex welfare arguments with clear analysis of the applicable law.
  • Successful representation of a mother in a case involving chronic neglect which resulted in rehabilitation of the children to her care following a lengthy final hearing which involved unpicking the analysis of all professionals involved.
  • Representation of a mother in proceedings focussing on attachment difficulties. The case required analysis of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, welfare, proportionality and extensive psychological evidence.
  • Representation of the child in a finely balanced case where the issues related to attachment and emotional harm.
  • Application involving legal professional privilege and its scope relating to a letter written by the father in proceedings.

  • Representation of a father successfully opposing multiple serious allegations at a fact finding hearing. The allegations included domestic violence, sexual abuse/rape and sexual abuse of a child. Grace demonstrated an ability to robustly challenge allegations by a child and police evidence.
  • Representation of a mother and obtaining findings of serious domestic abuse, including sexual abuse/rape. The case required sensitive handling of evidence and special measures as a result of the father appearing as a litigant in person.
  • Representation of a mother in a complex case involving the welfare of a child with additional needs and a rebuttal of any presumption that a child should be cared for by her biological parent above other family members.
  • Successful representation of a father in an application for change in residence and internal relocation, resulting in an application for a recovery order.

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