Call 1993
"He is calm, patient and pays the utmost attention to detail. His work is meticulous in terms of depth and details. He is tenacious in his approach to representing clients" Legal 500
Justin is a children law specialist, covering all aspects of public law proceedings, private disputes including relocation and change of school cases, adoption, special guardianship, medical treatment, and surrogacy.
Ranked in Tier 1 of the Legal 500 for family law for many years, Justin offers a first-class advisory and advocacy service, building on knowledge and experience acquired from practice across the North of England and in London. He provides clear, frank and comprehensive assessments of the prospects for a case, detailed advice as to tactics and evidence, and a tenacious approach in court when called for.
Justin has particular experience and interest in the international movement of children, use of the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court, parental alienation, mental health, capacity and Gillick competence, local authority obligations, and deprivation of liberty.
Justin has a renowned expertise in relation to Anglo-Scottish cross-border issues concerning the placement in Scotland of children, particularly looked after children, and vulnerable adults. He has formulated a number of successful solutions to conflicts arising within the interrelationship of English and Scottish law and regulations, published a number of articles, and on occasions acts as an expert witness on the topic in the Family Court. He regularly receives instructions from all over the jurisdiction on these matters, and has access to a wide range of materials and other resources.
He also undertakes cases concerning mental capacity, vulnerable adults, forced marriage applications, and other Court of Protection welfare cases. Justin also receives instructions in relation to judicial review in children matters, particularly relating to duties of local authorities to provide support and protection.
Justin regularly accepts instructions on a Direct Access basis for suitable cases, particularly private law children matters.
Justin is a frequent contributor to Trinity's ongoing programme of family lectures and seminars to groups including local law societies. Topics have included:
Justin is a door tenant at Harcourt Chambers, London
High Court Queen’s Bench Division - Decision of Munby J determining the interrelation of family proceedings with UK immigration controls.
High Court Family Division - whether a religious objection of a birth parent can act as a bar to an application to free her child for adoption.
Court of Appeal (led by Eleanor Hamilton QC) - proportionality of response in public law to the level of risk of harm.
Proceedings concerning detrimental press coverage that a morbidly obese child was receiving from the world’s media, and subsequently care proceedings in respect of his weight and the continuing press intrusion.
High Court Family Division - acting on behalf of a foreign government seeking the return of a foundling abducted to the UK, and considering the relevance of the country of origin's concept of welfare to English family proceedings.
High Court Family Division and Court of Appeal - whether a father should be made aware of the birth of his child born to his wife, the mother seeking adoption.
High Court Family Division - disclosure of public law documents to a foreign entity.
Supreme Court (led by Stephen Cobb QC) – appeal from the Court of Appeal in relation to the interpretation of the threshold criteria provisions in Children Act 1989 section 31.
Family Division - wardship proceedings to secure return of a child abducted to a European country in view of the reluctance of the destination country to invoke Hague Convention procedures.
Administrative Court (led by Karen Steyn QC) - resisting judicial review of local authority policy as to retention of child protection records.
Court of Appeal - successful appeal of findings of sexual abuse based on flawed medical evidence.
(Led by Nicholas Stonor QC) - decision of the President as to the effect of the residual parental responsibility remaining with natural parents following a Scottish permanence order, where the child is to be adopted in England.
Representing the child on an appeal of a factual determination involving conflicting medical evidence in relation to causation of injuries.
Representing an adoption agency on application to summarily dismiss an adoption application in spite of conflicting expert evidence.
Wardship proceedings to prevent the forced marriage of a teenage girl in a Middle Eastern country, and to successfully procure her return to the UK and have the marriage annulled.
Representing a father in the second stage of change of school and child arrangements proceedings following serious adverse findings of fact as to domestic abuse that were not accepted, and in the face of a determined Cafcass recommendation of no direct contact; at the outcome hearing the court restored shared child arrangements in an equal footing between both parents.
Decision at tier 3 relating to the placement of a vulnerable adult in Scotland, and whether her habitual residence had changed during the course of long-running proceedings in the Court of Protection.
Steve Preen joined Trinity in October 2011 after earning a position of considerable respect in HM Court Service where he worked for 17 years; he has come to Trinity with a very sound knowledge of Court procedures, especially on the Civil side.
Outside of Chambers Steve enjoys playing football at a semi professional level. He has undertaken an FA coaching certificate and coaches youngsters on a voluntary basis at a local club. He also enjoys spending time with his family and two children.
Chambers & Partners 2024
'Steven Preen, lead family clerk, Ken McLafferty, clerk, and Paula McLure, clerk, are excellent. They are always very accommodating and very helpful.'
'Steven Preen, Ken McLafferty and Paula McLure all offer a brilliant service. They are very responsive and go out of their way to assist.'
'Steven Preen and Paula McLure are at the top of their game and will go the extra mile to ensure representation is available.'
Legal 500 2024
‘Steve Preen is fantastic.’
‘Steve Preen is outstanding, he is highly personable and very helpful. A credit to chambers.’
Chambers & Partners 2023
'Steven Preen, lead family clerk, and Ken McLafferty, clerk, are particularly responsive to any queries and are always very accommodating.'
Legal 500 2023
‘Extremely friendly and helpful.’‘The clerks provide a good service; Steven Preen and Paula McLure are always incredibly helpful and respond quickly to requests.’ ‘Steven Preen is friendly and approachable, and there to help where he can.’
Legal 500 2022
'The family clerking is led by the dynamic Steven Preen and the unflappable Ken McLafferty who compliment each other to great effect.'
'Ken McLafferty and Steve Preen are excellent. They are friendly, accommodating and efficient.'
Ken joined Trinity in March 2007 after seven years clerking in Durham, culminating in being the Senior Clerk and taking on all the responsibilities so required. Working in Durham gave him the opportunity to return to the city where he spent three years enjoying life under the guise of studying for his degree in Theology and Religious Studies.
When not following the trials and tribulations of his chosen football and baseball teams Ken enjoys cooking and tending to the charges in his allotment - where he fights a losing, and seemingly never-ending, battle against the elements, weeds, and caterpillars.
Chambers & Partners 2024
'Steven Preen, lead family clerk, Ken McLafferty, clerk, and Paula McLure, clerk, are excellent. They are always very accommodating and very helpful.'
Steven Preen, Ken McLafferty and Paula McLure all offer a brilliant service. They are very responsive and go out of their way to assist.'
Chambers & Partners 2023
'Steven Preen, lead family clerk, and Ken McLafferty, clerk, are particularly responsive to any queries and are always very accommodating.'
Legal 500 2022
'The family clerking is led by the dynamic Steven Preen and the unflappable Ken McLafferty who compliment each other to great effect.'
'Ken McLafferty and Steve Preen are excellent. They are friendly, accommodating and efficient.'
Paula joined Trinity in June 2016 after 26 years in HM Court Service where she reached a position of considerable respect as the Civil and Family Listing Officer for Northumbria, skills which have stood her in good stead in her new role. Paula has come to Trinity with a very sound knowledge of Court procedures, especially with regard to listing.
Outside of Chambers Paula enjoys travelling and spending time with her family and friends.
Chambers & Partners 2024
'Steven Preen, lead family clerk, Ken McLafferty, clerk, and Paula McLure, clerk, are excellent. They are always very accommodating and very helpful.'
'Steven Preen, Ken McLafferty and Paula McLure all offer a brilliant service. They are very responsive and go out of their way to assist.'
'Steven Preen and Paula McLure are at the top of their game and will go the extra mile to ensure representation is available.'
Legal 500 2024
‘Paula McLure is a huge asset, very professional and flexible.’
Legal 500 2023
‘Extremely friendly and helpful.’‘The clerks provide a good service; Steven Preen and Paula McLure are always incredibly helpful and respond quickly to requests.’
Erin joined Chambers in December 2023 after 15 years working as a Legal Secretary, 9 of which spent working as a PA in a busy family department in a well-regarded Newcastle based Law Firm. During this time she developed great organisational skills, knowledge of Court procedures and family processes.
Outside of Chambers Erin enjoys painting, gardening and walking her dog along the Northumberland coastline.
Chris had over 9 years experience as a Senior Clerk in a barristers chambers in Middlesbrough before joining Trinity Chambers. Prior to that Chris worked in the Lord Chancellors Department, now HM Courts and Tribunals Service, at Teesside Combined Court Centre for over 10 years. During that time Chris covered most areas but the majority of his experience was gained in dealing with Criminal and Family Law matters. Chris’ latter years in the LCD were spent in the Listing Office at Teesside Crown Court where he developed his skills which ultimately saw him transferring to his role in a barristers chambers.
Chris is a member of the Institute of Barristers Clerks.
Outside of work Chris enjoys playing cricket for Marske Cricket Club in the North Yorkshire and South Durham League, watching football and rugby and socialising.
Legal 500 2025
'Chris Gibbin can only be described as outstanding - an unsung hero! He is a great ambassador for Trinity Chambers'
Legal 500 2024
‘Liam Gorman and Chris Gibbin are always on hand to deal with last minute issues, and have an excellent working relationship with local courts.’
Legal 500 2022
'Chris Gibbin is an extremely helpful and experienced clerk.'
'The Teesside branch is spearheaded by Chris Gibbin who is extremely helpful and efficient.'
Chambers & Partners 2022
'I cannot fault the clerking services – Chris Gibbin in Middlesbrough is very helpful, offers prompt responses and is always willing to assist.'
Fiona joined Trinity Chambers in 2007 after an established career in some of Scotland's top hotels and restaurants.
After gaining a BA in Hotel Catering and Management, Fiona progressed with her Food and Beverage Management career and on moving to the North East, she became one half of a North Yorkshire restaurant.
Fiona is Chambers Direct Access clerk and has found that her previous experience has stood her in good stead being in a client focused role. Fiona also looks after Chambers Governance and Compliance, and collates Chambers submissions for the Legal Directories.
Outside Chambers Fiona and her Labrador Olly volunteer with Wag & Co North East Friendship Dogs.
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