Kate Fenwick
'A tenacious advocate with an eye for detail. Her ability to think on her feet is excellent and her knowledge of the law is prodigious.'
Legal 500
Kate is an experienced and busy family barrister. She recently returned to full-time practice at Trinity Chambers following a year gaining experience offshore in Bermuda. Kate specialises in complex and document-heavy family proceedings with an international element. She has particular expertise in the international relocation of children.
Kate assists Private Client and other multi-disciplinary wealth protection teams in stress-testing the resilience of wealth protection structures to divorce.
Kate was appointed as a Deputy District Judge in 2024, authorised to hear a broad range of civil and family cases, and became a Panel Member of the Bermuda Human Rights Tribunal in 2025. Her judicial insight and advocacy experience allow her to deliver pragmatic, outcome-focused advice in both litigation and negotiation.
Kate’s offshore experience in commercial litigation – including directors’ duties, breach of confidence and reinsurance disputes – enhances her ability to manage financial remedy cases where corporate and fiduciary issues intersect with family breakdown.
Kate is consistently recognised in Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners as a Leading Junior in family law, particularly for her detailed preparation, robust advocacy and client-focused approach. She is described as: “A brilliant advocate… very good with clients, instils confidence and is a very sophisticated advocate” (Chambers & Partners, 2025) and “An exceptional junior…a tough negotiator and eloquent advocate” (Legal 500, 2024).
Kate prides herself on her approachability and is sought-after for her pragmatic approach to solving problems despite the complexity of the proceedings.
EXPERTISE
Private Law Children
Kate’s private law children practice focuses on fact-sensitive cases which involve the most serious of issues including domestic abuse, parental alienation and emotional harm, and sexual abuse. Kate also has a strong practice in complex international relocation cases involving both Hague and Non-Hague countries.
Kate handles the most challenging issues concerning children including:
- Alienating behaviours
- Domestic abuse and violence
- Coercive and controlling behaviour
- Allegations of serious sexual abuse of children
- Temporary and permanent removal of children from the jurisdiction
Kate is a keen advocate for all forms of Non-Court Dispute Resolution (NCDR) and pro-actively advises on the advantages of Private DRAs, Arbitrations and RTMs.
Financial Remedy
Kate has experience and expertise in a broad range of family financial disputes including:
- Disputed business assets and valuations
- Matrimonialisation of assets
- Imerman and illegally-obtained evidence
- Financial abuse and dissipation of assets
- Reviewable dispositions of matrimonial property
- Ante-nuptial agreements
- Offshore trusts and asset protection structures
Kate brings the weight of her offshore commercial litigation experience to her financial remedy practice. She is well-versed in issues of directors duties, breach of confidence claims and Bermuda trusts.
Kate is comfortable with complex commercial structures involving offshore elements and is able to effectively and incisively cross-examine experts charged with valuing closely-held private companies.
Public Law Children
Kate has extensive experience of representing children, parents and Local Authorities in the most complex public law cases. She is regularly instructed in cases involving serious non-accidental injury and as junior counsel in cases involving allegations of FII.
Kate is particularly sought after for cases involving allegations of serious sexual abuse of both adults and children – including historical allegations and grooming. Kate recently secured findings of serious sexual abuse perpetrated on a child who was non-verbal due to a genetic condition.
Kate has also acted in cases involving the highly sensitive issues of FGM and forced marriage.
Kate has a strong international arm to her practice and has been instructed in cases involving both Hague and non-Hague countries.
Cases of note:
- Re NW (2023) – Led by Charlotte Worsley KC for the children in a case concerning allegations of FII. The case involved multiple experts and over 10,000 pages of medical evidence.
- Re SE (2023) – Represented the Local Authority and secured findings of sexual abuse in respect of a disabled, non-verbal child.
- Re ET (2022) – Led by Charlotte Worsley KC for the Mother in a case concerning allegations of FII.
- Re RC (2021) – Led by Tina Cook KC for the complainant child in a case concerning allegations of inter-sibling sexual abuse, including penetration. All findings were secured.
- Re RD (Deprivation or Restriction of Liberty) [2018] EWFC 47
- Re B-S (Children) (2018); appeared solo in the Court of Appeal and successfully appealed the Court’s earlier decision to refuse the Local Authority’s application for Care and Placement Orders
- Re O (2020); successfully represented the Local Authority in the High Court in respect of an application for an FGM Protection Order and concurrent Care Proceedings.
- Re C (2020); represented the Local Authority during a 9-day finding of fact hearing involving malicious allegations of sexual abuse of the child made by each parent as against the other.
NCDR/Arbitration
Alongside her litigation practice, Kate is a committed advocate of Non-Court Dispute Resolution (NCDR).
Kate welcomes instructions to appear in the following:
- Private DRA
- Private FDR
- Arbitration: Children
- Arbitration: Financial Remedy
- RTM
During her time practising offshore, Kate was involved in the drafting and set-up of the Family Arbitration Scheme alongside other key stakeholders of CIArb (Bermuda). The scheme is being developed in Bermuda in partnership with CIArb and will be the first of its kind in Bermuda, providing a forum to arbitrate both financial remedy and private law children disputes.
Expert Instructions
During her time practising offshore, Kate was instructed as an expert on Bermuda family law in proceedings before the English courts, particularly in public and private law children cases involving the placement of children in Bermuda.
Kate remains available to accept instructions of this nature.
APPOINTMENTS
- Deputy District Judge (2024)
- Bermuda Human Rights Tribunal - Panel Member (2025)
MEMBERSHIPS
- North Eastern Circuit
- Family Law Bar Association
- Associate Member, Royal College of Paediatric and Child Health (RCPCH)
- The Honourable Society of Inner Temple
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS & EDUCATION
- Public Access Qualified
- Financial Analysis and Valuation for Lawyers, Harvard Law School (2025)
- Registered Associate, Bermuda (2024-2025)
- BPTC, Bristol Institute of Legal Practice
- LLB (Hons), University of Exeter
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Kate is available to deliver CPD training to solicitors and clients across her specialist areas.
Steven Preen
Lead Family Clerk
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 McLafferty
Family & Immigration Clerk
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 McLure
Family Clerk
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 May
Family & Court of Protection Clerk
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.
Fiona Bullock
Direct Access Clerk
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.
Chris Gibbin
Criminal & Family Clerk
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.'