Bronwen is a family and immigration barrister who has previously practised from Renaissance Chambers (as a pupil) and Tooks Chambers.
Before coming to the Bar she completed an MA in Religious Studies, lived and worked in Istanbul for two years, and worked for the NSPCC in London.
Bronwen is registered to accept Direct Access clients.
Areas of Practice
Family
Bronwen undertakes children work and acts in applications under the FLA 1986 and 1996.
Her experience in private law includes contested applications for temporary removal from the jurisdiction, with successful outcomes for both applicants and respondents; fact-findings; shared residence orders and shared care arrangements; proceedings with multiple parties, including separately represented children; and leave to apply for s. 8 orders, including in the context of post-adoption contact.
Her experience in public law includes contested applications for interim and final orders; s. 34(3) and (4) applications; secure accommodation; s. 8 orders in care proceedings; special guardianship as an outcome to care proceedings; cases with an international element, including placement overseas; private adoption; and leave to apply for revocation of placement orders.
She has also acted in applications for emergency orders in respect of children under the inherent jurisdiction.
Immigration
During her pupillage at Renaissance Chambers Bronwen specialised in both family and immigration law. Since joining Mansfield Chambers she is actively accepting instructions in immigration matters. She acts in asylum claims, points-based immigration claims, and applications for discretionary leave to remain pursuant to Article 8 ECHR.
Notable Cases
EV (Philippines) [2014] EWCA Civ 874
Bronwen represented the Appellants, with Shivani Jegarajah. This case dealt with relevant factors in the analysis of a child's best interests pursuant to s. 55 BCIA 2009.
PP (Sri Lanka)
Bronwen was granted permission by the Court of Appeal in an oral hearing, concerning the lack of a risk category in GJ (Sri Lanka) for Tamil women.
Javed (on the application of) v SSHD [2014] EWHC 4426 (Admin)
Bronwen successfully represented the appellant, in which it was held that for the purposes of the Immigration (Notices) Regulations 2003 valid notice of curtailment of leave cannot be established by proof of delivery to the home address of the person affected, signed for by a person unknown to them.
Bronwen assisted as a pupil on SSHD v Pankina and Others [2010] EWCA Civ 719.
Re AD-F, Willesden County Court, 08.07.11
This was a contested application for temporary leave to remove a child to Poland on holiday. Bronwen acted for the respondent mother. Although Poland is a member of the Hague Convention, Bronwen successfully opposed the application on welfare grounds.
Re DZ, South West London Family Proceedings Court, 02.08.12
This was a contested application for an ICO in respect of a newborn, where the LA’s application was supported by the Guardian. Bronwen acted for the mother. In the context of issues concerning maternal drug use, including during pregnancy, she successfully argued that the interim threshold criteria were not met.
Re PW, Inner London Family Proceedings Court, 14-16.11.12
This was a contested final hearing in care proceedings. In the context of issues concerning maternal drug use and the father’s ability to protect, Bronwen acted for the father who, with the mother, successfully opposed the making of a Care Order
Re KM and KM, High Court of Justice, Family Division 08.07.13
This was a contested application for temporary leave to remove to Jamaica on holiday. Bronwen acted for the mother in her successful application.
T v SSHD, Upper Tribunal, 08.01.14
This was a reconsideration of refusal of a Sri Lankan appellant’s claim for asylum. Judgment was given in the appellant’s favour at the end of the hearing. Bronwen successfully argued that risk was established on the basis of membership of the LTTE; numerous arrests, including two in 2011; and the appellant’s mental ill health.
Publications and Training
October 2013 Participant in a panel discussion on behalf of Peace in Kurdistan
“Anti-terror Legislation and the Obstruction of Justice:
The Implications of Mass Trials in Turkey for the Peace Process with the Kurds”
November 2011 Paper on immigration issues in private family law proceedings
Part of Tooks Chambers’ “Best Interests of the Child” seminar series on family and immigration law
September 2011 “He’s stolen the baby, can I tweet about it?”
Part of Tooks Chambers’ Family Team Conference “Facing up to the Future: Facebook and Beyond”
October 2010 Paper on immigration bail applications
Part of a Renaissance Chambers training day for solicitors
Memberships
Middle Temple
Bar Council
FLBA
Legal Friend of Gingerbread
BHRC
Qualifications
BA (First), McGill University, Canada, 2002
MA, Queens University, Canada, 2003
LLB (2:1), College of Law, London, 2009
GDL, 2008, Distinction
BVC, 2009, Very Competent
Scholarships and Prizes
Queen’s Graduate Award and Senator Frank Carrell Scholarship,
Queen’s University, Canada, 2002
Blackstone Entrance Exhibition, Middle Temple, 2008
Semi-Finalist, Peters & Peters Mooting Competition, August 2009
Other Relevant Information
Bronwen has volunteer experience for the Asylum Support Appeals Project, has accepted cases from the Bar Pro Bono Unit, and is a pro bono barrister for Bail for Immigration Detainees. She was a legal volunteer for the Lewisham People’s Commission of Inquiry as part of the evidence-gathering and research team.
Bronwen has undertaken international trial observations in Bahrain (for Front Line Human Rights Defenders, in May 2011) and in Istanbul (for Peace in Kurdistan in an ongoing trial of lawyers). To date she has observed hearings in the Istanbul trial in November 2012 and September 2013, and, following her participation in the October 2013 panel discussion, provided a report to Peace in Kurdistan on her observations.
She speaks excellent French and conversational Turkish.
Bronwen lives in North London and enjoys cycling, choral singing and vegetarian cookery.