Naomi Dean

Naomi (led by Kristina Brown) appeared in the High Court representing the mother whose children were in care proceedings. The M’s partner was found to have sexually abused M’s children.

Naomi (led by Kristina Brown) represented the child in these very complex proceedings where the child’s sibling had been killed by his mother.

Naomi represented the local authority in public law proceedings at a multi-day (five day) finding of fact hearing in respect of two serious fractures: a fracture to the child’s left clavicle and a linear fracture to the left side parietal bone. The expert paediatrician and radiologist disagreed as to whether the injury was non-accidental or not. This required extensive cross-examination of both experts; a high level of understanding of medical injuries/concepts, and the ability to understand complex medical jargon. This was particularly challenging: cross-examination of medical experts in this manner is often done by counsel who are around 10+ years’.

Naomi successfully represented the local authority at this multi-day (four day) final hearing. The local authority recommended a special guardianship order to be made for the child to live with the maternal grandmother. The matter was complex due to the plethora of evidence, the issues in the case and the number of witnesses required. The court heard evidence from an expert psychologist which required careful and complex cross-examination of the psychologist. The papers were in excess of 1200 pages; there was a plethora of medical and police evidence, which required careful case analysis and close scrutiny.

Naomi represented the local authority throughout this 10-day final hearing which took place as a hybrid hearing. This required knowledge of Brussels II and the working arrangements of the local Polish local authority and the Polish courts. There was an additional complicating factor due to the British exit from the European Union which was scheduled for the 31st of December 2020. Therefore, for the Court to utilise Brussels II, the decision had to be made and the plans approved prior to this date.

Naomi represented a local authority in the High Court where she successfully argued the issue of designation. She was complimented by the High Court Judge on the skeleton argument she had produced for the hearing.

Naomi represented the Mother at a multi-day final hearing where the local authority had applied for a care and placement order of the parents’ child. Mother an extremely low IQ and a ‘significant learning disability’. Naomi had to be extremely vigilant during the course of Mother’s evidence to ensure that Mother was receiving a fair hearing in light of her learning disability. This case had complicated factors due to the legal aspects that were involved, due to the local authority applying for both care and placement orders and the Mother having a learning disability.

Naomi was instructed to represent the Mother at a multi-day complex hybrid finding of fact hearing. The finding of fact comprised cross-allegations of sexual abuse of the parties’ daughter, allegations of parental alienation and allegations of exposure to an intrusive and inappropriate sexual examination.