Adreeja is a specialist practitioner with over 20 years experience in the law relating to children, (public and private law), international movement of children, forced marriages and crossover practice in Court of Protection work and the deprivation of liberty for children and young persons.
She regularly appears in care and adoption proceedings with an international element including immigration and cross-border issues. Adreeja’s public children law practice includes representing local authorities, parents (including those acting by the Official Solicitor) and children in serious physical and sexual abuse cases.
As a result of her expertise in Court of Protection work (see Court of Protection CV) she is often instructed in care/secure accommodation order cases where a child or young person may be deprived of his or her liberty and where capacity issues arise in relation to both children and adults.
Adreeja also conducts within private law proceedings intractable residence/contact disputes, including cases of parental alienation, and internal and external relocation disputes.
She is frequently instructed on behalf of children, whether by their Cafcass Guardian or by NYAS.
Adreeja is a leading national expert in forced marriage cases and was a guest speaker on this topic at the UK Association of UK Women Judges, speaking after Baroness Hale, President of the Supreme Court.
She is the author of a textbook on forced and incapacitous marriages. She represents local authorities, police forces, applicants, victims and respondent family members in freestanding forced marriage protection order applications, linked care proceedings and linked Court of Protection proceedings and declarations for a non-recognition of marriage pursuant to the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court. She also undertakes applications for female genital mutilation protection orders.
Other Information
Guest speaker “Forced Marriages and Incapacity”, UK Association of Women Judges Annual Conference, Liverpool, November 2018
Expert contributor, LexisNexis
No5 Barristers Chambers Equality and Diversity Committee – Parental Leave/Flexible Working Officer
Registered Pupil Supervisor
Midlands Circuit Advocacy Trainer
Hobbies and interests
Director and Board Member 2016 - 2022 – Craftspace, a national leading contemporary crafts organisation and charity
Recommendations
‘Adreeja is a strong tenacious advocate with excellent attention to detail. She has good communication and client care skills.’
Legal 500 2023 (Family and Children Law)
“Adreeja is particularly good in cases with a complex international element.”
Legal 500 2022 (Family/Matrimonial)
“Well-prepared and knowledgeable, with a manner that endears her to professional and lay clients alike.”
Legal 500 2021
“Her practice includes both public and private children law cases.”
Legal 500 2020
Notable Cases
Nottinghamshire County Council-v- LH, PT, LT (No 2) 2021] EWHC 2593
Application for the deprivation of liberty of a very distressed 12-year-old child placed in an acute psychiatric hospital ward for adolescents, to move to a children’s home pursuant to the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court before Poole J.
B-v-L [2016] EWFC 67 (20 October 2016) Francis J
Divorce proceedings in which the husband, a devout Muslim, claimed that as he was married pursuant to Sharia law, under a religious contract, that only Pakistan had jurisdiction to hear the divorce.
Re XCC -v- AA, BB, CC, DD [2012] EWHC 2183 (COP), [2013] 2 FCR 401 Parker J
(appearing at the fact-finding hearing) Forced marriage protection orders and the capacity of a learning-disabled adult to consent to marriage and decide about her contact with her husband.
Re A (Adoption: Placement Outside the Jurisdiction) [2004] EWCA Civ 515 [2004] 2 FLR 447
The unlawful placement of children placed abroad for adoption
Appointments
Appointed Deputy District Judge 2019
Nominated Judge of the Court of Protection 2020
Recorder (Family, Court of Protection) Midlands 2022
Awards
Dr Cooper Studentship, Trinity Hall, University of Cambridge
Gray’s Inn Scholarship
Memberships
FLBA
West Midlands FLBA (Treasurer 2009 – 2012)
COPPA
Qualifications
MA (Cantab) Law Trinity Hall, University of Cambridge
Publications and Media
Author of “A Practical Guide to Forced and Incapacitous Marriages for Family Lawyers” published by Law Brief Publishing, September 2019
Webinars
A Guide to Forced Marriage for Family Lawyers, June 2020, MBL Seminars
Deprivation of Liberty for Children and Young People – A Guide for Court of Protection and Family Lawyers, September 2020, MBL Seminars
“We cannot lose sight of the illegality of forced marriage”
Adreeja Chatterjee joined Baroness Hale and Harriet Wistrich to speak about and take questions on their experiences and careers as women in the law at University College London Law Society Women Panel at Bentham House, London.
