Our Children team advises on parental and family disputes involving children for wealthy and high‑profile individuals, often in cases of exceptional sensitivity, complexity and reputational risk.

The team is led by Alex Verdan KC, who sits as a deputy High Court judge and has spent four decades practising at the highest level of child law. He brings not only the authority of a leading silk, but the perspective of someone who has sat judicially and made these decisions. That experience shapes the strategic approach to cases from the outset and informs the work of the team as a whole.

Stewarts is the only top‑tier family practice in the UK with an in‑house KC and a fully integrated solicitor‑counsel model, enabling seamless, authoritative advocacy in the most sensitive children disputes. This structure allows cases to be prepared, analysed and advanced with clarity and consistency from the earliest stage, without the fragmentation that can arise where advocacy is outsourced.

We act in cases where the court is asked to determine a child’s future and where the demands on the legal team are exacting. This includes serious fact‑finding hearings, allegations of abuse or parental alienation, and disputes with international dimensions requiring coordinated action across multiple jurisdictions.

Children do not get a second childhood. In cases where decisions will shape the years ahead, judgement, preparation and experience are decisive.

Alongside silk‑level leadership, the Children team operates within a collaborative, non‑hierarchical and high‑performance culture. While cases are led by senior specialists, clients benefit from the collective expertise of a cohesive team with the depth to manage the most demanding matters without reliance on a single individual. This strength in depth provides continuity, quality assurance and reassurance at every stage of proceedings.

Alex Verdan KC

Alex specialises in complex and serious children cases, in particular those involving intractable child arrangements disputes, serious emotional abuse and relocations.

Carly Kinch

Carly is described by her clients as “tenacious”, “hard-working” and “incredibly supportive”. Carly was recently nominated for the Spear’s Wealth Management ‘Young Rising Star’ award.

Carly Kinch - Partner - Divorce and Family - Stewarts

Sophie Chapman

Sophie advises clients on a broad range of family law issues, she has particular experience representing clients in cases involving inherited wealth, family businesses and complex issues of valuation.

Toby Atkinson

Toby was recently praised by The Legal 500 as “extraordinarily able and extremely bright”, who “works tirelessly and efficiently for his clients, always looking to resolve issues if possible while preparing to fight if there is no negotiated settlement to be found”.

Toby Atkinson - Partner, Divorce and Family - Stewarts

The team also has the benefit of two highly regarded specialist children practitioners:

Trevona Hettiarachchi

Trevona advises on all aspects of family law, with extensive experience and proficiency dealing with complex children matters such as those that include multifaceted court proceedings, as well as settling arrangements for children and finances on the separation of parents.

Trevona Hettiarachchi, Associate, Divorce and Family, Stewarts

Rosie Stewart

Rosie specialises in children law and represents clients in a wide range of complex private family law matters including cross-border cases, contact disputes, international relocations, cases involving allegations of abuse and alienation as well as financial provision for children. She is recognised in Chambers as an Associate to Watch and described as “very good at client care, bright and pragmatic.”

Rosie Stewart, Solicitor, Divorce and Family, Stewarts

The team are supported by top rated associates:

Nicola Hogg

Nicola represents clients in high-value, international divorce and family law matters. Nicola’s cases regularly involve inherited wealth, business interests, trusts and offshore assets.

Nicola Hogg, Senior Associate, Divorce and Family, Stewarts

Lucy Swinton

Lucy advises on all areas of family law. She undertakes a full range of financial work and regularly assists on complex high value financial cases. She also has extensive experience of advising parents on contact arrangements for children following the breakdown of a relationship.

Lucy Swinton - Associate, Divorce and Family - Stewarts

Felicia Munde

Felicia advises on all aspects of private family law and has a particular focus on international children law. She represents clients in a wide range of complex family law matters relating to children, including leave to remove and abduction cases, wardship, residence and contact issues. Felicia was recognised in The Legal 500 rankings as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ in 2022 and was ‘Highly Commended’ in the Family Law Awards in 2023.

Sophie Arrowsmith

Sophie advises on all aspects of family law, with a particular focus on matter involving children following separation.

Francesca Carrington-Hughes

Francesca advises clients in all areas of family law, particularly complex financial cases for high net worth clients arising on the breakdown of their marriage or relationship and private children law disputes.

Francesca Carrington-Hughes, Solicitor, Stewarts

Fiona Porter

Fiona has experience in many different areas of family law specialising in assisting high net worth individuals upon a marital or relationship breakdown, in particular in relation to complex financial and private children matters often with an international element.

Fiona Porter - Trainee Solicitor - Stewarts

Katie Cruickshank

Katie has particular experience in high value cases across a broad range of family matters including complex financial disputes upon marital breakdown, child arrangements, Family Law Act matters and pre-nuptial agreements.

If you require assistance, please contact us or request a call from one of our lawyers.

Related News

See all