Benjamin Boucher-Giles

Call: 2004 Lincoln's Inn

Education: BA (Hons) Durham

Introduction

Family Law

Ben practices in all areas of family law and has a particular speciality in ancillary relief proceedings, international law and public law cases. He also deals with cohabitation disputes under TOLATA.

In his public law practice Ben acts regularly for Local Authorities, Guardians as as well as parents. He has a particular speciality in those cases which require robust cross-examination, challenging expert evidence or those which involve complex issues of law. He regularly appears in the County Court and High Court and also deals with issues of Public Interest Immunity and Disclosure applications.

Ben frequently advises and practices in relation to issues of international law including applications to remove children from the jurisdiction, applications under The 1980 Hague Convention and Brussels IIR cases. He is generally happy to provide early advice and guidance to solicitors dealing with cases involving international law issues.

Ben particularly enjoys financial matters, particularly complex ancillary relief cases, TOLATA applications and maintenance matter. He undertakes cases involving freezing injunctions (including international Mareva injunctions and injunctions under the inherent jurisdictions of the High Court), Search and Disclosure Orders, international enforcement of maintenance (particularly under REMO and Maintenance Orders (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1972), CSA claims and enforcement and matters under the C-MEC legislation (both for non-resident parents and for the Commission).

Ben also accepts instructions in educational matters including school admission appeals and appeals against SEN statements.

Housing
Ben has a flourishing housing practice and undertakes work in all aspects of housing law including applications under TOLATA. He has recent experience of cases in the High Court and the Court of Appeal. Ben is also available to conduct workshops and seminars on housing law.

Ben has excellent knowledge of Injunction and Possession cases involving Anti-Social Behaviour. He acted in the case of Wear Valley District Council v John Robson [2008] EWCA Civ 1470 where the Court of Appeal examined sentencing and the use of multiple-anonymous hearsay evidence in proving a breach of Anti-Social Behaviour Injunctions.

Civil
Ben has a flourishing practice in personal injury cases, cases involving credit hire, bankruptcy and applications under TOLATA. Ben regularly undertakes cases on the Fast Track and Mulit-Track and will take on Small Claims cases on request.

Associations

Family Law Bar
Personal Injury Bar (PIBA)
North Eastern Circuit