Denise is a family law practitioner specialising in the law relating to children with a particular focus on complex public and private law cases appearing at all levels of court. Denise is regularly instructed by local authorities, parents, guardians and for the separate representation of competent children in both public and private law cases.
She has particular expertise in the cases involving: Sexual abuse including cases involving children who are alleged abusers, Physical harm including Female genital mutilation, Non-accidental injury including head injury case, Care proceedings involving concurrent criminal proceedings such as child cruelty, neglect and sex offences, an International or cultural dimension such as suspected trafficked children, Serious emotional abuse and chronic neglect cases, Cases involving cross examination of a child or vulnerable adult, Fabricated/induced illness. Teenage parents, when they are both a subject child and teenage parent respondent; and Parents with learning disabilities or mental health problem.
Denise also specialises in adoption (including inter-country adoption), wardship/inherent jurisdiction and Court of Protection matters.
Denise has worked with various charitable organisations in relation to children’s rights, conducted research in the voluntary sector, provided training to social workers and lectured on various legal topics.