Bargyfreithiwr > Paul Hopkins Q.C.

Family Law:

Paul handles public law and private child work as well as finance/ancillary relief.

His heavy care practice covers the full range of clients. Recent cases have included sibling fatalities, fabricated illness, sexual abuse and infant non accidental head injuries

Paul's ancillary relief practice is exclusively private. He often appears in cases where the parties' assets significantly exceed £1 million. Recent cases have included substantial inheritances, family trusts and significant interests in family businesses.

Re MW (Case Management) [2010] Fam Law 233; [2010] 2 FLR [forthcoming]
Paul appeared on behalf of a local authority before Mr Justice Holman in an infant non accidental head injury case seeking to re-open the cause of death of the child's half sibling in 1997.

Re N (Jurisdiction) [2007] 2 FLR 1196; [2007] EWHC 1274; [2007] Fam Law 901
This was a Family Division matrimonial case concerning competing divorce proceedings in France and in Wales which involved the detailed application of the principles of domicile and Brussels II.

Re E.N. (Adoption: Special Guardianship) [2008] 2 F.C.R. 229; [2007] EWCA 264; [2007] Fam Law 459.
Paul appeared before the Court of Appeal on behalf of a guardian who successfully resisted an appeal against the making of a care and placement order.

Re C (Adoption: Disclosure to Father) [2006] 1 FLR 589.
This was a Family Division case concerning a child. Paul appeared on behalf of the local authority and obtained a declaration that the birth father be informed as to the child’s birth. The child was also made a Ward of Court.

Re R (Care: Plan for Adoption: Best Interests) [2006] 1 FLR 483.
This was an appeal to the Family Division by a local authority against the refusal by the justices to make a care order. Paul appeared on behalf of the local authority and successfully argued that a "best interests" recommendation alone was sufficient for the purposes of seeking a care order.

Other Cases:

M v M (Specific Issue) [2007] 1 FLR 251

Re Y (Removal from Jurisdiction) [2004] 2 FLR 330

Re S (Contact: Appeal) [2001] Fam Law 505

Re C (Contact: No Order) [2000] 2 FLR 723

Re A (Change of Name) [1999] 2 FLR 930

E v C (Child Maintenance) [1996] 1 FLR 472

Paul has been consistently recommended in the Legal 500 and Chambers directories since 2002 and 2003 respectively.

Chambers 2008 records that he "unfailingly won praise from the interviewees in both the ancillary relief and public law markets. He's very sensible, knows the law, cares about the clients and does his research" 

LLB (Hons)(Birmingham) 1984/87 (Mutual & Avon Prize for Commercial Law) 
Gray’s Inn Senior Society Award

Before coming to the Bar, Paul aquired extensive experience, in a residential social work capacity, working with deaf people and people with learning disabilities / mental health problems.

Recorder (January 2006) Crown Court and Public / Private Family Law

Approved Counsel on the Welsh Assembly Government Panel of advocates under the category of Family and Children Law.

Director, Family Contact (Cardiff) 1998 to date [Secretary to the Board 1999 to 2005]

Family Law Bar Association
Wales Family Law Association

"Companies and other businesses in ancillary relief" (with Stephen Wildblood Q.C.)

"The application of the Proceeds of Crime Act" (with Stephen Wildblood Q.C.)

A guide to the (then) Adoption and Children Bill

"The relevance of family businesses in ancillary relief" (with Christopher Felstead and Will Davies ACA of Grant Thornton)

"An introduction to the Adoption and Children Act 2002 and recent developments in care-related proceedings"

"Miller and McFarlane – the way ahead" (with Christopher Felstead)

"Claiming financial provision in England and Wales following a foreign divorce".

Paul has a working knowledge of the Welsh language. He is married with one son.

He has been Head of the 9 Park Place Family Law Practice Team since 2002.

Lesley Haikney