Kate Hughes KC is Head of the Family Team at 9 Park Place and specialises in all aspects of public and private law children work. Her cases include significant deliberately inflicted injuries, death, non-accidental injuries, penetrative sexual abuse and poisoning. She represents local authorities as well as guardians, parents and prospective adopters in complex care cases. She is ranked in Chambers UK Guide (2026) and ranked a Leading Silk (Tier 1) by Legal 500 (2026).
Kate has drafted protocols for several local authorities and for the West Wales Safeguarding Children Board.  She has provided legal advice throughout a child practice review involving the death of a child and advised the Regional Child Care Special Interest Group. Additionally Kate is a member of the national Public Law Working Group.
“Kate is a phenomenal practitioner and advocate.  She is unflappable.”
(Legal 500 2026)
“Kate Hughes is very experienced, professional and relates well to clients.”
(Chambers UK Guide 2026)
Legal 500
“Kate is a phenomenal practitioner and advocate.  She is unflappable.”
‘User-friendly and an exceptionally effective advocate.’ ‘She is well respected and has an excellent court manner.’
‘She is consistently excellent and a reassuring presence for the client.’
“I find her very professional, she always knows her case well and is an excellent advocate.”
“She is calm, client-friendly and very sharp.” “She goes the extra mile. Clients feel very comfortable with her and she gets them where she needs to be.”
Chambers UK Guides
“Kate Hughes KC is an experienced advocate with a strong childcare practice. She frequently represents local authorities, but also has experience acting for guardians, parents and prospective adopters in complex care cases. She handles serious charges such as head injuries, neglect and sexual abuse, as well as advising on adoption issues.”
“Kate Hughes is very experienced, professional and relates well to clients.”
“She is extremely thorough and diligent. Kate is an effective advocate with an exacting eye for detail.”
“Her reassuring manner is perfect for highly emotional cases where children are involved.”
- Re Swansea CC v 11 Respondents [2022] EWFC 12 (04 March 2022) a case concerning multiple and varied allegations of  abuse involving inter-connected families.
- Re AA & 25 ors (Children) [2019] EWFC 64Â a case in which her client was exonerated after defending allegations that she was part of a paedophile ring;
- Re P & N [2019] EWHC 421Â a private law case involving the use of section 91(14).
- Member of the FLBA.
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