Archives 2024

Holly joined Trinity Chambers as a pupil in January 2024 and is accepting instructions in all areas of family law and general civil work. Drawing on her time as a volunteer for SOS Silence of Suicide, Holly has experience connecting with vulnerable individuals, fostering empathy, and putting them at ease whilst effectively advocating on their behalf.

Prior to pupillage, Holly graduated with a first-class law degree and served as a personal assistant for a family law barrister before graduating with a Distinction in her Bar Practice Course with Masters at the University of Law.  She secured an Exhibition scholarship from the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple and an Advocacy Scholarship from the University of Law. Holly was called to the Bar in July 2023.

David Stevens specialises in Civil and Financial Remedy cases. He is also available to conduct ‘Private FDRs’.

David joined Trinity Chambers as a pupil in January 2024. He was called in 2023 having qualified as a Solicitor in 2008 and as a Solicitor-Advocate (Higher Rights Civil Proceedings) in 2018. His wide ranging expertise covers a broad range of civil practice, including chancery, personal injury and insolvency, together with financial remedy matters. David has an approachable and personable style together with a detailed knowledge of law and procedure.

David sits as a Recorder and a Deputy District Judge.

Before joining Chambers, Adam volunteered at Citizens Advice and, prior to embarking on a career in law, spent a number of years touring North America in a blues/rock band from his home on the Isle of Man.

Daniel Proctor accepts instructions in all of chambers’ key practice areas. Daniel has consistently received positive feedback from his  professional and lay clients alike for his empathetic yet robust approach in court.

Family Law
Daniel’s family practice incorporates both private and public children cases, financial remedies as well as injunctions. Daniel has acted at all stages of family litigation including fact-findings, final hearings and appeals.
Daniel’s private children work began when he provided pro-bono advice and represented litigants-in-person whilst he was completing his professional qualifications.

Civil Law
Daniel also has a broad civil practice and has been instructed to appear in trials and interim applications in a wide range of civil matters including Road Traffic Accidents, Personal injuries, Contracts and Banking.
Prior to starting his pupillage Daniel gained over 4 years’ worth of invaluable experience working as a paralegal in the clinical negligence department of a leading national law firm.

John Brooke-Smith specialises in Financial Remedies, private Children Act work and personal injury.

John was called to the Bar in 1981. He practised in London before moving to East Anglia in 1988, where he has established his practice working for solicitors and direct access clients throughout the region and beyond. John was appointed a Recorder (part-time Judge) in 1999 and sits in the County and Crown Courts, hearing family, civil and criminal cases.

John is a strong advocate with excellent technical knowledge who easily gains clients’ trust.  He is highly experienced and approachable and has been recommended in the Legal 500 in it’s 2024 edition: ‘John is a confident and exceptional advocate. He is calm, focused and professional and has a strong ability to express arguments clearly. He firmly grasps the issues in cases and obtains excellent results for clients. His attention to detail is impeccable, and he is able to relate and build a rapport with a wide range of clients..’  The Legal 500 puts him in Tier 2 of its rankings of leading juniors.

John’s previous entries in the Legal 500 said: “He has the gravitas that you want. When you instruct him it’s like having the wind at your back. He has a good grasp of the issues and is an excellent advocate.” and “He is a charismatic practitioner and is great at explaining matters to clients in simple language.”

Legal 500 2024

‘John is a confident and exceptional advocate. He is calm, focused and professional and has a strong ability to express arguments clearly. He firmly grasps the issues in cases and obtains excellent results for clients. His attention to detail is impeccable, and he is able to relate and build a rapport with a wide range of clients.’

John Brooke-Smith has ‘an incredible knowledge of the law and his vast experience is invaluable in more complex financial remedy cases’.

Legal 500 2023

‘John is well-known and very much-liked for his client-facing approach. He has a broad knowledge in and out of the courtroom of matrimonial and cohabitation law, he is a local go-to.’

John Brooke-Smith is known to be ‘well prepared and amiable and be empathetic with individual circumstances’.

Liam regularly deals with a variety of Children Act, Family Law Act, and Matrimonial Causes Act matters. He frequently represents Local Authorities as well as Children’s Guardians, parents, other family members and interveners.

Liam has particular expertise in complex matrimonial finance matters including a number of high profile and high asset cases.

Liam also appears in a broad range of civil matters. He appeared before the Court of Appeal in the reported case of Thurrock Borough Council v Aaron West [2012] EWCA civ 1435.

Alice Newton specialises in private and public Children Act disputes and financial remedy. She is ranked as a Leading Junior in the 2024 edition of the Legal 500.

Alice has developed a busy and successful practice. Following a degree at Oxford University, Alice initially maintained a broad practice, gaining extensive experience in criminal law, family law and many aspects of civil law. Alice’s exposure to a range of disciplines has provided her with invaluable insight and experience in dealing with all levels of tribunal. 

Alice is regularly instructed to act on behalf of parents, children, grandparents, proposed special guardians and Local Authorities. She has been instructed on many complex cases, involving for example non-accidental injuries, sexual or serious domestic abuse. She also has particular experience and success in dealing with relocation applications (cases where one parent wishes to leave the jurisdiction). Alice has had great success in representing parents seeking to care for their children. 

Alice also undertakes financial remedy cases. She frequently represents clients in financial remedy work, including variation and enforcement of financial orders as well as TOLATA applications and again has achieved good results. 

Alice is known for her friendly yet assertive approach and has enjoyed considerable success in cases she has undertaken. She is always well-prepared and will strive for the best outcome for her clients, while providing sensible and pragmatic advice. 

In her spare time, Alice plays a variety of musical instruments. 

Legal 500 2024:

“Alice is very thorough in her preparation for financial remedy proceedings. Her work is meticulous. She quickly establishes a good rapport with clients who are comforted by her comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their cases. She provides clear and decisive advice.”

“Alice is quick on her feet, clear, concise and fights her client’s corner. She is hard to rattle.”

Alice Newton is “very knowledgeable and hardworking”, and her “advocacy is tenacious and determined”. 

Some recent feedback: 

Client: “I can’t thank you enough Alice.  You have been an absolute star and I am so glad that [my solicitor] chose you to represent me.  She said you would be perfect for the job and she was right.” 

Client: “I was going to email you because I wanted to say how fantastic Alice was on Wednesday. She really put me at ease as I was feeling really anxious.”   

Solicitor: “Alice did a fantastic job in securing this Order for [client] and I am very pleased with the outcome.” 

Solicitor: “Fantastic Alice, very well done indeed!” 

Alice enjoys a busy practice in all aspects of Family Law including financial remedies, child arrangements disputes, care proceedings and applications for non-molestation and occupation orders. Alice also accepts instructions on a direct access basis.

Prior to joining Chambers in 2015, Alice worked as a civil dispute resolution paralegal for a large regional law firm before joining the litigation team of a London borough council.