The death of Professor Gary Slapper

The Joint Heads of Chambers on behalf of The 36 Group express great regret at the sudden death of Professor Gary Slapper, yesterday (5th December 2016).  We convey our deepest sympathies to his widow, Suzanne, and to his daughters who survive him.  

Gary was a door tenant in our Chambers for many years. He was a kind and valued colleague, who will be greatly missed. 

https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/legal-author-and-twitter-star-gary-slapper-dies/5059088.article

36 Family's Will Tyler QC, leading Kate Tompkins, acted as Advocate to the Court in groundbreaking cryonics case.

36 Family's Will Tyler QC, leading Kate Tompkins, acted as Advocate to the Court in groundbreaking cryonics case.  Judgment can be found HERE.

Associate Members of The 36 Group receive Pro Bono Award

The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts’ Legal Gala dinner is held annually in Dubai to recognise and celebrate the achievements of lawyers and law firms and in particular, those participating in the DIFC Courts’ Pro Bono Programme. On the evening of the Gala dinner, awards are presented to lawyers and law firms to recognise their contribution to the profession and society, including ‘Pro Bono Law Firm of the Year’, ‘Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year’ and ‘Lawyers’ Lawyer of the Year’.

This year’s Pro Bono Law Firm of the Year Award was awarded to James Berry & Associates Legal Consultants in recognition of its commitment to access to justice through its participation in the Pro Bono Programme. The Pro Bono team at James Berry & Associates Legal Consultants comprises of Nichola Reece-Burton, Rhiannon Davies and Aqsa Khan Sadiq.

James Berry and Nichola Reece-Burton of James Berry & Associates Legal Consultants (Dubai) are both Associate Members of The 36 Group (36 Bedford Row, London), and we extend our congratulations to them and the rest of the team for their contribution to the Pro Bono Programme and for the recognition of that hard work that this award signifies.

Nichola Reece-Burton (Head of Litigation) attended the Legal Gala dinner on 20^th October this year and commented:

 “As usual, the Gala dinner was a well attended and very well organised event. It is always an evening that I look forward to, as it is an opportunity to meet other legal  professionals in a relaxed, social setting, rather than in our usual adversarial roles. It was also particularly enjoyable to attend this year, having been nominated for, and voted as, the ‘Pro Bono Law Firm of the Year 2016’. I am very proud to be part of the Pro Bono team in our firm and would encourage all other lawyers to participate in this very worthwhile Programme.’

Niki Langridge and Sabuhi Chaudhry join 36 Family

Niki Langridge and Sabuhi Chaudhry join 36 Family

36Family, The 36 Group’s specialist family law team, is delighted to welcome Niki Langridge and Sabuhi Chaudhry who join us from Coram Chambers.

Niki is a directory-ranked and highly experienced specialist in family financial remedies work. Her practice encompasses many high value and factually or legally complicated cases.  She is renowned for her client skills, her meticulous attention to detail and her consistently sound judgment.

Sabuhi’s high profile practice reflects her renowned expertise in private children and matrimonial finance work.  She stands out from her peers with her superb advocacy, her astute and robust negotiation skills and her in depth legal knowledge.

36 Family enjoys a reputation as one of the country’s leading family law chambers.  With the recruitment of Niki and Sabuhi, the team increases in number to 42 specialist family law barristers, including four Silks.  36 Family is one of a number of specialist practice groups within the innovative chambers structure operating from 36 Bedford Row, known as ‘The 36 Group’.  Each practice group enjoys its own autonomy and dedicated Practice Manager and clerking team.

Will Tyler QC, Deputy Head of 36 Family and Joint Head of the Children Team, said, ‘It is very exciting to welcome Niki and Sabuhi.  The recruitment of two such high quality and well known new members can only further enhance our position at the vanguard of quality and innovation at the family Bar.  I am sure both will flourish at 36 Family.’

For further information, please contact the Family Practice Manager, Danny Chapman on 0207 4218093 or danny@36family.co.uk.  

Valentine Le Grice QC joins 36Family at 36 Bedford Row

36Family, the specialist family law team at 36 Bedford Row, London, is delighted to welcome Valentine Le Grice QC who joins the team from the family law chambers at 1 Hare Court. 

Val is one of the most experienced practitioners dealing with matrimonial financial cases at the Bar.  He has specialised in family law since joining 1 Mitre Court in 1979 (the chambers later moved to 1 Hare Court).  He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2002.  Throughout his career he has done mainly financial work, but always combined with some private law children’s cases. He is recognised amongst the leading family law Silks at the Bar by Chambers & Partners[1].

36Family has a growing reputation as one of the leading sets of chambers for family law work.  With Val’s recruitment the team’s size increases to 40 specialist family law barristers, including three other family law Silks[2].   36Family is one of several specialist practice groups within the innovative chambers structure operating from 36 Bedford Row, known as ‘The 36 Group’ [3].  Each practice group has its own identity and its dedicated Practice Manager and clerking team.  This innovative structure enables dynamic clerking and marketing initiatives. Val Le Grice says: “I am attracted by the opportunities presented by the structure at 36Family and look forward to joining the team at 36Family”.

Head of 36Family, Andrzej Bojarski, said: “I am thrilled that our development as a specialist family law team, especially in our complex financial work, has reached the stage where a leading Silk such as Val recognises us as a chambers in which he can continue and develop his practice into the future.  He adds real weight to our team and I expect the move to work to our mutual benefit.  I am sure he will relish the new and dynamic ways in which we are developing as a chambers.”

The move was also welcomed by joint Head of the 36 Group, Richard Wilson QC:  “It is rare that a practitioner of Val’s seniority moves chambers and it is pleasing that he recognises 36Family as the place he wants to be over the years to come.  I am sure that after working in a single specialism set, Val will also find it refreshing and beneficial to be able to benefit from the expert knowledge and support of the other specialist teams in the 36 Group when dealing with the most difficult cases.”

For further information please contact the Family Practice Manager, Danny Chapman on 0207 421 8093 or danny@36family.co.uk

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[1] http://www.chambersandpartners.com/11841/175/editorial/14/2#10466_editorial

[2] Including Frances Oldham QC, currently chairing the public enquiry into child abuse in Jersey.

[3] www.36group.co.uk

Will Tyler QC & Hannah Markham QC successful in important appeal dealing with children giving evidence and flawed police interviews.

The Court of Appeal today handed down its judgment in Re E (A Child) [2016] EWCA Civ 473 - http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2016/473.html​


Lord Justice McFarlane delivered the main judgment which gives important new guidance on:
- the question of calling children to give evidence in family proceedings,
- the correct treatment of flawed police interviews of children, and
- the dilemma when a child is both an alleged victim and an alleged perpetrator.


The Court of Appeal overturned the serious findings made by the judge at first instance.  Will Tyler QC and Hannah Markham QC acted for the successful father and mother respectively.

The 36 Group win Chambers of the Year

We are very pleased to have been named as Leicestershire Law Society’s Chambers of the Year 2016.

The Midlands, in particular Leicester, is an area all our members have  practiced in for many years  and we look forward to providing excellent levels of advocacy and advice in this area for many years to come.