Caroline Curry

PROFILE

Caroline Curry was called to the Bar in 2003 by the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple. Caroline specialises exclusively in family law and is an established Barrister with considerable experience in private law children, matrimonial and financial disputes.

Caroline is well respected for her meticulous preparation and her understanding and analysis of issues and relevant legal principles involved in each case. Caroline is approachable, empathetic and compassionate. She delivers robust and realistic advice being ever conscious of the costs (financial and emotional) of litigation and ongoing dispute. She is diligent and has good client care skills, particularly with anxious and/or vulnerable clients, This ensures that clients feel ‘heard’ and can be confident that their position is understood and advocated. Caroline is knowledgeable, reliable, pragmatic and persuasive. She is a skilful negotiator and will assist clients, where appropriate, to reach an agreed settlement.

AREAS OF PRACTICE

PRIVATE CHILD

Caroline accepts instructions in all Children Act 1989 private law matters, including cases featuring domestic abuse, parental alienation and relocation (domestic and international). Caroline's practice ranges from dealing with general family matters where there are disagreements as to care arrangements with no safeguarding issues to highly complex cases involving serious allegations of harm between adults there are concerns that one or both of the parents have caused injury and/or harm to their children. Caroline also represents parties in Specific Issue applications such as change of name or school applications and Prohibited Steps Order applications.

MATRIMONIAL AND FINANCE

Caroline has developed a significant ancillary relief practice advising and representing clients on applications for financial provision upon the breakdown of marriage and civil partnerships. She is instructed from the preliminary stages (conference and advisory work, FDRs,) through to and including final hearings.

In terms of Family Law Act 1996 applications, Caroline regularly acts for both Applicants and Respondents in applications for Non-Molestation and Occupation Orders.

NOTABLE CASES

A v K (2023) unreported

Represented a Father who at the time of the final hearing was having no contact with his children. Obtained a final order which reinstated direct contact and provided for a detailed stepped order for unsupervised staying (overnight) contact with extended holiday periods which were clearly defined in the order.

K v K (2023) unreported

Represented a Husband at final hearing where the parties were able to agree at the door of the court a pragmatic final order which allowed for the children of the family to remain in the family home for their minority. The agreement also provided for fair and secure orders to ensure the Husband's financial interest in the property was protected and could be realised on defined trigger events.

R v R (2023) unreported

Represented a Mother at a Dispute Resolution Hearing where comprehensive final orders were negotiated and agreed. The matters agreed not only included the apportionment of time the children were to live with both parents during term time and holidays but also contentious ancillary issues such as holiday and travel provisions, handovers, indirect contact, use of media/technology, provision and retention of school uniforms and even discussions as how a family pet could be brought into contact with a child when there were concerns about allergies. By negotiating the parties were able to present a more detailed and comprehensive order to the court which was approved and avoided the costs and uncertainty of a final hearing.

G v G v G (2022) unreported

Represented the subject Child in private law proceedings before the Designated Family Judge for Greater Manchester which involved a lengthy and complex finding of fact hearing where the adult children of the family were making allegations of historical sexual and physical abuse against their parents and seeking a change of residence of the subject Child, their sibling, to their care. Evidence spanning decades from multiple sources with vulnerable witnesses requiring special measures, hybrid hearing for some parties to protect the identify of their locations and use of Interpreters for witness handling.

B v B (2022) unreported

Represented a Husband at a contested final hearing with disputed issues including the status of pre-acquired assets, post separation accrual, the value of the family business (which involved the importing and selling of luxury goods) and impact of Covid and the economic downturn on valuation with the evidence of the Single Joint Expert Accountant being disputed at the final hearing.

W v C (2022) unreported

Represented a Mother alleged to have alienated the child from the Father. Successfully opposed at a contested final hearing the Father’s application for orders to change the living arrangements for the child and to restrict the time the child was to spend with the Mother.

K v K (2022) unreported

Represented a Mother in lengthy and contentious proceedings involving, amongst other matters, refusal of Father to engage with court ordered expert psychiatric assessment, disagreement as to obtaining EU passports for the children with Specific Issue and Prohibited Steps orders being made regarding vaccinations.

K v R (2020) unreported

Represented a Father in seeking a variation of a final Child Arrangements Order which provided for the child to live with Mother and spend limited time with Father. Successfully challenged the recommendation of Cafcass and obtained a final order for ‘shared care’ where the child lived with both parents for defined times. The matter also involved issues of proposed relocation of the children to another County and school placement.