Emma Greenhalgh

Emma Greenhalgh joined chambers in 2011 following successful completion of pupillage.  Prior to this, Emma qualified as a Solicitor during which time she gained a variety of experience in all aspects of Family Law with a leading High Street practice based in the Northwest. 

Emma is a specialist in Children Act 1989 applications and undertakes all forms of hearings from the first appointment through to contested final hearings. 

In private law proceedings Emma has been involved in several complicated cases such as:  contested special guardianship applications; international relocation and cases featuring allegations prompting a s37 enquiry. 

In public law proceedings Emma acts for: local authorities; parents; children grandparents and intervenors.  She has acted in complex cases concerning allegations of sexual, physical and emotional abuse. She has experience of several cases where children have given live oral evidence.  Emma recently appeared in the complex and lengthy case of Re AA & 25 others (2019) EWFC 64 which was listed for 15 weeks before Sir Mark Headly KT. 

Emma has a particular interest in non-accidental injury cases and enjoys the forensic medical and evidential elements.  She also regularly acts for vulnerable clients (including via the Official Solicitor) and is known for her ability and understanding to work with clients who suffer from learning difficulties.

Emma regularly appears in the High Court and has experience in cases involving: the medical treatment of children; wardship; deprivation of liberty; the exercise of the inherent jurisdiction; female genital mutilation and forced marriage. 

Emma acts for police authorities and local authorities in disclosure and public interest immunity applications in both the criminal and family jurisdictions.

She prides herself on thorough preparation and a down to earth approach. Emma has the ability to analyse the factual and legal issues concisely and adopts a professional and robust attitude. 

Training:

Emma provides regular training to both Social Workers and legal professionals. She has also provided training to Greater Manchester Police.  

Reported cases:

• Manchester University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust v M & Anor [2019] EWHC 468 (Fam) - http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Fam/2019/468.html
• Manchester University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust v M & Anor (2019) EWHC 1244 (Fam)
• Re AA & 25 others (2019) EWFC 64

Prescribed Information

Emma Greenhalgh is a practising barrister, who is regulated by the Bar Standards Board. Details of information held by the BSB about Emma can be found here.

Emma’s clerks will happily provide no obligation quotations for all legal services that she provides. Their contact details can be found here. It is most common for Emma to undertake Court and advisory work for a fixed fee or brief fee plus additional refresher days. For advisory work, paperwork and conferences it is most commonly charged at an hourly rate although fixed fees are available. Emma accepts instructions on legal aid rates where those are available, details of which can be found here. Emma will typically return paperwork within 14 days, however professional commitments, complexity and volume of documentation can affect these approximate timescales.