Photo of Joanne Barnett

Joanne Barnett

Year of call 1989, Middle Temple

family@9sjs.com  

Areas of Expertise
Family

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Family
"Joanne's ability to set her lay client at ease is outstanding. She is an experienced and tenacious advocate who communicates effectively with both professional and lay clients."

Legal 500 2025


Family:
"Joanne is a persuasive and well-rounded advocate who takes a practical and frank approach. She is also willing to stay in touch and help round off cases."

Legal 500 2024


Family:
"Joanne is so knowledgeable on children matters, has great manner with clients and judiciary, and is an absolute safe pair of hands in children cases. A go-to barrister."

Legal 500 2023


Family:
"Joanne is thoughtful, knowledgeable, insightful, has a great rapport with clients and notably shows a highly commendable commitment to cases and will give them any extra time or discussion they require. An expert family barrister and very highly recommended."

Legal 500 2022


Family and Children Law: Leading Junior Band 1
"Prepares well and goes above and beyond for her clients."

Legal 500 2020


'Experienced in childcare and adoption proceedings.'

Legal 500, 2017


"Recommended for childcare cases, including international matters."

Legal 500, 2016


"Her broad family practice includes cases with an international element."

Legal 500 2014


"singled out for childcare matters"

Legal 500 2012


PROFILE

Joanne Barnett is consistently recognised as a Tier 1 barrister by The Legal 500, owing to her extensive expertise in all areas of Family Law. Joanne is also an Arbitrator under the Institute for Family Arbitrator’s (IFLA) scheme, able to undertake both Children and Financial Arbitrations, and Private Financial Dispute Resolutions (FDRs).

Having practised in London, the Wales and Chester Circuit, and the Northern Circuit, Joanne is nationally regarded and frequently travels across the country for work. She receives numerous referrals from clients and solicitors alike, testament to her dedication and the respect she commands within the legal community.

Her exceptional ability to swiftly digest and analyse complex information, combined with her calm, organised approach, makes her a trusted advocate for both solicitors and clients. Joanne also maintains a thriving direct access practice, with instructions coming from top-tier firms in London, Cardiff, Manchester, and directly from clients.

Known for her meticulous preparation and empathetic client care, Joanne goes beyond legal representation to actively support her clients throughout the court process, both in and out of the courtroom. Her practical and sensible approach to case strategy ensures a well-rounded service, something particularly important when representing vulnerable individuals, including those who are neurodivergent, have learning disabilities, or suffer from psychological disorders. She is also trained under the Family Law Bar Association’s (FLBA) Vulnerable Witness Programme. Her accessibility and commitment to client care are key factors in her successful case outcomes.

Joanne is readily available for initial consultations and discussions on any potential or ongoing case, ensuring that clients feel supported from the very start.

AREAS OF PRACTICE

PRIVATE LAW CHILDREN

a) IFLA Children Scheme Arbitrator

b) significant and complex findings of fact -cases involving allegations of physical and sexual abuse with both adult and child complainants, coercive control and parental alienation.

b) the removal/relocation of children either internally within the UK or from the jurisdiction of England and Wales.Either opposing a relocation or succeeding in enabling the party to relocate. (Japan, Poland, Dubai and UAE, USA, Norway, New Zealand, France). Specialising in pre-hearing advice on any potential planned move/or defence against an application to relocate.

d) cases where an interpreter is required. Whether that be with a client or witness or is deaf or has a language barrier.

e) cases representing multicultural clients and placing the case in a cultural context.

PRIVATE FINANCIAL APPLICATIONS

a) Qualified under the Financial Scheme as a Financial Arbitrator

b) She has undertaken cases with:

  • hidden assets
  • assets held out of the jurisdiction,
  • insolvency
  • inheritance
  • intervenors
  • add-back arguments
  • company assets with values in the 10’s of millions
  • financial conduct is being raised
  • Pre-existing agreements and it’s impact within proceedings
  • Applications to vary or oppose periodic payments after the final order was made.
  • Enforcement whether through non-compliance or post final hearing.

c) Arbitration can be undertaken as a paper exercise with no need for a hearing.

ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION ARBITRATION

a) As per the ever growing need for ADR - representation of parties at an arbitration under the IFLA Children Arbitration and Financial Schemes.

b) Undertakes both Private children and Financial arbitration. In some case both issues  can be heard at the same hearing providing a holistic and cost saving approach to a family breakdown.

c) Private FDR judge, either in person or remotely by video-link, as required.

d) Joanne has a particular skill in using shuttle negotiation and round-table meetings to reach a settlement without the expense of fully contested court proceedings.

DIRECT ACCESS

Joanne is qualified and accredited by The Bar Council to take instructions from members of the public receiving significant positive feedback from clients. For further information please see:

www.barcouncil.org.uk/about/publicaccess

ARBITRATION

Fees available on request.

CONFERENCES

Conferences and prehearing planning are regularly a part of her daily schedule in particular:-

a) when consideration of crucial statements and schedules may impact on the proceedings.

b) prior to the issue of a parties Children Act 1989 Application or Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, to ensure that the application deals with the correct issues from the outset.

She is always available for an intial chat or to discuss a matter of concern in any ongoing case.

FEEDBACK

Example recent feedback
"Just wanted to say a heart-felt 'thank you' for all you did for me yesterday. You are truly a force to be reckoned with and a huge talent in your field. You were absolutely brilliant in court yesterday. I feel blessed to have had you fighting my corner."

OTHER

Research being undertaken.

a) Impact of neurodiversity in management of court proceedings and the lack of training.

b) Impact on a party where there are no findings made and little or no understanding of impact on the complainant within the court process.

c) Limitations by the court on enforcement in financial proceedings and what can be done to make enforcement more effective.

d) Costs in family proceedings and the limitations, what can we do to change the approach.

e) Mental Health and Menopause within the judicial work place

Appointments

Legal Services Commission Review Panel Board - 2000
Pupil Supervisor
Children Private Law Arbitrator - 2022
Financial Arbitrator - 2023

Associations

Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
Family Law Bar Association
Resolution
Justice

Education

University College of Wales Aberystwyth

Prescribed Information

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

Joanne Barnett'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 Joanne Barnett to undertake Court and advisory work for a brief fee and refresher fee for each additional hearing day. For advisory work, conferences and/or additional paperwork, it is most commonly charged at an hourly rate where an estimate is given as a maximum amount to be charged, although if preferred fixed fees can be negotiated at the point of instruction. Joanne Barnett typically returns paperwork within 14 days, however professional commitments, complexity and volume of documentation can affect these approximate timescales. If that is the case you will be notified and a new timescale provided.

Joanne Barnett also undertakes Direct Access work. This work is undertaken on a contractual basis agreed between the client and Joanne Barnett's clerks. This is on fixed fee basis for a specific events such as a conference, advisory work, a hearing with additional hearing days (refreshers) or the drafting of specific documents. All work agreed to be undertaken by Joanne Barnett with the fixed fee cost will be clearly outlined in the direct access contract signed by the client and will be payable in full prior to the commencement of the work.

Specialist Areas of Practice:

Family

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