Elizabeth is the Head of St Ives Chambers, a specialist child law silk and sits as a Family Division Deputy High Court Judge.  She has an established national reputation for a compassionate, pragmatic and strategic approach, excellent advocacy and forensic preparation in complex public law cases.  Elizabeth has substantial expertise in acting for all parties in complex care, adoption and wardship proceedings and has a detailed knowledge of the legal and social care issues relating to local authority planning and decision making for children.

Elizabeth Isaacs KC is a specialist family law silk who has a wealth of experience in all aspects of complex public law proceedings relating to children. She has a strong reputation for excellence in oral and written advocacy and is highly regarded for her compassionate and approachable style when working with vulnerable parties and witnesses, including children. Elizabeth prioritises a collaborative approach with solicitors and juniors and provides clear leadership within the team to deliver the best outcomes for clients. She regularly acts for local authorities, parents, interveners, children and the Official Solicitor in highly sensitive and serious cases.

Particular areas of expertise and interest include –

• Child death

• Serious physical injury

• Allegations of physical, emotional and sexual harm

• Toxicology and poisoning

• Domestic abuse

• Fabricated or Induced Illness and Perplexing Presentations

• Adoption/international placement of children

• Special Guardianship

• DOLS and Court of Protection

• Disclosure and Public Interest Immunity (PII) issues

• Local authority decision-making

• Media/privacy law in family proceedings

• Human rights issues

• Judicial review

• LGBTQ and Modern Family parenting issues

Elizabeth Isaacs KC is a specialist family law silk who has a wealth of experience in all aspects of private law proceedings relating to children and is committed to providing an efficient and robust approach within the dynamic and challenging field of private law practice. Elizabeth has a formidable reputation for excellence and is highly regarded for her persuasive oral and written advocacy skills at all levels of court.

She prioritises a collaborative approach with solicitors and clients, providing clear leadership within the team to deliver the best outcomes in the case. Elizabeth regularly acts for parents, interveners, children and the Official Solicitor. Particular areas of expertise and interest include –

• LGBTQ and Modern Families parenting issues

• Children’s living and contact arrangements

• Intractable welfare disputes

• Disputes about habitual residence

• Domestic and international relocation

• Disputes about education, religion and medical issues

• Surrogacy and parental order applications

• Special guardianship

• Media/privacy law in family proceedings

Elizabeth is the Head of St Ives Chambers, and a door tenant at Coram Chambers (London), Unit Chambers (Liverpool) and 18 St Johns Street (Manchester). She is a specialist child law silk, Deputy High Court Judge and Bencher of Lincoln’s Inn. She is a qualified Children’s Arbitrator registered with the Institute of Family Law Arbitrators. She has a national reputation for a strategic and collaborative approach, excellent advocacy, forensic preparation and is highly regarded for her compassionate style with clients. She is a contributing editor to the Family Court Practice. In 2019 she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Coventry University in recognition of her contribution to family law and equality law. She is an expert authority in all aspects of private child law disputes, with particular interests in LGBT parenting issues, parental alienation, habitual residence, relocation, disputes about education, religion and medical issues, and surrogacy and fertility law. She is frequently instructed in cases following breakdown of surrogacy arrangements or same-sex parenting arrangements.

Elizabeth is a member of the Family Law Bar Association, LGBT Family Law Institute UK & Ireland, Member of Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, and is a trustee of the Donor Conception Network.

She is able to conduct arbitration hearings in person in chambers in Birmingham, London, Liverpool or Manchester, or is very happy to travel to any venue as requested. She is also able to conduct hearings remotely, by telephone or video-link, if required.

Through the Direct Access Scheme, barristers provide tailored expertise at a lower cost due to their self-employed status. Fixed fees are agreed upfront, ensuring budget control.

Barristers’ roles mirror those under solicitor instruction – offering advice, representation and document drafting. Most cases can be managed under this scheme, though some may require solicitor involvement.

Unit Chambers eases the challenges of cases involving children, prioritising clear communication and understanding. While we don’t handle administrative aspects like court document delivery, we guide and support clients. Our fee structure is transparent with upfront agreements.

Get started with a free online consultation to assess direct instruction suitability.

Qualifications

BA (Hons) Psychology (Dunelm)

MA Social Work

LLB (Hons)

MCIArb (Family)

Shortlisted for the Legal 500 Silk of the Year 2019 (Regions)

Winner of the Legal 500 UK Silk of the Year 2018 (Regions)

Head of St Ives Chambers 2021

Honorary Doctorate of Laws Coventry University – 2019

Bencher of Lincoln’s Inn 2019

Deputy High Court Judge (Family Division) 2016

Public and Private Family Law Recorder (SE Circuit) 2012

Crown Court Recorder (SE Circuit) 2009

Silk Member of The Family Justice Council (2014-2019)

Clarke, Hall & Morrison on Children – contributing editor

Family Court Practice (Jordans) – contributing editor

Challenging and Defending Local Authority Child Care Decisions (April 2013) Jordans Publishing (Co-author)

Social Work Decision Making: A Guide for Child Care Lawyers (2nd Edition March 2012) Jordans Publishing (Co-author) – “A valuable addition to any Childcare library.”

St Helens BC v M and Others [2022] EWFC 56

Re T (Care Proceedings: Fact-Finding: Genital Injuries) [2021] EWFC 101

Tameside MBC v AM & Ors; Derby City Council v AB & Ors; Lambeth BC v ED & Ors; Manchester CC v LT & Ors [ 2021] EWHC 2472 (Fam)

Salford City Council v W [2021] 1689 (Fam)

Salford City Council v W [2021] EWHC 61 (Fam)

Re K (Threshold: Cocaine Ingestion: Failure to Give Evidence) [2020] EWHC 2502 (Fam)

Re C (Children) (Covid-19: Representation) [2020] EWCA Civ 734

Re P (Sexual Abuse: Finding of Fact Hearing) [2019] EWFC 27

VBC v AGM [2019] EWFC 64

Re AA (Children) [2019] EWFC 64

Re C (Declaration of Parentage: Written Consent) [2019] EWHC 648 (Fam) 

M v W, C & Secretary of State for Health [2019] EWHC 648 (Fam)

Rochdale Borough Council v F & Others [2018] EWHC 2996 (Fam)

Carmarthenshire CC v Y and Others [2017] EWFC 36

Re Z (A Child) (No 2) [2016] EWHC 1191 (Fam)

Re N-S (Children) [2017] EWCA Civ 1121

Re AD, AE, AF, AG & AH (HFEA 2008) [2017] EWHC 1782 (Fam)

Re P-K (Children) [2017] EWCA Civ 965

RE M (A CHILD) sub nom (1) H (2) B v (1) S (2) M (A CHILD BY HER GUARDIAN) [2015] EWFC 36

RE Z (A Child) [2015] EWFC 73

RE F (A CHILD) (International Relocation Cases) sub nom DF v N B-F [2015] EWCA Civ 882

Re X (A Child) (Surrogacy: Time Limit) [2014] EWHC 3135 (Fam)

Re B (A Child) [2014] EWHC B1 (Fam) Re S (A Child) [2013] EWCA Civ 1073

SMBC v RG et al [2013] EWHC 2373 (COP)

Re M (A Child) [2012] EWCA Civ 446

S v Z [2012] EWHC 84 (Fam) Re D O’H (Children) [2011] EWCA Civ 1343

Re L (Duty to the Court of a Psychologist) [2011] EWHC B29 (Fam)

Re C and D (Photographs of Injuries) [2010] EWHC B27(Fam)

Re X, Y and Z (Children) [2010] EWHC B12 (Fam)

Re W (Care: Threshold Criteria) [2007] 2 FLR 98 (CA)

Re B (Appeals: Lack of Reasons) [2003] 2 FLR 1035 (CA)