Amy Richardson

With a background in criminal law, Amy has been able to transfer her skills in terms of family cases which involve parallel criminal proceedings.

A result of this is that Amy has appeared for local authorities, the Crown Prosecution Service and various police forces in matters considering complex issues of disclosure from family proceedings to the Crown prosecution service and the consideration of public interest immunity.

Depravation of Liberty and court of protection (“DOLS”)

Amy accepts briefs on behalf of local authorities, family members and children in respect of DOLS applications, and has a keen interest in representing vulnerable clients and ensuring they have a “voice” within proceedings.
Local authorities not only regularly brief Amy in respect of these applications but have also sought her expertise in advice, particularly regarding arguments as to capacity.

I. Represented a father public law proceedings involving allegations of sexual assault, physical neglect, emotional harm and fictious injury, all of which involved significant expert evidence and the cross examination of expert witnesses

II. Represented a local authority in case involving serious and life changing non accidental injuries with a multi “pool” of possible perpetrators, dealing with complex medical evidence and the cross examination of experts

III. Represented respondent wife in a matrimonial case, where conduct was raised an issue to be determined. Various intervenors and arguments as to complex trusts, TOLATA, transfer and alleged concealment of matrimonial property

IV. Represented a father in public law proceedings involving allegations of sexual assault, emotional and physical neglect, and parental domestic abuse, involving complex legal argument and the cross examination of police officers and expert witnesses

V. Represented a local authority in a matter of historic sexual assault and ongoing emotional and physical abuse, which involved cross examination of experts and police officers as to issues contained within forensic evidence and data recovery

VI. Represented a mother in private law proceedings involving a same sex couple, IVF treatment, parenteral responsibility, allegations of domestic abuse and parental alienation

VII. Represented a husband in a matrimonial case involving arguments as to maintenance pending suit, forensic accountancy, and arguments as to pension contributions

VIII. Represented a father in private law proceedings involving allegations of sexual assault, sexual interest in children, involvement in drug dealing and firearms offences, domestic abuse, and substance misuse

IX. Represented a mother in public law proceedings who challenged the care planning of the local authority on the basis of evidence and sustained change in a threshold bases on emotional neglect and substance misuse

X. Represented the police in application for forced marriage protection order for multiple siblings, this case involving arguments as to the redaction of evidence in public interest immunity

XI. Represented a mother from the travelling community in public law proceedings who challenged the care planning of the local authority on the basis that no consideration was given to issues of culture and cultural identity

XII. Represented the police in a public law matter relating to data recovered from mobile telephones and the reservation of police evidence

XIII. Represented a father in private law proceedings involving allegations of sexual assault, physical abuse and emotional abuse whereby there was extensive consideration of social media positing’s, local authority evidence and CCTV / police bodycam footage

Due to her varied practice and dual qualification, Amy is a regular contributor to both Counsel Magazine and Family Law Journal.

Her articles are:

• Substituted parenting v adequate support in light of perception of risk and the duties of Local Authorities’: a cautionary tale
• My journey to the bar via Newcastle, Guernsey and back again
• When Local Authorities collide – the issues Section 21 vs Section 22 of the ACA 2002 in terms of placement orders and care orders when deciding who is the “designated” Local Authority

“I just wanted to say thank you so much for this week. It has been a pleasure to work with you! You have been so supportive and have worked extremely hard.”

“I just want to say I was really happy with my barrister at court yesterday.  She was probably the best I’ve had in any case so far over the 12 years!  She spoke up for me and said things that was relevant and pushed for the living order even after the judge said it was going to be a prohibited steps order, she asked again not long after and then it was granted, so thank you for putting her on the case.”

“I just wanted to thank both you and Amy so much. I really am truly so grateful for both of your support and representation today. You have both been wonderfully supportive and I really can’t thank you both enough”

Amy enjoys spending time with her two children and their hobbies include swimming, long walks on the beach, finding sticks, horse riding, dancing, and holding the camera for various social medial posts.

A keen historian, Amy has a degree in Norman medieval history undertaken at the University du Caen – Basse in Normandy. Amy is also interested in cryptozoology, and regularly explores forestry and caves around the UK.

Amy has been a lifelong supporter of Newcastle United and has been a season ticket holder for 30 years. In respect of her beloved Newcastle, she has not, and never will, give up hope of league or international glory.