Abbie Huxley
Solicitor
Abbie obtained a Law Degree at the University of Southampton in 2010 and went on to study the Legal Practice Course (LPC) at the (then) College of Law in Bloomsbury, for which she obtained a Distinction. Abbie joined Burke Niazi in 2011 as a paralegal and then completed her Training Contract with us. She qualified as a solicitor in March 2014.
Abbie specialises in public law children matters in which the local authority are involved with a family. She has represented parents and extended family members, including grandparents, in a wide range of matters. She has considerable experience in representing parents in care proceedings where the concerns relate to neglect, domestic abuse and substance misuse. Abbie has had numerous cases in which she has acted for parents in which there have been allegations of non-accidental injury inflicted upon a child, including the death of a child. Abbie has helped parents to have their children returned to their care following the social services alleging that the parent has caused their child to suffer harm, including where the Court found that the parent caused the child to suffer significant non-accidental injuries. Abbie has worked in many cases with intermediaries assisting vulnerable clients, with advocates and with interpreters and has represented a client who required the assistance of an intermediary and an interpreter. Abbie has acted for clients who have been represented by the Official Solicitor due to them being assessed as lacking capacity to conduct the proceedings themselves. Abbie has experience of dealing with cases that are before the Court of Appeal.
Abbie also has extensive experience in domestic violence work and in private law children matters and has represented clients in respect of applications for non-molestation orders, child arrangement orders and special guardianship orders.
Please see links below for Abbie’s reported cases:-
Abbie represented a father in an appeal against an Interim Care Order made in respect of his three children, and the removal of the children from his care into foster care. The appeal was successful and the children were returned to the care of their father.
J, K AND L (Children: Interim Removal) J & Ors, Re (Children: Interim Removal) [2023] EWCA Civ 1266 (03 November 2023)
The judgment can be found here: https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2023/1266.html
Abbie represented a mother in care proceedings concerning allegations of Non-Accidental Injury. It was alleged that the mother of a very young child had caused him to suffer significant injuries. The DFJ for East London Family Court gave a compelling judgement on the need for careful and thorough exploration of live evidence in cases involving allegations of Non-Accidental Injury. She also acknowledged the problems with delay and the lifelong impact on families of being involved in care proceedings. Following a Fact-Finding Hearing at which the Judge carefully considered the evidence of the parents, the medical experts and the other witnesses, she decided that she was not satisfied that the mother had caused the child to suffer the injuries and ordered that the child should be returned to the care of the parents.
London Borough Of Waltham Forest v GA & Ors [2022] EWFC 208
The judgment can be found here: https://caselaw.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ewfc/2022/208
Abbie represented the Appellant in an appeal to the Court of Appeal concerning the power of the court in family proceedings to control the distribution of its judgments and of other documents filed for the purpose of the proceedings.
R (Children: Control of Court Documents) [2021] EWCA Civ 162 (12 February 2021)
The judgment can be found here: https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2021/162.html
Abbie Huxley has a ‘flawless memory’ (The Legal 500 United Kingdom 2019 London edition).
‘Abbie Huxley is a delight to work for as she is always extremely well prepared. Client care is second-to-none.’ (The Legal 500 United Kingdom 2024 London edition).
In The Legal 500 United Kingdom 2020 London edition, Abbie is recognised as a key lawyer in the category private client: family. Abbie is a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ in the 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023 London edition of The Legal 500.
Outside of work Abbie enjoys socialising with friends, live music and visiting the coast, particularly in Dorset where she grew up.
Accreditations
