David Rowlands
The majority of David’s instructions relate to Care Proceedings.
He receives instructions from several Local Authorities whilst also acting regularly for family members and Children’s Guardians. David has acted in many cases involving complex and conflicting medical evidence including fabricated or induced illness, Poisoning, Shaken Baby Syndrome, Sexual and all forms of Physical Abuse.
David also accepts instructions in financial provision including in recent years a number of high value cases and cases involving offshore trusts.
David has established a practice acting for both Local Authorities and family members.
Chambers and Partners 2024
David Rowlands specialises in private and public law child cases. He often acts for local authorities and families in connection with grave charges, such as factitious illness and physical or sexual abuse as well as cross-border welfare proceedings.
Notable Cases
Re M 2010 EWCA Civ 1043 (CA)
Appeal in Contact proceedings against the wrongful delegation of the Courts discretion to a Local Authority
Re B (Fact-Finding Hearing: Evidence) 2009 2 FLR 14 (CA)
Physical abuse case. Issue concerned the trial Judges fact finding with specific reference to the expert evidence.
Re F (ICO) 2007 2FLR 891 2007 EWCA Civ 516 (CA)
Care Proceedings. Issue related to proportionality of trial Judges decision taking into account findings of physical abuse.
Y (Evidence of abuse: Use of Photographs) [2004] 1 FLR 855
Care proceedings. Sexual abuse case. Reliability of expert witnesses relying upon photographic evidence rather than an intimate examination of a child.
Y and K (split hearing: Evidence) [2003] EWCA Civ 669 [2003] 2 FLR 273 CA
Care Proceedings. Sexual abuse case. Reliability of conflicting medical evidence in issue
Re C (Leave to remove from Jurisdiction) [2000] 2 FLR 457 (CA)
Appeal against Judges refusal to allow a child to permanently leave the Jurisdiction.
Wilson v. Webster [1998] 1 FLR 1097 (CA)
Appeal against a sentence following committal for breach of a domestic violence injunction on grounds that the sentence was too short.
Recommendations and client feedback
Chambers and Partners UK Bar 2024/2025
“He is extremely bright and he works very hard.” “David is razor-sharp and acts in an affable and amiable way. He is a safe pair of hands.” “He knows what points are going to be more persuasive than others and he works hard at the case.”
Chambers and Partners UK Bar 2023
“David is a brilliant advocate who always knows every detail of the case he is instructed on.””David is a highly experienced, trustworthy and reliable barrister.””An extremely friendly and approachable barrister with a superb public law background.”
Chambers and Partners UK Bar 2021
“He’s a very experienced senior counsel. He’s fantastic, very approachable and very well prepared.”
Chambers and Partners UK Bar 2020
“He has a great rapport with clients.” “He will eloquently and forcefully argue his client’s case.”
Chambers and Partners UK Bar 2019
“Judges love him and opponents respect him. His preparation is second to none and his advocacy is uniquely persuasive.”
Memberships
Inns of Court School of Law
Family Law Bar Association
Qualifications
LLB (Hons) Manchester University
Lawson Scholar (Second in Law Finals)
Penguin Books Dissertation Prize
