Nicholas Rooke
Nicholas practices exclusively in family law.
Nicholas accepts instructions in all areas of family law, with a particular emphasis on public and private children proceedings. He is a confident and committed advocate and is instructed in all tiers of the family court.
Nicholas provides a high level of client care and is known for his down to earth approach, enabling him to quickly establish a good rapport with clients. He is approachable and communicates well with clients. Nicholas is experienced in sensitively cross-examining vulnerable witnesses and provides clear and sensible advice.
Public Children Law
Nicholas receives regular instructions from Local Authorities and acts on behalf of family members and children’s guardians, with experience ranging from urgent hearings to multi-day trials. He deals with all levels of complexity; including injuries of the utmost severity, sexual abuse, domestic violence, chronic neglect, FGM and forced marriage.
Private Children Law
Nicholas accepts instructions in cases which involve the most serious of issues including parental alienation, physical, sexual and emotional abuse. He specialises in applications for Child Arrangement Orders, Specific Issue and Prohibited Steps Orders, and applications for relocation outside the jurisdiction.
Notable Cases
Re. P (2023)
Representation of a Father in private law proceedings in opposition to a Mother’s application to remove the children outside of the jurisdiction.
Re. C (2023)
Representation of the Local Authority in care proceedings concerning findings of parental alienation and emotional abuse.
Re. H (2023)
Representation of the Local Authority in care proceedings concerning findings of sexual and physical abuse.
Re. B (2023)
Representation of the Children’s Guardian in care proceedings concerning findings of sexual abuse of a young child by her step-father.
Reported Cases
Re. S (2021)
Representation of the Local Authority in care proceedings which involved life threatening injuries to a baby including multiple haemorrhages to the child’s brain, indicative of having been shaken.
Representation of a Father in private law proceedings in opposition to a Mother’s application to remove the children outside of the jurisdiction.
(Re A (Children) (Remote Hearings: Care and Placement Orders) [2020] EWCA Civ 583
McFarlane P, Peter Jackson, Davies LJJ). A successful appeal before the President of the Family Division in a precedent case determining how the Court of Appeal initially managed conduct of proceedings and hearings during the Covid pandemic.
Memberships
Family Law Bar Association
North-Eastern Circuit
The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn
Qualifications
Durham University, College of St Hild & St Bede (2008) B.A. (Hons)
Northumbria Law School (2009) Graduate Diploma in Law
Northumbria Law School (2010) Bar Vocational Course
Northumbria Law School (2011) LL.M in Advanced Legal Practice
The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn, Shelford Scholarship (2012)
Other interests
Outside of his legal practice, Nicholas enjoys travel, cycling, running and his food! He is a proud supporter of the Irish rugby team.
