Rebecca Broadbent

Rebecca is a specialist family law practitioner who accepts instructions on behalf of local authorities, parents, children, and other family members in both public and private law proceedings relating to children.

Rebecca became a tenant at Dere Street Barristers following the successful completion of a common law pupillage under the supervision of Harvey Murray.

Before embarking on her legal education, Rebecca undertook several internships at law offices in Texas, U.S.A, working on death penalty appeals. Since then, she has committed herself to providing people with the highest standard of representation.

She worked for several years in criminal and prison law, gaining extensive experience in prison law, judicial review, miscarriages of justice, and criminal appeals. She previously represented prisoners — including both life-sentenced and determinate sentence prisoners — before the Parole Board of England and Wales and those charged with breaches of the Prison Rules 1999.

Subsequently, she worked in a secure hospital, supporting vulnerable adults with violent and challenging behaviour, learning disabilities, and psychiatric issues.

Before commencing pupillage, Rebecca worked as a solicitor’s agent in county courts across England. She represented both claimants and defendants in a variety of hearings, including small claims (road traffic accidents and credit hire), application hearings, and infant settlement approval hearings.

Rebecca prides herself on thorough case preparation and giving advice in a kind and compassionate manner.

She has a down-to-earth attitude and an approachable demeanour. She mentors university students pursuing a career at the Bar and is the North Eastern Circuit Representative on the Inner Temple’s Bar Liaison Committee.

Public Law

Rebecca represents local authorities, parents, and children in public law proceedings involving neglect and emotional or physical abuse. She is adept at representing individuals with mental health challenges and drug or alcohol issues. Rebecca frequently works with clients who have learning disabilities, drawing on her previous experience in the healthcare sector. She is familiar with the unique challenges faced by parents with additional needs.

Rebecca has experience representing all parties in the following matters:

• Urgent applications, including applications for Interim Care Orders and the removal of children from parental care or other family placements;
• Applications for Care Orders and Supervision Orders;
• Applications to discharge Care Orders;
• Applications for Special Guardianship Orders;
• Applications for Placement Orders;
• Applications for Adoption Orders;
• Adoption;
• Applications for contact with children in care;
• Applications to place a child in Scotland;
• Designation of local authorities;
• Re W applications.

Private Law

Rebecca represents parents and children in private law proceedings and has particular experience in the following areas:

• Applications for Child Arrangements Orders (including applications for contact, shared care, and changes in a child’s residence);
• Fact-finding hearings where allegations have been made by a child against a parent;
• Fact-finding hearings where one parent has made allegations against the other, including allegations of sexual abuse;
• Applications for relocation outside the jurisdiction;
• Appeals from the magistrates’ court.