William Seagrim specialises in children law. William conducts both public and private children law proceedings. William is highly experienced and highly recommended, including being described in the Legal 500 (2024) as follows:
âWilliam is an extremely competent and knowledgeable advocate and barrister.â
William is the author of the practitionerâs text, Public Children Law: A Case Law Compendium (Bloomsbury Professional, 2022), which he updates biannually for Bloomsbury Professional Online. William has co-authored several journal articles on children law issues. William is also a consultant editor, on the law in Wales, to Hershman and McFarlane: Children Law and Practice (Bloomsbury Professional).
Williamâs specialist family law areas lie within:
- Children Private Law
- Children Public Law
Formerly in academia, William is proud that many of the students he taught are now junior barristers and solicitors on the Wales and Chester Circuit, and further afield. William was also privileged to present a paper on a children law issue at the Internation Society of Family Lawâs 18th (Golden Jubilee) World Conference, in Antwerp, Belgium (2023).
Williamâs public children law practice involves representing parents, children, local authorities and intervenors in serious care proceedings, including those involving physical and/or sexual abuse, serious neglect, FII, child-perpetrator/victims, international issues, and DOL orders.
William regularly appears in cases involving leading counsel.
Williamâs recent and forthcoming cases have included a 12-day fact finding hearing concerning multiple fractures to a 5-month-old baby; a 20-day fact-finding concerning FII; proceedings concerning issues of habitual residence and the foreign court findings; cases concerning post-adoption contact; placement of children in different jurisdictions; and an 8-day fact-finding hearing for an intervening babysitter concerning allegations of infliction of significant physical harm.
Williamâs private children law practice includes cases concerning all aspects of the upbringing of children, including Pathfinder cases and complex proceedings, and including cases involving fact-finding hearings concerning physical and/or sexual and/or emotional abuse, parental alienation, abduction, and both internal and international relocation.
Williamâs recent or forthcoming cases have included allegations of rape and/or serious sexual assault; a 3-day fact-finding hearing concerning serious domestic abuse, including coercive and controlling behaviour and non-fatal strangulation; cases on behalf of children by their r16.4 Childrenâs Guardians; complex cases concerning the cessation of contact and/or no contact orders; and orders made under s91(14) of the Children Act 1989.
âWilliam is an extremely competent and knowledgeable advocate and barrister. He is able to deal with all matters regardless of complexity and is able to speak to clients from all backgrounds and ensure they feel that he is representing them to his fullest. He is able to put advice in such a way that clients understand and respond with compassion.
“He is well-respect by colleagues and in court, due to his professional nature and knowledge.â
Legal 500 (Children and domestic abuse â Leading Junior (2) â 2024)
âWe were really impressed: he blew us away with the knowledge and familiarity with case law he displayed in his work.â
Chambers UK Guide, Family/Matrimonial â Wales and Chester Bar – 2016)
âHe is deserving of wide recognition. He is an up-and-coming junior who is very confident and very able.â
Chambers UK Guide, Family/Matrimonial â Wales and Chester Bar – 2015)
- Re HA (a child) (no 2)Â [2015] EWHC 1310 (Fam), [2016] 1 FLR 966 â the nature and effect of the jurisdiction transferred under Art 15, Brussels II Revised. Click here for the judgment. In the final hearing of those proceedings, (Re HA (a child) (care proceedings: final order) [2015] EWHC 4172 (Fam)) Baker J (as he then was) commented that William had represented his client throughout with âgreat professionalismâ, at [12]. Click here for that judgment.
- Bristol City Council v AA and HA [2014] EWHC 1022 (Fam), [2015] 1 FLR 625 â habitual residence and request to transfer under Art 15, Brussels II Revised. Baker J (as he then was) commented that William provided âa comprehensive and helpful skeleton argumentâ, at [18]. Click here for the judgment.
- LJ v JDÂ [2013] EWHC 3632 (Fam) â contested committal hearing arising from the breach of an undertaking, including sentencing. Click here for the judgment.
Books or book chapters
- Public Children Law: A Case Law Compendium (Bloomsbury Professional, 2022). Click here to read about the Compendium.
- Best Interests: The âGold Standardâ or a Gold Plating? Should Significant Harm be a Threshold Criterion in Paediatric Cases? in K.A. Choong (ed), Medical Futility in Paediatrics: Interdisciplinary and International Perspectives (Trivent, 2019). Click here to read the chapter (Chapter 2).
Journal articles
- Children meeting judges, not judges meeting children [2023] Fam Law 1455 (co-authored with James Lewis, of 9 Park Place Chambers). Click here to read a summary of the article.
- To fact-find, or not to fact-find, that is the question [2023] Fam Law 1214 (co-authored with Cadi Dewi, of 9 Park Place Chambers). Click here to read a summary of the article.
- âNo Questions, Your Honourâ Challenging the unchallenged expert in closing: a permissible tactic in children cases? [2022] Fam Law 614 (co-authored with David Gareth Evans, of 9 Park Place Chambers). Click here to read a summary of the article.
- Swansea University (2005) â LLB, First Class (Hons)
- Cardiff University (2007) â Bar Course, Outstanding
- Sir Samuel Evans Prize, University of Wales (2005)
- Highest achieving law student, Swansea University (2005)
- Lord Williams of Mostyn Achievement Award, Cardiff University (2007)
- Angel Chambers Award, Cardiff University (2007)
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