Summary
Carla is a dual‑qualified barrister and solicitor-advocate with extensive experience across family law, criminal law, public law, prison law and human rights. She brings almost two decades of post qualification experience to complex and sensitive legal matters. She is known for her precise advocacy, robust case preparation, and ability to navigate complex and sensitive matters with clarity and professionalism.
Carla’s practice encompasses significant work in children’s proceedings, including care applications under s.31, adoption, deprivation of liberty (both in the High Court and the Court of Protection), and cases involving allegations of neglect, physical injury, and sexual harm. Her background involves senior appointments at multiple local authorities where she gained substantial experience drafting thresholds, case summaries, skeleton arguments, Part 25 applications, and detailed written advice, demonstrating strong analytical and written advocacy skills.
Her background also includes senior roles within the Crown Prosecution Service and multiple local authorities, where she undertook charging decisions, managed Crown Court cases, and ensured compliance.
Carla is accustomed to working under pressure, managing demanding caseloads, and advising a wide range of clients and professionals, including social workers, vulnerable individuals, and multidisciplinary teams. She has completed Advocacy and the Vulnerable training as well as the Public Access Course.
Her professional approach is characterised by thorough preparation, measured judgment, and a commitment to achieving fair and effective outcomes. She brings a combination of courtroom experience, legal insight, and practical problem‑solving.
Carla accepts Direct Access instructions. She has also undertaken Advocacy and the Vulnerable training, reflecting her longstanding commitment to representing vulnerable individuals and communities. With a particular interest and training in mental health, psychology, and neurodiversity, her approach combines rigorous legal analysis with compassion and sensitivity. She is known for being a measured yet powerful advocate.
In 2010, Carla was awarded Young Solicitor of the Year by the Leicestershire Law Society in recognition of her pro bono work on behalf of British prisoners detained in Thailand. As a result of her commitment to this work, she was thereafter engaged by the British Embassy, Bangkok.
Carla previously worked at Nottingham City Council and Cheshire East Council, where she gained extensive experience in safeguarding children across a wide spectrum of cases. Her work includes:
Section 31 Care Proceedings
- Discharge of Care Orders
- Injunctions
- Adoption and post-adoption contact
Cases involving neglect, injury, and abuse
Carla continues to represent local authorities, as well as parents and children’s guardians.
Carla frequently represents parents in private law proceedings to secure appropriate arrangements for children. Her work includes:
Finding of fact hearings, particularly in cases involving allegations of domestic abuse
- Representation of children’s guardians appointed under Rule 16.4
Carla has substantial expertise in Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards involving children. She regularly appears before the Family Division of the Royal Court of Justice and the Court of Protection in matters concerning deprivation of liberty.
Carla regularly represents both applicants and respondents in proceedings relating to:
- Non-Molestation Orders
- Occupation Orders
- Domestic Violence Protection Orders
- Forced Marriage Protection Orders
- Closure Order
