Summary
Siân is a specialist in family law, focussing on public and private law children cases. Siân often appears in complex multi-day hearings at all Court levels, dealing with a variety of issues and allegations such as non-accidental injuries, fabricated and induced illnesses, child sexual exploitation, abduction, radicalisation, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, chronic neglect and parental alienation.
Siân is regularly instructed on behalf of local authorities, respondent parents, the Children via their Guardian, and intervenors. She is particularly experienced at representing vulnerable clients and Children, including those with significant learning or mental health difficulties.
Siân studied Law at the University of York, graduating in 2011. She subsequently completed the Bar Professional Training Course at Kaplan Law School in London, before being called to the Bar in 2012. Siân joined Chambers as a tenant in 2015 following the successful completion of her pupillage.
Prior to commencing pupillage Siân worked for two years as a paralegal at Bindmans LLP in London. In 2011 she won both the York University Criminal Law IV Moot and the Southampton University Criminal Law Moot in 2011. For several years Siân also volunteered for a variety of pro bono advocacy charities such as FRU, the National Appropriate Adult Network and the Thames Valley Magistrates’ Scheme.
Legal 500 2023 – Child Law (Public and Private) Ranked: Tier 3
“Siân is diligent, articulate, approachable, committed and an excellent advocate. She is well respected by her peers and clients alike. Her case preparation is second to none.”
Legal 500 2022 – Child Law (Public and Private) Ranked: Tier 3
Solicitor Feedback following a 2020 public law case
“Siân Waldron is an exceptional barrister who approaches all aspect of work with upmost professionalism and commitment to achieving the best outcome for her clients.
Siân is an outstanding advocate and meticulous in her case preparation. She has recently successfully represented a respondent parent in care proceedings who faced serious allegations of physical abuse towards a child with the Court making no significant findings against her client.
Siân was impressive in scrutinising complex medical evidence, skilful in her cross-examination and delivered her submissions with conviction. She is reliably excellent in her written work and fantastic with clients. It is always a pleasure to work alongside Siân.”
Legal 500 2024
Family: Children & Domestic Violence Ranked: Tier 3
-Representing the Child through the instruction of a Guardian in the High Court and subsequently the Court of Appeal. The Child was abducted outside the jurisdiction during the course of proceedings, which involved detailed consideration of how domestic wardship provisions interact with both the law on child abduction across Member States and applications under the Hague Convention.
-Representing a respondent parent, who opposed an application for her Child to be adopted and sought to appeal the making of a placement order. Siân succeeded on appeal and persuaded the Court to set aside the judgment of the lower court and to order a new hearing.
-Representing a respondent parent on an urgent application to remove their child into foster care, due to suspected fabricated and induced illness. The Child was in a critical state and the case involved complex reports from a range of medical experts.
-Representing a local authority in proceedings whereby the Children made allegations of serious physical and sexual abuse both against the respondent parents and their siblings. The case involved sensitive issues such as whether the Children should give evidence against each other and whether psychiatric input was required at an interim stage.
-Representing a respondent parent at a fact find hearing, whereby they were alleged to have inflicted serious sexual abuse against the other parent. The Court made no significant findings against Siân’s client, and instead made adverse findings about the credibility and reliability of the other parent and the witnesses.