Stephen was admitted as a Solicitor in January 1982, and in the same year conducted his first care case. At that time he practised in his home city of Hull. In February 1985 he became, and remains, a member of the Law Society Children Panel, moving to Nottingham in July of that year.
From January 1987 to October 2009 he was a Partner in a medium sized Solicitor’s practice, conducting general family and criminal litigation with a strong emphasis on advocacy. For the last twelve years or so he has specialised exclusively in acting for children or parents in care and private law proceedings appearing regularly in the Family Proceedings, County and High Courts. Stephen is an experienced advocate, using Counsel in a minority of very serious and complex cases.
He is an active member of the East Midlands Association of Lawyers for Children, and in November 2009 was elected onto the national committee of the Association of Lawyers for Children, where he is committed to making an effective contribution to furthering the aims of the Association in repelling the current threats to the family justice system and in ensuring that children involved in family proceedings are properly represented and their welfare promoted and secured.
Stephen joined Blacklaws Davis LLP as a Consultant in November 2009, in order to concentrate on and expand upon advocacy in children cases.
