Asha Groves - Children Public Law

Asha represents all parties at all stages of public law proceedings.

She has expertise in cases involving issues of neglect, domestic abuse, substance misuse (including cases in FDAC), physical and sexual abuse of children, fabricated or induced illness, inflicted injuries and human trafficking/modern slavery. She also acts for parties beyond care proceedings in applications for discharge of care orders, contact with children in care, revocation of placement orders, leave to oppose adoption orders and adoption orders.

Asha is skilled in representing vulnerable clients and clients who have mental health issues and learning needs requiring an intermediary or representation through the Official Solicitor. She is conversant with the good practice guidance on working with parents with a learning disability and has completed the FLBA Vulnerable Witness Training.

Asha has a particular interest in cases involving deprivation of liberty and she regularly deals with cases in the National Deprivation of Liberty List of the Family Division of the High Court. She has experience of handling cases involving deprivations of liberty for children with disabilities and resulting issues relating to state attributability, transfer to the Court of Protection and she is well versed in issues relating to unregistered and unregulated placements. Asha also has experience of dealing with cases that overlap with medical law involving NHS Trusts as intervenors such as forced nasogastric tube feeding for children with anorexia nervosa or the use of rapid tranquilisation/intramuscular injection by way of behaviour management.

Asha also has valuable understanding from working in the Children’s Services Legal Department of a Local Authority in the South West prior to joining the Bar which she has carried with her into years at the Bar. Recent praise from a social work team manager was as follows: “I have never worked with a barrister who was so able to understand what is happening on the ground, appreciate this and then provide a succinct and coherent argument within court. You have really understood the child’s journey, how we are trying to help and the barriers that we face. Thank you and I hope that we get to work together again soon.”