Ryan accepts instructions in all areas of family law with a particular interest in public law care proceedings. Ryan often represents vulnerable parties with cognitive difficulties including through the Official Solicitor and those who require the assistance of an intermediary.
Public Law Children- Non Accidental Injury
As both a Solicitor and Barrister, Ryan has gained extensive experience of representing parents and children within cases where they are accused of inflicting physical harm.
Ryan has experience of representing clients in cases with linked criminal proceedings. Including representation of clients at joint directions hearings. Ryan understands the importance of these hearings and the difficulties relating to inter proceedings disclosure.
- A Local Authority v R and S (2023) – representation of a child in a 10-day fact finding hearing. The child had been subject to inflicted rib and leg fractures. The grandparents were joined as interveners but appeared as litigants in person. Findings made against both parents.
- A Local Authority v B and B (2023) – representation of a Father at a 17-day fact finding hearing who faced allegations that he had caused the death of his youngest child and had inflicted an injury to his older child.
- A Local Authority v L and B (2022) – representation of a Father within proceedings who faced allegations that he had caused the death of a step child. Linked high profile criminal proceedings.
- A Local Authority v E (2022) – representation of children at a 15-day fact finding hearing. Allegations made against the Mother regarding systematic fabricated and fictitious illness.
- A Local Authority v B (2022) – representation of a Father at a 28-day fact finding hearing. Allegations made against the Mother of extreme induced illness.
Public Law Children- Sexual Abuse
Ryan has built up experience in cases involving allegations of sexual abuse including by children. Ryan understands the very sensitive and complex nature of these proceedings including the procedure when a party requests that a child should give evidence.
- A Local Authority v G and WM (2024) – representation of a local authority at a 15-day fact finding hearing. Allegations of historic and systematic sexual abuse of two third parties.
- A Local Authority v C , C and P (2023) – representation of an intervener at a 20-day fact finding hearing. Allegations of historic sexual abuse and serious domestic violence made against the client.
- A Local Authority v D and L (2023) – representation of a competent child at a 15-day fact finding hearing. The competent child had made allegations of historic sexual abuse which had been subject to acquittal in the Crown Court and a non finding in previous private law proceedings. Findings made that the sexual abuse did occur as alleged by the competent child.
Public Law Children- Neglect
Ryan regularly represents local authorities, parents and children in public law proceedings involving neglect of children.
- A Local Authority v T and B (2023) representation of the children at a 10-day composite hearing involving parenting with learning difficulties. The hearing determined allegations of neglect and physical abuse of the children and determined their long term care plans.
- A Local Authority v MM (2023) representation of a local authority at a 5-day composite hearing at which allegations of neglect were determined and a care plan for the child was considered.
- A Local Authority v E (2023) representation of a Father at a 5-day final hearing following a fact finding hearing at which Ryan also represented the Father. The final hearing considered the care planning for a large sibling group.
- Re T (2017) EWFC B52 – represented a grandfather opposing the removal of his grandson from his care into foster care. HHJ Wildblood QC said the following about how Ryan had conducted the case in his judgment:
The points that are made on behalf of this grandfather by his skilled and committed advocate (Mr Morgan) are strong and well argued. Mr T has been very well represented.”
