Barry McAlinden is a family law specialist. He deals with a range of cases concerning children in the public and private law jurisdictions. These include:
financial remedies upon divorce or in respect of children.
He appears regularly in cases concerning the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court, cases with an international element and cases of serious harm, but also appears in all tiers of the Family Court.
Barry is a qualified Direct Access barrister and is able to accept instructions from members of the public within his specialist areas.
He is joint head of chambers’ family law group.
If you would like any more information about Barry’s practice, please contact his clerks or call +44 (0)20 7405 6114.
Barry has extensive experience of representing clients in cases involving:
forced marriage and FGM
death/killing of a parent and cases involving accidental death of a parent
factitious illness
parental alienation, and the underlying causes for this e.g. parents suffering from personality disorders
unlawful removal from the jurisdiction/abduction
serious vulnerability due to cognitive or mental impairment, including acting for suicidal clients and those at risk to themselves
serious psychiatric disorders, including personality disorders
serious physical and emotional harm to children.
Reported cases:
Re O (Children) (Privilege against Self-Incrimination) [2023] EWFC 14 – the case considers how principles around the privilege against self-incrimination should be applied. Barry persuaded the court that the proceedings should conclude notwithstanding that criminal proceedings against the father for assault and coercive control of the mother (Barry’s client) were ongoing.
Financial provision
Barry deals with claims under:
Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989
Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996
Part III of the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984 Claims -financial provision following a foreign divorce
Intervenor claims within divorce proceedings.
Reported cases:
Aldoukhi v Abdullah [2023] EWHC 3438 (Fam) – Barry acted for the former husband in subsequent enforcement proceedings concerning orders made in 2021 under Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 / Part III Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984.
Aldoukhi v Abdullah [2021] EWHC 3086 (Fam) – Barry represented a Kuwaiti businessman in High Court family provision proceedings after an overseas divorce. This is the 1st reported case where jurisdiction was founded on section 15(1)(c) of the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984.
Education
Inns of Court of Inner Temple
Institute of Professional Legal Studies, Queen’s University Belfast