Joanna Thom has a mixed practice in family, Court of Protection, housing, employment, civil and public law.
In her family practice, Joanna undertakes both public and private family law and family finance. Joanna has appeared in all tiers of the family court up to the High Court. She has been led in 3 cases including twice in the High Court, each time appearing with a senior junior against ranked silks with juniors and securing favourable results for her client.
Joanna’s Court of Protection practice encompasses health and welfare as well as property and affairs cases. She acts for local authorities and for the Official Solicitor on behalf of vulnerable individuals.
Joanna is regularly instructed in housing and property law matters. She represents both claimants and defendants in possession matters and issues of disrepair.
She represents individuals and employers in the employment tribunal in all types of employment law disputes.
Joanna has experience in a various civil matters including in contract, trusts and probate, company and tort law.
If you would like more information about Joanna’s practice, please contact her clerks or call +44 (0)20 7405 6114.
Children law: public and private proceedings
Joanna’s practice includes:
- care and supervision orders
- child arrangement orders (live with orders/ contact orders etc.)
- prohibited steps orders
- adoption orders
- specific issue orders
- orders under the Family Law Act 1996 (non-molestation orders/ occupation orders), and
- financial remedy orders.
Notable cases:
- Junior counsel for the local authority, led by Paula Diaz, in a case involving serious injuries to a 2-year-old that resulted in the child suffering life threatening and life limiting brain damage. He died 14 months later.
- Led by Dr Martina van der Leij, Joanna is acting for the father in a High Court application following the removal of 2 children from another jurisdiction
- Junior counsel to the local authority that sought final care orders for 10 children ranging in age from 1 to 15 years old in a complex matter after 1 of the children was dangerously unwell.
Court of Protection
Joanna’s cases tend to involve disputes as to:
- capacity including fluctuating capacity
- welfare determinations and
- deprivation of liberty.[Anything else you would like to add here?]
Often her cases involve issues relating to young people aged around 17 and 18 as they transition to adult social care.
Housing & property law
She advises and represents local authorities, private landlords, tenants and other individuals in contentious and non-contentious matters.
Client testimonials
‘My client asked me thank Joanna Thom for her exceptional representation at the hearing. She said she was amazing in cross, professional and very kind to the client. Thank you Joanna’ Instructing solicitor in private law children proceedings
‘Joanna had absolutely no right to be successful today as it was an ‘impossible’ case. And it was made even more difficult by me. So, great credit to Joanna for a great outcome!! Super work.’ Instructing solicitor in civil proceedings
Education
- Bar Professional Training Course (University of Law) 2019-2020, Very Competent
- Graduate Diploma in Law (University of Law) 2017-208, Outstanding
- BA (hons) in History (Durham University) 2011-2014, 2.1
Awards
- University of Law Advocacy Award (2019)
- Lincoln’s Inn Lord Denning Scholarship (2018)
- University of Law Lord Blunkett Award (2017)
Professional memberships
- ALC (Association of Lawyers for Children)
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