Andrea Watts

Andrea regularly acts for local authorities, parents, extended family members and children in care proceedings and applications for adoption orders, including leave to oppose applications. She is experienced in dealing with complex cases involving very serious harm such as non-accidental injuries, sexual abuse and chronic neglect. Andrea is qualified as a vulnerable witness advocate through the Inns of Court College of Advocacy and regularly deals with cases involving vulnerable parties/witnesses.

Re C (A Child) (Special Guardianship Order) [2019] EWCA Civ 2281
(representing the child in the Court of Appeal in a case raising issues about alternative lifestyle choices and threshold, and the nature of Special Guardianship Orders)

A B C and D (fact-finding and welfare) [2017] EWFC B33 (16 June 2017)
(representing a mother in care proceedings involving allegations of sexual abuse)

Brighton & Hove City Council v X, Y & Z [2017] EWFC 32 (Fam)
(representing the mother, led by Anna McKenna KC, in High Court care proceedings where a child with a rare genetic condition suffered subdural and retinal hemorrhaging and was ultimately returned to the parents)

A County Council v L [2014] EWHC 730 (Fam)
(representing a Local Authority in care proceedings concerning a victim of child trafficking from Ghana)

B (A Child) (care order & placement order) [2013] EWCC B17 (Fam) (01 November 2013)
(representing a mother in care proceedings concerning her fifth child)

Andrea advises and acts for parents, extended family members and children in all types of private children matters. She has particular interest and expertise in cases involving the following:

• Serious allegations of physical, emotional and sexual harm
• Substance misuse
• Mental ill health
• Involvement of local authorities (s.47 investigations, CIN and CP Plans)
• Relocation applications (both international and internal)
• Cases with international elements
• Special Guardianship and adoption applications
• Disputes over parentage, change of name, schooling and religious upbringing
• Modern families (including assisted reproduction, surrogacy and donors)

Re M (Children) [2017] EWCA Civ 891 – representing the mother, led by Frank Feehan KC, in the Court of Appeal on the father’s appeal against a High Court decision refusing to enforce a foreign contact order.

W (A Child – Temporary Removal From the Jurisdiction) [2016] EWFC 45 – representing the father at a rehearing of his application to remove a child to a non-Hague country for a holiday following a successful appeal.

Andrea advises and acts for parents in international children cases and is experienced in dealing with child abduction matters.

Re R (A Child:Asylum and 1980 Hague Convention Application) [2022] EWCA Civ 188 – representing a father led by Richard Harrison KC in the Court of Appeal on the father’s successful appeal against an order dismissing his application for a summary return of the child to his country of habitual residence. This case adds to the guidance in G v G [2021] 2 WLR 705 for cases where the same family is involved in claims for asylum and proceedings under the 1980 Hague Convention.

P & Q (Hague Convention: Consent) [2021] EWHC 2184 (Fam) – representing a father on his application for summary return of a child under the 1980 Hague Convention in a complicated case where the issues were habitual residence, wrongful retention, consent, grave risk of harm and child’s objections.

P & Q (Hague Convention: Consent)(Costs) [2021] EWHC 2186 (Fam) – representing a father in 1980 Hague Convention proceedings. This is a useful judgment looking at the issue of costs orders and when it is appropriate to make such an order against a recipient of legal aid.

Andrea qualified as a mediator in 2011 and is an experienced mediator in private children disputes.