Jennifer Perrins specialises in private law children work, divorce and finance. She has particular experience and interest in cases involving jurisdictional and international issues.
Jennifer is an experienced practitioner in the field of international child abduction. She has appeared as junior counsel in five of the leading Supreme Court authorities in this area. Jennifer has considerable specialism in international children law, and is frequently instructed where there are jurisdictional complexities, such as cases concerning the EU Brussels II Revised Regulation and the 1996 Hague Convention.
Reported cases
- KR v KR [2023] EWHC 208 (Fam)
- F v M [2023] EWHC 1941 (Fam); [2023] EWHC 3171 (Fam)
- JC v PC [2021] EWHC 2305 (Fam)
- Re A (A Child)(Abduction: Jurisdiction: 1996 Hague Convention) [2021] EWHC 581 (Fam)
- G v G (Secretary of State for the Home Department and others intervening) [2021] UKSC 9, [2021] 2 WLR 705
- Re NY (A Child) (Reunite International and others Intervening) [2019] UKSC 49, [2020] AC 665
- Re W (Abduction: Implementation of Return Order) [2019] EWHC 357 (Fam), [2019] 2 FLR 1081
- Re S (A Child)(Abduction: Hague Convention or BIIa) [2018] 4 WLR 108, [2018] 2 FLR 1405
- In re W & Another [2018] 3 WLR 1819, [2018] 2 FLR 748
- Re M (Children) [2017] EWCA Civ 891, [2017] 3 FCR 369
- In Re B (A Child)(Reunite International Child Abduction Centre and Others Intervening) [2016] UKSC 4, [2016] AC 606
- Re S (Habitual Residence and Child Objections: Brazil) [2015] EWCA Civ 2, [2015] 2 FLR 1338
- Re H (Abduction: Jurisdiction) [2014] EWCA Civ 1101, [2015] 1 FLR 1132
- In Re L (A Child)(Custody: Habitual Residence)(Reunite International Child Abduction Centre Intervening) [2013] UKSC 75, [2014] AC 1017
- Re C (Abduction: Setting Aside Return Order: Remission) [2013] 1 FLR 403
- In Re E (Children)(Abduction: Custody Appeal) [2011] UKSC 27, [2012] 1 AC 144
Jennifer deals with all aspects of divorce and matrimonial finance, including Schedule 1 and TLATA applications. She has particular experience of cases involving international issues, such as jurisdiction disputes, recognition of foreign divorces, and cross-border enforcement (both within and outside the EU).
Reported cases
- Timokhin v Timokhina [2023] EWHC 58 (Fam), [2023] 1 F.C.R. 901
- KS v VS [2024] EWHC 278 (Fam) / VS v KS [2023] EWHC 3475 (Fam)
- MG v GM [2022] EWFC 8
- Lachaux v Lachaux [2019] EWCA Civ 738, [2019] 4 WLR 86
- Mensah v Mensah (Recognition of Foreign Divorce), [2018] EWHC 484 (Fam)
- Musa v Karim [2012] EWCA Civ 1332, [2013] Fam Law 16
Jennifer is instructed in all types of private law children work. She has particular expertise in cases with an international element, such as relocation applications, jurisdictional disputes, issues under the EU Brussels II Revised Regulation and the 1996 Hague Convention, and international enforcement.
She also regularly deals with cases involving issues such as domestic abuse, intractable contact problems, and expert evidence.
Reported cases
- Re X (Children)(Article 61 BIIa) [2021] EWCA Civ 1305, [2022] 1 FLR 301
- JC v PC [2021] EWHC 2305 (Fam)
- Re A (A Child)(Abduction: Jurisdiction: 1996 Hague Convention) [2021] EWHC 581 (Fam)
- Lachaux v Lachaux [2019] EWCA Civ 738, [2019] 4 WLR 86
- Re M (Children) [2017] EWCA Civ 891, [2017] 3 FCR 369
Reputation & Awards
‘Jennifer’s advice is nuanced, detailed and comprehensive, and her manner in court is beguiling.’
Legal 500, 2025
“You can see the judge stop and listen to what she says.””When she speaks she is measured, authoritative and clear.” – Chambers & Partners, 2025
“She can cut through complex legal arguments with ease and is more than a match for barristers of a much higher call.””Jennifer is a very persuasive advocate.” – Chambers & Partners, 2025
“Her advocacy is also incredibly strong.””She really gets to the core of the matter and has an air of calmness and unflappability when you’re working with her.” – Chambers & Partners, 2025
‘Jennifer’s advice is nuanced, detailed and comprehensive, and her manner in court is beguiling.’ – Legal 500, 2025
‘Jennifer is very quick-thinking on her feet and has excellent legal knowledge.’ – Legal 500, 2025
“She’s a brilliant strategist and an understated, highly effective advocate, who commands the respect and attention of the tribunal.” – Chambers & Partners, 2024
“She’s got an expert knowledge of the relevant law, she prepares her cases in a detailed, thorough way and her advocacy is good, calm and persuasive.” – Chambers & Partners, 2024
‘Jennifer is incredibly intelligent. She is the best junior barrister in international child abduction matters, and her knowledge of the law in this area is second to none. She is approachable and always goes out of her way to provide first-class advice. Her client care skills are excellent, and she is very good at giving firm advice to clients and being realistic about the prospect of their cases.’ – Legal 500, 2024
‘Jennifer is pragmatic and quick on her feet. She can grasp complex issues and finds practical and sensible solutions which are in the client’s best interests. She is a formidable advocate with a subtle and effective style.’ – Legal 500, 2024
“Jennifer Perrins is superb on technically detailed cases and those with complex jurisdictional issues. She’s a very calm and persuasive advocate who gets to the nub of the issues. She also produces excellent written work.” – Chambers & Partners, 2023
“Jenny has great instincts and her advice is always on point. She’s great with clients and is extremely responsive. She always finds time to speak and deal with issues regardless of how busy she is.” – Chambers & Partners, 2023
‘Jennifer is a talented advocate. She is always prepared and clearly has a mastery of her papers. She is clever and deeply supportive of her clients.’ – Legal 500, 2023
“Jennifer is very thorough, bright, responsive and good on her feet.” – Legal 500, 2023
“A caring, thorough advocate who has her finger on the key issues in complex international cases.” “She is hard-working and meticulously prepared, and has a calm, assured manner with clients. Jennifer is a polished performer in court and her technical knowledge is sharp.” “She runs her cases in a robust and strategic way, and gives frank, clear, realistic advice to clients.” – Chambers and Partners, 2022
‘Jenny’s knowledge of both domestic and international children law is fantastic. She is so switched-on and astute it is scary. She has a remarkable sense of strategy, especially in complex international children cases.’ – Legal 500, 2022
“A great cross-examiner who doesn’t give up but also never pursues duff points. She just gets on with things, never resorting to histrionics.” – Chambers & Partners, 2021
‘An excellent advocate.’ – Legal 500, 2021
‘Excellent and approachable, she has a clear understanding of the law and is practical, pragmatic and strong in both her oral and written presentation.’ – Chambers & Partners 2020
‘Jennifer is thorough, hard-working and someone who secures the client’s trust. She’s diligent in how she prepares and very hands-on.’ – Chambers & Partners 2020
‘Is always very able on her feet and in answering any tricky questions the judge may pose. ’ – Legal 500 2020
‘She’s a solicitor’s dream; she’s really well prepared, approachable and excellent in court.” “She’s a trusted advocate who has the ear of the judge – she’s good in court without being too aggressive.’ – Chambers & Partners 2019
‘Jennifer is very calm even when tensions are running high.’ – Legal 500 2019
‘An accomplished family law barrister…expertise includes international child abduction, enforcement and jurisdiction matters…also handles money matters such as Schedule 1 applications and TLATA. Always very well prepared and very efficient in her advocacy…really strong knowledge of complex child abduction matters and experience beyond her call’ – Chambers & Partners 2018
‘Very thorough and approachable’ – Legal 500 2018
‘She is bright, efficient and very capable. She has expertise in child abduction and cases with an international element’ – Legal 500 2014 & 2015
Awards and Scholarships
Hardwicke Entrance Award – Lincolns Inn
Shortlisted for Family Law Awards 2018 – International Family Lawyer of the Year
Shortlisted for Family and Child Law Junior of the Year’ in the 2022 Legal 500 awards
Education
University of Manchester – LLB Law
Manchester Metropolitan University – BVC
Professional Memberships
Member of the Family Law Bar Association
Member of the Honourable Society of Lincolns Inn
Publications
- Member of the Lexis Nexis ‘Meet the Experts’ Family Law Panel
- Jackson’s Matrimonial Finance & Taxation (contributor to 10th Edition).
- 1KBW on International Child Abduction (co-author together with other members of the 1KBW child abduction team).
- Practical Law Company (co-author of child abduction practice notes).
- Jennifer regularly writes articles for publications such as Family Law Week and Lexis Nexis. Some examples of her published articles appear below:
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- The importance of judicial impartiality: An analysis of Harb v Prince Abdul Aziz bin Fahd bin Abdul Aziz (for Lexis Nexis with Richard Harrison KC)
- Maintenance requirements and the sharing principle: AAZ v BBZ and Others (for Lexis Nexis with Richard Harrison KC)
- Civil Restraint Orders: Veluppillai v Chief Land Registrar and Others (for Lexis Nexis with Richard Harrison KC)
- In the Matter of B (A Child): Habitual Residence and the Child-Centric Approach to Jurisdiction
- The Supreme Court’s Judgment in In the Matter of S (A Child) – An Analysis
- S v C: Re E Revisited