International Lecture Series

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We are delighted to welcome Amelia Nice, Mary Westcott and Malcolm Hawkes, Barristers from Doughty Street Chambers’ Extradition Team, along with Dr. Tom Grange, Chartered Clinical Psychologist, as our guest speakers for the evening. Sital Fontenelle, Partner in our family and divorce team will be chairing the event.

Extradition presents a unique challenge to practitioners and the courts in meeting the best interests of the child due to the prospect of physical and geographical dislocation of parents from their children. The psychological impact upon children of forced, and often traumatic separation from their carers is frequently underestimated in the extradition courts.

This talk will address what the ‘best interests’ of the child actually means, in domestic and international law and the tactics to adopt when facing a case involving the potential separation of a child from its parents.
 
The speakers will also address the particular difficulties involved in protecting a child’s interests in extradition hearings, the role of child psychologists as well as issues relating to child abduction and possible solutions.

About the speakers: 

• Amelia Nice is a barrister specialising in extradition, human rights and public law, and is ranked in Chambers and Partners as a leader in the field of Extradition at the London Bar. The majority of her work involves human rights related arguments and she has particular expertise in cases concerning children’s rights.
• Mary Westcott is an extradition barrister with a first-rate reputation for her specialist knowledge, advocacy and drafting. She works almost exclusively in extradition, predominantly defending with an excellent track record. She often acts in grave and complex matters, and lectures on extradition and related issues. Her background is in general crime and civil work, providing her with broad experience.
• Malcolm Hawkes has enjoyed notable successes in defending Article 8 child and family cases at first instance and on appeal to the High Court. He is ranked as a Tier 1 practitioner in extradition in the Legal 500 and has acted in cases from over 40 countries. He has a particular specialty and interest in countries of the former Soviet Union.
• Psychologist - Dr Tom Grange is a clinical psychologist specialising with children, adolescents and parents. He has worked in the NHS for 18 years and also as an expert in family and criminal law cases for 10 years, and he now manages 25 other psychologists completing medico-legal assessments. Dr Grange has developed a special interest in the area of extradition and the impact this has upon children and adolescents aged 0 to 18.