Parental Alienation, Re C and the Instruction of Experts

Today Melanie is joined by Ian McArdle, a family law barrister at Atlantic Chambers in Liverpool and Magdalen Chambers in Exeter. Prior to being called to the Bar, Ian was a solicitor practising in all aspects of criminal law and children law. Admitted to the Roll in 2010 and being a member of the Law Society Children Panel since 2013, Ian practised in Liverpool before moving to North Devon in 2014 where he worked in a niche, award-winning practice specialising in all aspects of children law, with a particular focus on complex cases in which he represented local authorities, parents, children and other family members. A keen advocate, Ian acquired his Higher Rights of Audience in 2015. Alongside his practice at the Bar, Ian is currently undertaking a Professional Doctorate in which he is researching the issue of parental alienation in the family justice system. Ian has written on the topic, with articles for Family Law Week and the Magistrates Association as well as delivered training for national training organisations. Which is handy since today we are talking about parental alienation and in particular the widely anticipated judgement handed down last February by the President in the case of Re C on the issue of the instruction of experts in proceedings where there is an allegation of parental alienation. The particular focus of this judgment is not on the issue of parental alienation itself but rather for the Court to consider the instruction of unregulated psychologists as experts in the Family Court in general. Melanie Bataillard-Samuel - MBS Family Law Ian McArdle - Atlantic Chambers Twitter Linkedin