Child & Family Law

Maria Clarke

Maria Clarke is an Advocate who practises general civil law with a focus on Child and Family Law.  She has been a member of the Faculty of Advocates’ Human Rights Group since its inception.  She was the Vice Chair of the International Bar Association Human Rights Committee (1998-2002), then briefly (due to other commitments) Chair of the Committee.

Cases of interest in which she has been involved include Dundee City Council v M 2004 SLT 640, in which the issues concerned the adoption of a child and whether or not the child’s parents’ Art 6 rights to a fair trial had been infringed given that they were not invited to attend the Adoption and Permanence Panels which made the critical recommendation that the child should be adopted; and Dundee City Council v GK 2006 SC 326, again concerning adoption, and whether or not the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 section 11(4) and section 18 of the Adoption (Scotland ) Act 1978 are compatible with Arts 8 and 6 of the ECHR.  The case also raised the issue of delay in terms of Art 6.

Jennifer Spence

Jennifer is a Partner at Biggart Baillie LLP.  Jennifer acts for various public bodies and local authorities, including SCRA and the Principal Reporter, in appeals to the Court of Session, appeals to Sheriffs Principal and Judicial Review proceedings.

Advising her public sector clients on the operation of their statutory functions and fulfilment of their statutory obligations, Jennifer has considerable experience in litigating in the fields of Child Law, Public and Administrative law and has particular interest and experience in dealing with cases raising human rights and devolution issues.

The Law Society of Scotland has accredited Jennifer as a Specialist in Child Law.

George Wood

George qualified as a solicitor in 1975.  He called as an advocate in 2003.  As both solicitor and advocate he has had interest in and experience of child and family law cases.

As a solicitor he was a member of the Family Law Association from its inception and is currently a member of the Advocates Family Law Group.

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Formed in May 2009, the Scottish Human Rights Law Group is a non-affiliated, independent, professional network for those engaged in legal practice and study, in academia and politics, in campaigning and in the provision of advice. It exists to raise awareness and knowledge of human rights law in Scotland, and to provide a forum for discussion of matters of interest across the field. The group organises seminars and roundtable discussions on human rights and is accredited for the purposes of CPD.