Westgate Chambers were delighted to headline sponsor Family Law Week’s Public and Private Children Conference 2024 which took place on Thursday 24th October.

The Conference was dedicated to the latest developments, challenges, and innovations in the field of children’s law. It brought together leading experts to explore the complexities of public and private children law, ensuring the welfare and protection of children within the legal system.

The Conference was led by FLW’s Editor-in-Chief, HH Stephen Wildblood KC), Managing Editor Mani Singh Basi and our Deputy Senior Clerk, Stuart Taylor-Jones who also serves as FLW’s Marketing and Podcast Editor.

The Conference hosted talks from our very own Cerys Sayer as well as; Anita Guha KC, Teertha Gupta KC, Piers Pressdee KC, Leslie Samuels KC, Louise MacLynn KC, Professor Rob George, Grant Keyes, Mark Calway, Simon Craddock, Forum Shah, Somia Siddiq, Dr Maria Wright and James Evans

The Conference Debate, Contact with adoption should no longer be the exception, was chaired by HHJ Stephen Wildblood KC, which discussed Sir Andrew McFarlane’s recent musings on Contact with birth families post Adoption. The panel was made up of His Honour, Mark Calway and Grant Keyes who were joined by Dr Beverley Barnett-Jones (Associate Director for System and Impact, Nuffield Family Justice Observatory) and Sarah Beskine.

Cerys Sayers handout can be obtained upon request.