Qualifications and Study Experience
Patrick studied at the University of Birmingham, graduating in 2008. He went on to complete his Legal Practice Course at the College of Law which was completed in 2009.
Work Experience
Following the end of his Legal Practice Course, Patrick moved into practice at a local high street firm in Walsall as a paralegal in 2009. There he dealt almost exclusively with divorce matters.
Patrick started his Training Contract in 2010 at the same firm where he undertook more complex matters in both private and public children law. He also gained experience of advocacy largely appearing at the Family Court sitting at the Magistrates Court in Walsall. Patrick qualified as a solicitor in 2012.
In 2014 Patrick joined a City Centre firm in Birmingham continuing to work in the area of Family Law, specialising in Children Law, particularly care proceedings, private disputes between parents and also international cases involving the abduction of children.
Patrick joined Waldrons in June 2015 where he has remained ever since.
Patrick has over ten years of experience in childcare and family law and deals with a range of cases including complex care proceedings involving issues of neglect, sexual abuse, inflicted injuries and serious harm to children. He is instructed regularly on lengthy care proceedings involving the most serious of matters. He is also able to assist in private children law matters including applications for child arrangement orders. He has particular experience in dealing with matters involving serious allegations of domestic abuse and violence.
Patrick is also able to advise on aspects of international law surrounding the abduction of children, both to prevent this from happening and also to assist in dealing with applications for the return of children. Patrick has experience in dealing with applications brought under the Hague Convention and also for Wardship in this area.
External Mentions
Patrick is regulated by the SRA and is a member of the Law Society. In 2015 Patrick applied for and was accepted onto the Children Panel which is an accreditation confirming his experience and knowledge of Children Law. He was re-accredited onto this in 2020.
Patrick has dealt with a number of cases which has been reported:
Birmingham City Council v Riaz and Others [2014] EWHC 4247 (Fam) – representing an intervenor in High Court proceedings brought under the Inherent Jurisdiction.
Re P (Sexual Abuse: Finding of Fact Hearing) [2019] EWFC 27 – representing a respondent father in a large set of care proceedings which were described at the time as the largest case of its type to appear before the Family Court.
JK –v- LM [2020] EWHC 1566 (Fam) – representing a responding to an application brought pursuant to the Hague Convention.
Personal Info
Outside of work, Patrick enjoys spending time with his young family, eating and cooking. He likes to relax by watching TV and reading.