Alison Crookes

Alison is a well established practitioner  with extensive experience in all areas of family law.  She is approachable and has a direct yet  sensitive manner which is used to particular advantage when representing  clients with learning disabilities and/or mental health difficulties.  She is regularly instructed by the Office  of the Official Solicitor.  

Alison is well organised and efficient.  She welcomes ongoing communication between  herself and those who instruct her, throughout the life of a case, and she  responds promptly to requests for advice and assistance.

Alison is skilled at and experienced in the  demands of fact management and she relishes the challenges presented by  complex fact finding hearings; in whichever area of her practice they arise.      

Matrimonial Finance

Alison has wide ranging experience in all areas of family finance; including cases where the assets are substantial, where there is a family owned business, those where the interests of third parties are placed in issue and those which ignite discussion of the relevance of pre or post nuptial agreements.  

Alison has been practicing at the Bar since before the introduction of Pension Sharing Orders and “pension cases” are an area of special interest to her.  

In addition to her experience in financial provision upon divorce Alison has experience in Schedule 1 Children Act applications.

Children (Private Law)

Alison has wide ranging experience in all aspects of private law Children Act applications; including international relocation, applications made by grandparents, special guardianship applications, applications where the child was conceived as a result of donor sperm, parental alienation issues and specific issue applications concerning vaccination and home education.  

Alison has extensive experience in all the types of fact finding hearings which impact upon the decision making process for children in private law proceedings.

Children (Public Law)

Alison has built  her public law Children Act practice over the past 25 years.  She has represented Local Authorities,  parents, Guardians, grandparents and  intervenors at all Court levels (including the Court of Appeal).  

Alison is  regularly instructed in complex fact finding hearings; including allegations  of sex abuse (acting for Local Authorities and alleged perpetrators; including  cases where the child is called as a witness) and where non accidental injury  is suspected (including cases of brain injury and those where there are  multiple fractures).  

Alison is also  experienced in applications for leave to revoke placement orders and  applications to discharge care orders.  

Alison is  experienced in all aspects of DOLS applications as they arise in public law  Children Act applications.  

Domestic violence and injunctions & Forced Marriage Protection Orders

Alison has all the breadth of experience in representing clients in domestic abuse cases and injunctions that comes with practicing at the Family Bar for 25 years. Alison has experience in respect of Forced Marriage Protection Orders.