William Horwood

Family Law

William has developed a substantial practice across the spectrum of family law, appearing in proceedings under Parts II and IV of the Children Act 1989, as well as proceedings under the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, the Family Law Act 1996 and the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996.

Care

William regularly appears on behalf of Local Authorities, parents, children and intervenors in the Family Court and the High Court. He has appeared alone in the Court of Appeal, and has also appeared alone against silks in the High Court and the Family Court.

William is developing a significant practice in cases involving placement of children outside of England and Wales, and has recently been instructed in two such cases where the court has received expert evidence on the law of the country where placement is proposed. He is regularly instructed in cases of the most serious nature, including cases involving child deaths and serious physical, emotional and/or sexual abuse.

Private Law

William’s private law practice focuses on cases where the court has appointed a Guardian pursuant to Rule 16.4 of the Family Procedure Rules. He has significant experience of “high conflict” cases involving allegations of physical abuse, sexual abuse, parental alienation, and potential child criminal or sexual exploitation, as well as cases involving the abduction of children to non-Hague Convention countries.

Ancillary Relief and Trusts of Land

William regularly advises clients on matters concerning ancillary relief and trusts of land, and has appeared in both the Family Court, the County Court and the High Court in such cases. In common with his child law practice, William has acted in cases with an international element and involving issues of jurisdiction and recognition of orders made in England and Wales in foreign courts.

Abuse and Neglect

William continues to develop his practice in this highly specialised area. He acts for Claimants and Defendants in the County Court and the High Court. He has a particular interest in claims arising out of care proceedings or time spent in local authority, where his significant experience of acting in care proceedings (including for local authorities) gives him an invaluable insight into the subject-matter giving rise to the abuse and neglect claim.

Recent Experience

A ‘Disreputable Mess’? Non-marriage after Tousi v Gaydukova [2024] Fam Law 1140

Family law

Care

• Currently instructed as junior counsel for a parent in a very complex case involving serious allegations of physical, emotional and sexual abuse, parents with significant cognitive difficulties, and an issue around paternity and parental responsibility for one of the children.
• Currently instructed alone for a parent in a case involving serious allegations of physical and emotional abuse, potential placement of a child in another European country, and potential jurisdictional issues.
• Currently instructed alone for a guardian in a case involving serious allegations of sexual abuse and failure to protect in which one of the children is to give oral evidence at the fact-finding hearing.
• Recently instructed alone to advise a Local Authority in a case in which the child had suffered multiple potentially life-threatening head injuries.
• Recently instructed alone for a Local Authority in a case involving serious allegations of sexual abuse of a very young child.
• Recently instructed as junior counsel for a parent in a very unusual case in the High Court involving a significant dispute as to the age of the subject child.
• Recently instructed as junior counsel for a Local Authority in a case involving multiple injuries to a non-mobile baby, in which the court heard from three expert medical witnesses.

Private Law

• Currently instructed as leading junior counsel for a parent in a case involving the abduction of a child from the United Kingdom to a non-Hague Convention country.
• Currently instructed alone for the Guardian in a case involving a lengthy finding of fact hearing in relation to allegations of forced marriage, serious sexual abuse and domestic violence.
• Recently instructed alone for the Guardian in a successful appeal against the refusal of the first instance judge to list a finding of fact hearing in relation to allegations of domestic abuse.

Ancillary Relief and Trusts of Land

• Currently instructed alone in a cohabitee dispute involving the beneficial ownership of two properties as well as serious allegations of domestic abuse.
• Recently instructed as leading junior counsel on an appeal to the High Court challenging the first instance judge’s refusal, on grounds of forum conveniens, to stay divorce and financial remedy proceedings in England and Wales.
• Recently instructed as second junior counsel on a second appeal to the Court of Appeal against a decision to transfer a tenancy, which raises questions as to the validity of a foreign marriage and the remedies available in English law where a foreign marriage is void.

Abuse and neglect

• Currently instructed alone on behalf of a care leaver to advise on a potential claim against a Local Authority relating to their time in the care of that Local Authority.
• Recently instructed alone on behalf of a child to advise on quantum of damages following the child having been unlawfully removed from parental care by a Local Authority.
• Recently instructed alone on behalf of a care leaver in a claim against a Local Authority relating to their time in the care of that Local Authority, which settled for a substantial five figure sum post-issue.

Recently instructed alone for a Local Authority and succeeded in securing summary judgment in the High Court on claims arising out of care proceedings for misfeasance in public office, negligence and breaches of the Human Rights Act 1998

Reported Cases

Court of Appeal

Tousi v Gaydukova [2024] EWCA Civ 203, [2024] Fam 225

(Hyperlink here – Tousi v Gaydukova [2024] EWCA Civ 203 (06 March 2024) (bailii.org))

M (Children: Applications by Email) [2021] EWCA Civ 806, [2021] 4 WLR 100

(Hyperlink here – M (Children: Applications By Email) [2021] EWCA Civ 806 (28 May 2021) (bailii.org))

AV (A Child) (Expert Report) [2020] EWCA Civ 346, [2020] 2 FLR 203

(Hyperlink here – https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2020/346.html)

High Court

Tousi v Gaydukova [2023] EWHC 404 (Fam), [2024] 1 WLR 118

(Hyperlink here – Tousi v Gaydukova (Rev1) [2023] EWHC 404 (Fam) (27 February 2023) (bailii.org))

A Local Authority v The Mother and Ors [2022] EWHC 3043 (Fam)

(Hyperlink here – A Local Authority v The Mother & Anor [2022] EWHC 3043 (Fam) (17 October 2022) (bailii.org))

C (A Child: Care Proceedings – Inherent Jurisdiction – Deprivation of Liberty) [2019] EWFC B72 (Comm)

(Hyperlink here – https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWFC/OJ/2019/B72.html)

K, T and U (Placement of Children with Kinship Carers Abroad) [2019] EWFC 59

(Hyperlink here – https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWFC/HCJ/2019/59.html)

J (A Child: Care Proceedings: Apportionment of Experts’ Fees) [2017] EWFC B49

(Hyperlink here – www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWFC/OJ/2017/B49.html)

Education

Appointments and Memberships

Testimonials

William is ranked (Band 3) for Family: Children in the 2025 edition of Chambers and Partners, and as a leading junior (Tier 3) for Family: Children and Domestic Abuse in the 2025 edition of the Legal 500.

“He is always well prepared and is quick to understand a complex set of circumstances, getting to the crux of the issue swiftly. He has a good eye for detail.” (Chambers and Partners, 2025 edition)

“William is a very confident and well-prepared advocate which is backed up by his excellent grasp of statute and case law. He is incredibly approachable and is always happy to discuss matters. His advocacy style is measured and non-confrontational which proves highly effective.” (Legal 500, 2025 edition)

“William is always excellently prepared, he knows the law intricately and applies that to find pragmatic options for the client.” (Chambers and Partners, 2024 edition)

“William is a calm but powerful advocate.” (Chambers and Partners, 2024 edition)

“William is always incredibly well-prepared and meticulous in his attention to detail. He has very good client care skills and keeps his instructing solicitors well informed of developments. His attendance notes are always of high quality. He has a very non-confrontational style of advocacy which is very effective.” (Legal 500, 2024 edition)

“Rising star William Horwood is an ‘incredibly articulate advocate’ and is frequently instructed in difficult cases related to child death and abuse.” (Legal 500, 2023 edition)

“William is a very good counsel who advises the client and puts the client’s case even if the views of the client go against the advice which has been provided. He is very good at meeting the client’s expectations and very good at putting the client’s case across.” (Legal 500, 2023 edition)

“Grasp of key issues in complex proceedings are excellent.” (Legal 500, 2022 edition)

News

The court of appeal has today handed down judgment in tourist v gaydukova 2024 ewca civ 203

William Horwood completes 2023 Pro Bono Pledge

BLS Pro Bono Award for William Horwood

Pro Bono Award Shortlisting for Family Barrister

William Horwood completes 25 for 25: The Pro Bono Challenge

Five St Philips barristers in the Court of Appeal

G (Children: Fair Hearing) [2019] EWCA Civ 126 – by William Horwood

Cricket Disciplinary Appeal by William Horwood

Languages

English

Russian