Bethany Armitage

Published Cases

MacDougall v SW & Ors (sperm donor: parental responsibility or contact) [2022] EWFC 50

Representing two of the respondent mothers in a sperm donor case where the court decided to name the applicant father and order a section 91(14) barring order.

Recent Cases

PUBLIC LAW

SCC v H (November 2023) – instructed to represent the guardian in a fact-finding hearing involving allegations of inflicted harm (bruising and rib fractures) to a six-week old baby, cross examination of expert witnesses and findings of inflicted harm against both parents.

DCC v S (August 2023) – instructed to represent the father in a composite fact-find/final hearing in a case involving allegations that the child involved had been shaken by the father.

SCC v W (September 2023) – representing the vulnerable mother who required an interpreter in a five day fact-finding hearing involving serious allegations of honour based violence and domestic abuse.

SCC v Y (January 2022) – instructed as a junior to senior counsel representing the children’s guardian in a 4-week fact-finding hearing involving allegations of FI and FII.

LCC v K (July 2020) – instructed as second junior counsel (led by Queen’s counsel and senior junior) representing the mother in a 2 week fact-finding hearing with allegations of NAI.

PRIVATE LAW

K v O (July 2023) – acting for the respondent in the applicant’s application for a non-molestation order and occupation order, successfully opposed the applications over a three day contested final hearing which resulted in findings against the applicant that she had fabricated allegations to help secure her immigration status. Successful application for full costs of just over £18,000 against the applicant.

O v O (March 2022) – acting for the respondent in non-molestation proceedings involving covert recordings, successfully disproved the allegations which resulted in the application being dismissed and a costs order being awarded in the respondent’s favour.

S v S (August 2021) – acting for the mother in an application for relocation of the children and a change of schools, successfully challenged a section 7 report such that the judge departed from the recommendations contained within and endorsed both applications for the mother.

K v N (May 2021) – representing a 16.4 children’s guardian in a case involving the attempted murder of one of the parents. Successful application to remove the parent’s parental responsibility and dismiss their application for both forms of contact.

L v C (February 2021) – acting for the 16.4 children’s guardian in a 2-week fact-finding hearing involving serious allegations of fabricated illness in a parent and tampering of a child’s medication.

Pro bono work

Beth has held voluntary positions with pro bono organisations including: mentor with Young Citizens, developing advocacy skills with students as part of the Citizens National Mock Trial Competitions, and with Streetlaw by providing legal workshops to schools and local communities.

Beth has completed the Advocate Pro Bono Pledge 2023 for over 25 hours of pro bono work.

Education

LLB (Hons), Law, University of Birmingham, 2:1

BPTC (LLM), BPP, Very Competent

Appointments and Memberships

News

Informal sperm donation: examining the significance of MacDougall v SW and others

#WeDoProBono

Beth Armitage’s article published in the Family Law Journal

Carolyn Jones and Bethany Armitage appear in unique case

2 for the price of 1, the court deals with ‘needs cases’

Remote Paperless Working Guides

Pupillage Diary – Bethany Armitage

Languages

English