Bethany Armitage

Introduction

Beth began her Pupillage in Family Law in October 2019 under the supervision of Nick Brown, Jonathan Nosworthy and Huw Jones.

Beth accepts instructions in all areas of public law and private law children work (including domestic violence injunctions and occupation orders). During her time at chambers Beth has conducted a range of proceedings from lengthy fact-finding hearings in both public and private law to appeals as well as cases heard in the high court.

Prior to commencing her Pupillage Beth taught debating and public speaking classes to students in the UK and Kenya as a mentor in a charitable programme aimed at improving social mobility amongst those from underprivileged backgrounds.

Beth has been actively involved in a range of voluntary organisations in recent years including mentoring students for mock trial competitions and providing legal workshops to schools/local communities, she continues to volunteer with Advocate (formerly the Bar Pro Bono Unit).

Outside of work, Beth has a keen interest in adrenaline sports and was a member of her university SkyDiving club. In her spare time Beth enjoys travelling (pandemic permitting) and baking (particularly French baked goods).

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 make a section 91(14) barring order.

Recent cases

Public law:

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.

DCC v D (February 2021) – 4-day care final hearing representing a vulnerable mother who required an advocate and interpreter. Case involving five children, an application for a placement order in respect of the youngest child therefore severing the sibling relationship and consideration as to placement of the children abroad.

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:

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.

F v B (October 2021) – successful appeal surrounding a first instance decision to discharge a non-molestation order which had been in place for several years. This case also involved a s91(14) barring order remaining in place.

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.