Introduction
Christopher Rank is a Family Law specialist and adopts a professional but robust approach to all aspects of his work. He is popular with both professional and lay clients and is known for his meticulous preparation and excellent client care skills. He has appeared at all levels up to and including the Court of Appeal.
Christopher joined St Philips Chambers in 2016, having previously practised from Birmingham Chambers.
Public Law Care and Adoption
Christopher acts on behalf of local authorities, parents, children and other family members and is frequently instructed in cases involving serious and complex injuries to children. Such matters have included:
- Adoption breakdowns,
- Care cases with an international element,
- Child death cases,
- Chronic neglect and drug and alcohol abuse,
- Designated Local Authority arguments,
- Deprivation of Liberty orders,
- Fictitious illness,
- Forced marriage,
- Instructions by the official solicitor to represent vulnerable individuals,
- Non accidental head injury / fractures,
- Physical abuse,
- PII applications,
- Purported poisoning,
- Sexual abuse,
- Surrogacy matters.
Christopher has a particular interest in cases involving complex medical evidence. He has appeared in many adoption cases where there are competing arguments for the child to be brought up within the birth family.
Notable cases
A Local Authority v Mother & Ors [2022] EWFC 172
Re A and B (Children) (Deaf Parent – Assessment and Practice) [2021] EWFC 10
Re AV (a Child) (Expert Report) [2020] EWCA Civ 346
Private Law Children and Domestic Abuse
Christopher has extensive experience of representing parents and children in private law disputes. He has been instructed to act in intractable disputes and complex cases involving domestic violence, sexual abuse and rape. He has also been involved in a number of cases concerning removal from the jurisdiction. He regularly represents the Guardian ad Litem instructed by CAFCASS.
Christopher is often instructed in the more serious cases involving complex factual disputes and where there is independent expert evidence of a psychological and psychiatric nature.
Education
LLB (Hons)
Bar Vocational Course (very competent)
Former member of the Prison Independent Monitoring Board
