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 QCs 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.

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 and the County 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, where his significant experience of acting in care proceedings gives him an invaluable insight into the subject-matter giving rise to the abuse and neglect claim.

Recent Experience

Family law

Care

• Currently instructed alone for a parent on an application for permission to appeal to the Court of Appeal which raises difficult issues of proportionality.
• Currently instructed as junior counsel for a parent in a case where the other parent is subject to concurrent criminal proceedings for a very serious offence of violence.
• Currently instructed as junior counsel for a Local Authority in a case involving perplexing presentation/fabricated or induced illness.
• 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.
• Recently instructed alone for a Local Authority in a case in the High Court in which the subject child has suffered potentially life-changing injuries.

Private Law

• 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.
• Recently instructed alone for the Guardian in a contested final hearing of an application by a parent for permission to relocate with the subject child outside of England and Wales.

Ancillary Relief and Trusts of Land

• Currently instructed as second junior counsel on an application for permission to bring 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.
• Recently instructed alone in successfully resisting an application for maintenance pending suit in its entirety.

Abuse and neglect

• 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

M (Children: Applications by Email) [2021] EWCA Civ 806

(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)

(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

“He is always well prepared and is quick to understand a complex set of circumstances, getting to the crux of the issue swiftly.” Chambers & Partners 2025

William is ranked (Tier 3) for Family: Children in the 2024 edition of Chambers and Partners.

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

“He was always available and provided quick and efficient advice.” Chambers & Partners 2024

William is ranked as a “Rising Star” (Tier 1) for Family and Children Law in the 2024 edition of the Legal 500.

“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

William is ranked as a “Rising Star” (Tier 1) for Family and Children Law in the 2023 edition of the Legal 500.“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

“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

William is ranked as a “Rising Star” (Tier 1) for Family and Children Law in the 2022 edition of the Legal 500. Legal 500 2022

William is ranked as a “Rising Star” (Tier 1) for Family and Children Law in the 2021 edition of the Legal 500. Legal 500 2021

“Grasp of key issues in complex proceedings are excellent.” Ranked: Tier 1 Rising Star Legal 500 2022

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