We are fortunate to count some highly experienced children practitioners amongst our former co-chairs, five of whom are Honorary Lifetime Vice-Presidents to the Association.
Martha Cover
One of the foremost children law barristers in the country, Martha has been a child law specialist since 1990. Martha is Head of Chambers at Coram in London. She has extensive experience representing parents and children in cases of serious death and injury to a child, and of concurrent criminal and care proceedings. She appeared in the "Miracle Baby" case, and has a particular interest in allegations of emotional harm where children are being brought up in unusual belief systems. She also specialises in international and domestic adoption, wardship, and intractable disputes between parents over contact and residence.
Martha regularly speaks and writes on children law matters. She has written for the Times and been interviewed on radio and television to discuss adoption and the wider policy issues affecting care proceedings in the aftermath of the death of Baby P.
Maud Davis
Formerly ALC Co-Chair, Maud is an associate at Bindmans LLP, a firm with a reputation for excellence and for being at the cutting edge of legal developments. Maud qualified as a solicitor in 1990 having already specialised in family law during her training. She has gone on to focus on children work, in particular dealing with complex care cases, undertaking her own advocacy.
Maud is accredited by the Law Society' as a specialist in children law, and has rights of audience as an advocate in the higher civil courts. Maud is a member of the Family Justice Council, as well as a member of the Solicitors Association of Higher Courts Advocates, the British Association for Adoption and Fostering, Resolution, and the London Children's Lawyers Group. She is also an associate member of NAGALRO. She currently co-chairs the Interdisciplinary Alliance for Children. She is regularly asked to join advisory groups supporting socio-legal academics and researchers in their work, including research on repeat care proceedings, and on children’s privacy.
Maud is ranked in band 1 by Chambers UK Guide, and named as a leading individual in the Legal 500.
Formerly ALC Co-Chair, Maud is an associate at Bindmans LLP, a firm with a reputation for excellence and for being at the cutting edge of legal developments. Maud qualified as a solicitor in 1990 having already specialised in family law during her training. She has gone on to focus on children work, in particular dealing with complex care cases, undertaking her own advocacy.
Liz Goldthorpe
Liz is a former Chair of the ALC and a retired Judge with the Tribunals Service.
Liz was the first person to be appointed to the honorary post of Lifetime Vice-President in recognition of her contribution to the Association.
Nicola Jones-King
Formerly Co-Chair, Nicola is a partner with McMillan Williams, a 9 partner, 10 office firm in South London, Surrey and Sussex. She has been a member Law Society Children Panel since 1997 and is a Resolution Accredited Specialist in the areas of Domestic Abuse and Private Law. The majority of her caseload is in Public law for both children and parents but she maintains a significant practice in Private Law cases.
Nicola has provided training to CAFCASS, SSAFA and the Institute of Child Health.
Nicola has been a member of the ALC Legal Aid sub-committee and Private Law and CAFCASS sub-committees. Over the last few years, Nicola has focussed her contribution to the ALC on drafting and responding to Legal Aid consultations.
Nicola lives in a 16th Century cottage in Surrey with her husband and has been a Guide Guider with Girlguiding UK for over 15 years. In the limited time left, Nicola enjoys walking, attempting to keep the garden tidy, traditional crafts, fine dining and entertaining friends.
Caroline Little
Caroline has been a member of the ALC since its beginning, and was Co-Chair between 2006 and 2009. Her tenure was instrumental in advancing the status and reputation of the ALC. Caroline has also played a key role in training, development of policy and promoting children’s participation in the court process
Caroline is a consultant solicitor for Hanne & Co in London and is a specialist child care Solicitor Advocate. She has been on the Law Society Children Panel since 1985 assesses and interviews new candidates to the Children Panel.
Caroline is the second person to be appointed to the honorary post of Lifetime Vice-President in recognition of her contribution to the Association.