Children, Ancillary Relief and Mental Health

Prior to being called to the Bar, Alan Inglis was a social worker approved under the Mental Health Act. Since being called, he has practised in the fields of family and mental health law. His family law practice encompasses both ancillary relief and private and public law Children Act cases.

Alan has a particular interest in international private law, especially cross-jurisdictional disputes involving Scotland and England, in both of which jurisdictions he holds rights of audience.  Having been admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in July 2009, he is the only counsel who practises family law in both jurisdictions. 

Alan's ancillary relief practice focuses on medium and high wealth cases and encompasses proceedings involving both foreign and domestic assets.

In care proceedings, Alan is regularly instructed by guardians and CAFCASS Legal.  He also has a niche practice in cases involving same sex couples and has appeared in many of the reported cases on this topic.

He is regularly complimented by judges for his concise and direct approach and his ability speedily to identify the persuasive issues in a case. 

He is the author of various articles including the following:

• Domestic Violence and Financial Provision [2003] Family Law 181

• We are Family: The Uneasy Relationship Between Gay Men, Lesbians and Family Law [2001] Family Law 895

In Scotland, Alan has a general civil law practice based at Arnot Manderson Advocates

East Sussex County Council v Stedman and Others [2009] EWHC 935
Publicity - Material in public domain - ECHR Articles 8 and 10.

Re B (Role of Biological Father) [2007] EWHC 1952
Contact - Donor father - Sibling of one of the civil parents - Principles - Importance of both psychological and biological aspects of family - Purpose of contact

Re D (Contact and Parental Responsibility: Lesbian Mothers and Known Father) [2006] EWHC 2  [2006] 1 FCR 556 (Fam)
Family proceedings - Parental responsibility - Application for Order - Grant of parental responsibility - Lesbian couple finding man to father child - Child living with mother and same sex partner - Whether father should be granted parental responsibility

Re T and A (Children: Risk of Disclosure) [2000] 1 FLR 859
Family proceedings - Conflict of interests - Confidential information

Re R (Recovery Order) [1998] 2 FLR 401
Care - Recovery order - Authorising entry onto premises and use of reasonable force

Re B (Care Proceedings: Issue Estoppel) [1997] 2 All ER 29
Family proceedings - Care proceedings - Local authority seeking to rely on finding of fact made in earlier proceedings

Re A (Adoption: Contact Order) [1993] 2 FLR 645
Adoption - Contact - Uncontested care order

Re W (Justices' Reasons) [1993] 1 FLR 118
Care - Care proceedings - Children Act 1989

Re S (Guardian Ad Litem / Welfare Officer) [1993] 1 FLR 110
Care - Care proceedings - Roles of guardian ad litem and welfare officer