Graeme Harrison
- 1997
'Graeme has a marvellous disposition and is widely experienced, knowledgeable and committed.'
Legal 500 - 2025
’very strong advocate’
Legal 500 - 2025
‘strong technical skills’
Legal 500 - 2025
"Briefing Graeme is a pleasure"
Professional Client - April 2024
"He grasps the issues quickly, keeps me appraised of how hearings are going and is always extremely helpful when responding to my emails."
Professional Client - April 2024
Qualifications, Memberships & Appointments
- BA (Hertford College, Oxford)
- MA (Queen’s College, Oxford)
- DPhil (Worcester College, Oxford)
- GDL (College of Law, London)
- BVC (ICSL)
- Family Law Bar Association
Practice Overview
Graeme joined the family team at Pallant Chambers in November 2021.
He is a specialist child law barrister and has extensive knowledge and experience in public children law cases, representing local authorities, parents and other family members, and children’s guardians in a large number of cases. He also has experience in private law applications and has appeared in the Court of Protection. He is also trained with IPSEA and is able to conduct SEN tribunals.
Graeme is known for his calm, patient, and pragmatic approach and has considerable experience of working with clients with mental health difficulties and learning disabilities.
He is a qualified family mediator and enthusiastic supporter of Advocate (formerly, the Bar Pro Bono Unit).
Children (Public Law)
Public law cases
Bristol City Council v. P & Q [2021]
Graeme successfully represented Bristol in public law proceedings for care orders in respect of older children and then in the father’s application to discharge the care orders.
Bath & North East Somerset Council v. X & Y [2021]
Graeme successfully represented the mother in long-running public law proceedings following the discovery of non-accidental injuries. The case involved multiple intervenors and the analysis of hundreds of hours of CCTV footage.
Devon County Council v. A & B [2021]
Graeme represented the child in public law proceedings arising out of non-accidental injuries to a child with a pre-existing medical condition. The parents alleged negligence against various of the child’s treating clinicians who were, along with the hospital trust, joined to the proceedings to answer those allegations.
Re JL (A Child)(Leave to Apply to Revoke Placement Order [2020] EWCA Civ 1253
Graeme successfully appealed the decision of HHJ Bromilow to dismiss applications for leave to apply to revoke a placement order and for permission to apply for a special guardianship order. Graeme’s client was subsequently appointed as the child’s special guardian.
Bristol City Council v. S & T [2020]
Graeme successfully represented Bristol City Council in a complex case involving intra-familiar sexual abuse and incest. One of the children was profoundly disabled and was placed in care in a residential home. Graeme advised in relation to issues around emergency medical treatment for the child and about the deprivation of the child’s liberty in his residential placement.
Re A (Children)(Parental Alienation) [2019] EWFC B56
Graeme represented a parent accused of parental alienation. Having started out as a private law case, the local authority brought public law proceedings. A psychotherapist was joined to the proceedings to answer allegations about her advice to the court about the transfer of the children’s residence.
Bristol City Council v. O & P [2019]
Graeme represented Bristol City Council in public law proceedings about a child who suffered from selective mutism brought on as a result of the care that he received from his special guardians. The case involved trans-jurisdictional issues.
South Gloucestershire Council v. M & N [2019]
Graeme represented the local authority in public law proceedings about a child with underlying health conditions who sustained severe, non-accidental bruising at the hands of her carers.
Children (Private Law)
Private Law Cases
P v. C & D [2020]
Graeme represented the children through their rule 16.4 guardian in complex private law proceedings.
F v. F & G
Graeme represented the child through her rule 16.4 guardian in private law proceedings, involving questions about the immigration status of the father and the basis of his application for contact.