Hannah Martin

Hannah Martin

She is amazing

Professional Client - Jan 2025

The client was rightly full of praise for your conduct of his case.

Solicitor, 2025

Hugely Impressed

Client

I would recommend Hannah to anybody

Client

I was amazed at the level of preparation and professionalism all round. The way Hannah represented me ensured I got the result I wanted.

Client

Hannah dealt with the client compassionately and ensured all needs were met despite the usual difficulties of remote working.

Instructing Solicitor

I could not fault Hannah’s practice and look forward to working with her in the future.

Instructing Solicitor

Hannah meticulously prepared in advance of the hearing and went to lengths to ensure that my client thoroughly understood the proceedings and felt at ease throughout.

Instructing Solicitor

Following astute negotiations a very favourable agreement was reached, my client was delighted.

Instructing Solicitor

Qualifications, Memberships & Appointments

Called to the Bar in July 2019 by The Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn

LLB (First Class)

BPTC LLM (Very Competent)

Practice Overview

Hannah is a specialist family law barrister with experience in a wide range of complex issues within both public and private child law cases. Hannah regularly appears in applications for Deprivation of Liberty Orders in the High Court and in the Court of Protection. Hannah also represents parties in EHCP appeals in the SEND Tribunal.

Hannah is a calm and confident presence both in Court and with her clients. Hannah is a strong advocate who is known for her personable approach to sensitive cases and thorough preparation.

Hannah regularly appears in the High Court as sole counsel and as junior counsel in multi-week hearings.

Hannah accepts instructions across London and the South Eastern Circuit and is qualified to accept instructions as a Direct Access barrister.

Hannah is a mini-pupillage coordinator at Pallant – if you are interested in undertaking a mini pupillage at Pallant please see our recruitment page here.

Some of Hannah’s recent cases include:

  • Represented a local authority on a 3 day Fact Finding Hearing and then the 3 day final hearing on a case involving multiple non-accidental injuries to a non-mobile baby. Hannah secured all findings sought against the parents and the final orders sought by the local authority;
  • Junior counsel led by Zosia Keniston on a 10 day Fact Finding Hearing for the local authority in a High Court case dealing with serious sexual assault of children by their step-parent. Hannah and Zosia secured all findings sought against the step-parent and parent.
  • Represented a parent on their application for relocation to a Non-Hague Convention Country
  • Represented a local authority in an application for a Deprivation of Liberty Order for a 16 year old with a complex care package
  • Represented a mother on an internal relocation case and successfully removed the dishonestly obtained parental responsibility of the other parent
  • Represented the Office of Public Guardian in a Court of Protection case where there had been dishonest mismanagement of P’s property and finances by her LPA.

Public Child Law

Hannah regularly accepts instructions to represent local authorities, parents and Guardians in care cases from emergency hearings to multi-day final hearings. Hannah is confident in quickly getting to grips with care issues and ensuring the case is dealt with in a holistic manner.

Hannah has worked in-house for several local authorities and regularly advises on complex public law issues, including jurisdictional issues, international carers/placements, and DOLs applications.

Hannah works on cases involving domestic abuse, sexual abuse, mental health, inter-sibling abuse, neglect, and substance misuse. Hannah regularly works on applications for Secure Accommodation Orders and understands the specific stresses and resource issues in this area.

Private Child Law

Hannah accepts instructions to represent parents and Guardians in applications for contact, residence, relocation, enforcement and all aspects of exercising parental responsibility. Hannah acts from initial/urgent hearings to multi-day fact finding and final hearings. Hannah has represented parents in applications for travel and relocation to Hague and Non-Hague Convention Countries. Hannah has a particular interest in private disputes with international elements.

Hannah provides pragmatic advice to her clients and is a skilled negotiator. As a result, she is regularly able to draft arrangements outside of court which suit all parties when it is in her client’s best interests to do so.

Hannah has successfully represented clients in application for costs order in private children cases, most recently following her client’s application for an enforcement order of an existing contact arrangement.

Recent feedback:

“I must also add that [client] was (rightly) full of praise for your conduct of his case. He said that he deals with commercial lawyers in London everyday and you were more impressive than them ! I don’t doubt this for a moment from all that I know you have achieved here.

 

My sincere thanks again for all you have done in [client’s] case.”

SEND Tribunal

Hannah represents parents, young people, and local authorities in EHCP appeals in the SEND Tribunal. Hannah strives to ensure each individual’s needs are fully met and she takes a practical and pragmatic approach to the resources available in each case.

Deprivation of Liberty (DOLS) and Court of Protection

Hannah provides advice on DOL issues and regularly accepts instructions in hearings for authorisation of Deprivation of Liberty for children and young people. Hannah has recently started accepting instructions in the Court of Protection and is looking to develop this area.

 

Recent feedback:

 

“Hannah was so brilliant yesterday. 

She is so confident so pro CSD and  I just  marvelled when she was giving her update – she spoke like she knew [child]. 

She is amazing.”

 

 

Some recent cases include:

 

  • Represented a local authority in an application for wardship for a 17 year old whose only living parent was being investigated for abusing her;
  • Represented the Office of Public Guardian in a Court of Protection case where there had been dishonest mismanagement of P’s property and finances by her LPA;
  • Represented a local authority in an application for a Deprivation of Liberty Order for a 16 year old with a complex care package;
  • Represented a local authority in an application to authorise the Deprivation of Liberty of a 16 year old with significant mental and physical disabilities;
  • Represented a local authority at several hearings for Secure Accommodation Orders and Deprivation of Liberty Orders for a 13 year old whose behaviours were escalating.

Domestic Abuse Injunctions

Since pupillage, Hannah has consistently represented clients in making or responding to applications for Non-Molestation and Occupation Orders.

Hannah ensures that victims are dealt with appropriately with all the necessary special measures and safeguards in place.