David Maddison

Transfer of Residence

Re J [2016] EWHC 2430 Fam

This case made national headlines in most newspapers as the mother was raising the boy as a girl.  David successfully argued that the Court should change residence of the child to the father as he offered the best opportunity for the child to develop his own identity.  

The case involved the input of three guardians, two social workers, an adult psychologist and a child psychologist.

News Coverage

News Coverage

Conditional Transfer of Residence

Re M [2012] EWHC 1948 Fam

A hearing before Mr Justice Peter Jackson in which David sought to enforce a contact order on behalf of the father.  The mother had taken the children absconded with the children and the proceedings started as wardship to trace them.

David successfully argued that the Court should make a conditional transfer of residence, so that if the mother failed to co-operate with the contact arrangements, residence would automatically transfer to the father.

Reporting Restrictions Orders

Re J (Reporting Restrictions) [2016] EWHC 2595

Because of the press interest in the above case of re J, the Mail on Sunday brought an application to report the details of the case.

David was engaged in two days of arguments over the terms of a Reporting Restrictions Order.  This involved complex submissions regarding the competing European Convention rights of the parents and child for privacy, and the newspaper’s right to freedom of expression.

As a consequence David successfully argued that the mother should not be permitted to speak to the press regarding the details of the case as this would be contrary to the child’s welfare.

Other cases of note: Radicalisation/extremism

Successfully represented a mother who sought discharge of a care order when her child had been removed in to care following intelligence given by the Police to the local authority.  The mother had a conviction under the Terrorism Act, but was able to demonstrate her ability to care for the child.

The case involved significant analysis of information from the Police and their counter-terrorism network CHANNEL

Appointments

• Deputy District Judge (Civil & Family)

Legal Directories

• Ranked in the 2026 edition of Chambers and Partners - UK bar for Family: Children

• Ranked in the 2026 edition of the Legal 500 for Family: Children

Accreditations

• FLBA

• Civil Mediator

Qualifications

• LLB (Hons) – University of Birmingham

• Bar Course – Inns of Court School of Law

Memberships

• FLBA

• Northern Circuit