Jennie McGill

Overview

Jennie McGill is a Senior Associate Solicitor in the Family Department specialising exclusively in children law. Qualifying as a solicitor in 2010, she has extensive experience representing children, parents and family members in both public and private law proceedings, with particular expertise in representing children through their Children's Guardians. Jennie is an accredited member of the Law Society Children Panel and is regularly instructed in complex cases involving care proceedings, adoption, deprivation of liberty, secure accommodation and international child law issues. She is recognised for her child-focused approach, pragmatic advice and commitment to achieving the best possible outcomes for vulnerable children and families.

Key Experience

Jennie represented a mother in a high-profile public law case involving international sexual abuse allegations against the children's father, parallel criminal investigations in the UK and Poland, significant media interest, and cross-jurisdictional relocation issues. Successfully secured the children's continued placement with their mother, no final public law orders, and permission for the family to relocate permanently to Poland following a 15-day fact-finding hearing.

She acted for a Children's Guardian in complex adoption proceedings concerning a contested application for leave to oppose the making of an Adoption Order. Successfully supported the child's permanence plan following detailed welfare, attachment and long-term stability analysis in a legally and factually complex case.

Jennie successfully represented a Children's Guardian in the reported authority of Birmingham City Council v BR & Anor [2026] EWFC 87 (B) concerning the scope of section 38(6) Children Act 1989. The court endorsed a broad interpretation of the provision, recognising that specialist accommodation may form an integral part of a fair parenting assessment for parents with learning disabilities.

Acting for a Children's Guardian in highly complex multi-party care proceedings concerning a large sibling group involving allegations of chronic neglect, parental substance misuse, physical abuse and serious intrafamilial sexual abuse. The case involves extensive disclosure, parallel police investigations, child intervenors, expert evidence and a proposed 15-day fact-finding hearing.

Jennie has extensive experience representing children through Children's Guardians in public law proceedings and children directly in Rule 16.4 private law cases. Particular expertise in complex care proceedings involving non-accidental injury, sexual abuse, neglect, emotional harm, parental alienation, radicalisation concerns and serious safeguarding risks. Significant experience in deprivation of liberty applications, secure accommodation proceedings, wardship, adoption, leave to oppose adoption applications, revocation of placement orders, forced marriage protection proceedings and cases with international elements. She regularly provides training to CAFCASS professionals on developments in children law and family justice practice.

Awards and Recognition

Law Society Children Panel Accredited Member Member of Birmingham Law Society Regular trainer for CAFCASS professionals on developments in children law and family justice practice