Kate Lamont

Call: 2007

"Kate is hardworking, honest and detailed. She is a skilled advocate, both written and oral. She has a forensic knowledge of case law, and the position statements always contain authorities to bolster legal arguments."

Legal 500 2024

Kate Lamont specialises in Family and Civil law with a particular interest and experience in cases involving public law elements arising through child protection or because they involve emanations of the state such as the police.

Kate recognises that those involved in these spheres of litigation require legally astute, sensitive and diligent representation and endeavours to always provide this to both professional and lay clients.

Before specialising in these areas, Kate had the benefit of accruing a broad base of experience of handling complex medical evidence and vulnerable clients in personal injury and clinical negligence claims. This provides her with a particular understanding of issues of causation of harm, and an ability to navigate complex evidence relating to welfare in a practical and straightforward way.

Kate regularly represents Local Authorities, parents and children in care and adoption proceedings, other applications for protective orders and judicial review in the Family Court, High Court and Upper Tribunal. She also represents and advises protected parties and others in the Court of Protection, and advises public bodies and individual claimants in range of proceedings including civil claims, inquests and public inquiries.

Kate has contributed articles on civil and family law matters to a number of external journal publications. She also provides professional training to solicitors, social workers and police forces.


Expertise

Kate regularly represents parents, intervenors, children and Local Authorities in the Family Court and High Court across a range of public and private law applications including care and adoption proceedings, applications under the inherent jurisdiction, applications for protective orders and in respect of relinquishment / notification.

She has particular experience representing clients in cases of involving criminal and sexual exploitation of young people with complex emotional trauma and associated applications for recovery, secure accommodation and deprivation of liberty orders.

Kate also acts for parties in fact findings in relation to a wide range of issues from inflicted injury and sexual abuse to litigation capacity issues. She also represents Local Authorities in proceedings for judicial review of their age assessment decisions.

Kate appreciates the profound significance of these proceedings to the lives of those involved in them and believes that they often require an advocate that is willing to go the extra mile.

Kate has recently given talks to Local Authority and Children Panel Solicitors and Police Forces about secure accommodation and the Serious Case Reviews in cases involving criminal exploitation and “County Lines”.

Notable Family Law cases


A Local Authority v JK v W [2021]

Kate appeared on behalf of the applicant Local Authority in an application under the inherent jurisdiction and r14.21 in respect of notification to family and the putative father prior to placement of the child for adoption were the child had been relinquished.

A Local Authority v M v S [2020]

Kate represented the Local Authority in applications for Female Genital Mutilation Prevention Orders in respect of 2 young children. The Court made the orders sought supported by worldwide travel bans.

A Local Authority v B [2021]

Kate represented a Local Authority in protected and complex care proceedings that involved fact finding in relation to on-going criminality throughout the family network and inter-sibling sexual abuse. Welfare issues were equally complicated by the older children repeatedly absconding and being suspected of involvement in serious criminal activity.

A Local Authority v M [2021]

Kate represented a vulnerable parent in care proceedings issued just before covid restrictions came into force. At a final hearing that took place over 10 days we argued that restrictions had had a significant impact on services and support provided and therefore on the progress that they were able to make to address the Local Authority concerns.

Kate accepts instructions to advise and represent Local Authorities and other parties in relation to welfare and financial affairs applications in the Court of Protection.

Notable Court of Protection cases


A Local Authority v S [2020]

Kate represented the Local Authority in its application to deprive a 17 year old of liberty within her family home where issues were complex emotional needs, vulnerability to CSE, gang affiliation and physical aggression.

A Local Authority v T [2020]

Kate represented the personal representative of a protected party in relation to a welfare (accommodation) dispute which had arisen in the context of covid restrictions.

Kate represents police forces as parties and / or interveners in civil and family proceedings; as applicants for applications for civil restraint orders and at inquests. Since 2017, Kate has been part of the Counsel team for the Designated Lawyer on the Undercover Policing Inquiry chaired by Sir John Mitting. She has also acted as clerk to the panel of a Police Disciplinary Tribunal.

Kate’s experience in the Family Court provides her with invaluable insight into the issues arising in applications for police disclosure into family proceedings and vice versa. She has been SC vetted and has provided training to police forces.

Kate represents bereaved families and police forces at inquests.
Since 2017 Kate has been part of the Counsel team for the Designated Lawyer on the Undercover Policing Inquiry chaired by Sir John Mitting.

Kate has been SC vetted.

Recent News


Regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB)

Regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) and holds a current practising certificate. To see my privacy notice click here.

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