Awards and Recommendations for Kathy Walker
"Kathy Walker is amazing, she ensures she gets what needs to be done, done."
Legal 500 2024 Edition.
Family / London
Kathy is a Recommended Lawyer in the 2022 edition of The Legal 500.
Legal 500 2022 Edition.
Family / London
Kathy is a Recommended Lawyer in the 2021 edition of The Legal 500.
Legal 500 2021 Edition.
Family / London
Kathy is a Recommended Lawyer in the 2020 edition of The Legal 500.
Legal 500 2020 Edition.
Private Client: Family / London
I am a Director at Duncan Lewis, I have over two decades of dedicated legal practice and I am a passionate advocate for the rights and well-being of children. My commitment to safeguarding the rights of minors and my extensive experience in this field have shaped me into the formidable advocate that I am today.
I am a seasoned child protection lawyer who has been on The Law Society Children’s Panel since 2010, which affirms me as a specialist in my field. This accreditation is hard to obtain and maintain and requires extensive experience and knowledge of this complex area of law.
I firmly believe that every child deserves a safe, nurturing environment where their rights are upheld and their best interests are paramount. My approach is rooted in empathy, dedication and a tireless commitment to ensuring that the legal system serves the needs of our youngest and most vulnerable citizens.
I represent CAFCASS (who are Guardians appointed by the court to be the voice of the child), however when the child is competent I represent the child directly – this is when experience is key. Children can have a variety of issues and it’s key that they have a solicitor who can listen, understand them and give them assurance that their own voice is heard. I often arrange to take the child to meet the Judge because it’s important that the court knows what the child has to say in person and often it is arranged so that they attend hearings too. Children I find are more receptive when they know they are being heard and it’s important to never raise their hopes but being honest with them and explaining all the possible scenarios helps them to process and understand what is happening to them and why. Using simple language and being available for them whenever they want to talk is also key in this role – they need to earn my trust because often I may be the only adult who will be acting on their instruction.
I have been involved in many complex care proceedings, which have included but not limited to:
- Non-accidental injury
- High profile ‘honour killing'
- Somatic symptom disorder
- Fictitious illness
- Rare genetic conditions
- Death of a child mid-proceedings
- Parents with a mental health condition and lacking litigation capacity who then have an official solicitor appointed to represent them within care proceedings
- Sexual abuse
- Neglect
- Drugs and alcohol misuse
- Emotional harm
- Physical harm
My Practice Areas are:
- Care orders
- Supervision orders
- Emergency protection orders
- Deprivation of liberty orders
- Secure accommodation orders
- Adoption
- Abduction
- Female genital mutilation
- Trafficking
- Radicalisation
- Warship
- Special guardianship orders
- Rule 16.4
Languages:
Domestic Abuse and Violence
I am a Director at Duncan Lewis and I have over two decades of dedicated legal practice, I am a passionate advocate for the rights and well-being of victims of Domestic abuse. This is an area of law which requires the skill and ability to respond swiftly because time is of the essence when obtaining urgent protective orders. I have extensive knowledge and experience in this field and on a weekly basis my team and I secure in the region of 10 injunctions a week.
Victims of Domestic abuse require a lawyer who can help them to understand that what is happening to them is wrong and that there are protective orders we can secure for them to help them feel safe again. I have a deep understanding of the emotional and psychological impact of domestic abuse on victims, with a compassionate and sensitive approach to handling clients at a time when they are feeling vulnerable and scared.
I work closely with my clients to assess their unique needs and develop tailored legal strategies because no two cases are the same.
Having represented victims of Domestic Abuse throughout my legal career I have over 25 years of experience and strong advocacy skills in court, with the capacity to present compelling arguments for obtaining protective orders on behalf of my clients.