Profile

• Silk 2003
• Recorder 1998
• Deputy High Court Judge (Fam)
• Elected member of the Bar Council 2010
• Chairman of the Family Law Bar Association 2008 -2009
• Member of ALC
• LLB (Birmingham)
• Called 1982 (Gray's Inn)

Lucy is a family law specialist with comprehensive experience in this field including children and financial matters. She is an elected member of the Bar Council and former Chair of the Family Law Bar Association. Lucy has been Head of Chambers since 2005.

CHILDREN: Lucy is regularly instructed in public and private law children cases in the High Court and County Court in London and the regions. She has considerable experience in advising and representing local authorities, parents and guardians dealing with cases that include:

• complex medical evidence;
• confidentiality and disclosure, including restraint of publication by the media;
• applications in which issues arise in relation to foreign jurisdictions, immigration or where placement of children outside the jurisdiction is proposed;
• cases involving the application of the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court;
• mental health issues;
• educational provision;
• adoption.

Notable cases:

Re T (Wardship: Impact of Police Intelligence) Neutral Citation Number: [2009] EWHC 2440 (Fam). Decision of McFarlane J. A highly complex litigation case that involved ‘intelligent' information on a ‘contract to murder' the mother and the request of non-disclosure of this intelligence by the police. Lucy was lead representative for the grandparents. This was the first case involving the use of special advocates in family proceedings, to deal with sensitive material that could not be disclosed in the ‘open' hearing. Judgement gave guidance on the use of special advocates.

X & Y (Foreign Surrogacy) [2008] EWHC 3030 (Fam) Decision of Hedley J arising from an application for a Parental Order under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 (‘HFEA 1990') involving a foreign surrogate mother.

Re D (Contact and PR: Lesbian mothers and known father) No 2 [2006] EWHC 2002. Decision of Black J, considering a father's application for contact and parental responsibility in circumstances where the child concerned is living with her lesbian mothers who were opposed to a parental responsibility order.

Re H (A Child) [2005] EWCA Civ 1059. Decision of the Court of Appeal where the central issue was the standard of proof in physical/sexual abuse cases.

Re S (Habeas Corpus); S v Haringey London Borough Council [2003] EWHC 2734 (Admin); [2004] 1 FLR 590 Decision of Munby J dealing with the proper forum for litigating issues that arise whilst care proceedings are on foot.

FINANCE: Lucy has considerable experience in advising and representing parties in ancillary relief applications in high value asset cases.

Notable Cases:

Q v Q (Ancillary Relief: Periodical Payments) [2005] EWHC 402 (Fam); [2005] 2 FLR 640 Decision of Bennett J on division of capital and surplus income and was one of the first reported high income cases after Parlour v Parlour.

PUBLICATIONS: Lucy is co-author of JSB family e-letter which is sent to all full time and part time family judges.

MEMBERSHIP:

• Elected member of the Bar Council 2010
• FLBA (Chair) 2008-2009

OTHER PROFESSIONAL WORK

Lucy has sat as a Recorder since 1998. She sits in the crown and county court and deals with criminal, civil and family cases (private and public law).
Lucy lectures to the Judicial Studies Board providing the updates for the private and public law courses.
In January 2008 Lucy was elected Chairman of the FLBA having been an elected member of the committee for over twelve years.

DIRECTORIES' RECOMMENDATIONS

Legal 500 2009/2010 recommends Lucy Theis QC as a ‘highly rated practitioner'.

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS

LLB Birmingham

If you would like any further information regarding Lucy Theis's practice, please contact her clerks on +44 (0)207 405 6114.