Patrick Gilmore MCIArb
Year of Call: 2014, Lincoln's Inn
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- Patrick Gilmore MCIArb
Patrick completed a Family Law pupillage in February 2015 under the supervision of Julia Cheetham KC.
Prior to joining chambers Patrick qualified as a solicitor in 2009 where he represented clients in Criminal, Family, Housing and Civil law, including representing clients at the police station. Patrick chose to specialise primarily in Family law with a particular interest in Public and Private Law Children Act proceedings.
Patrick joined Lancashire County Council Child Protection legal team in December 2009 where he advised on the full range of proceedings including non-accidental injury cases, fictitious injuries, chronic/long term neglect, child death, drug abuse and freeing/placement proceedings.
Public law
Patrick is regularly instructed to act on behalf of parents, guardian’s, interveners and Local Authorities across the full spectrum of public law cases, from initial hearings to contested final hearings. Patrick’s practice is varied and he enjoys the complex cases often involving developing or nuisance areas of the law. Patrick has been instructed in cases involving the death of a child, non accidental injuries, fabricated or induced illness, sexual abuse, chronic neglect, forced marriage, female genital mutilation, issues of mental health/capacity, cases with an international element and adoption.
In addition Patrick is regularly instructed in cases involving the deprivation of a child's liberty which requires an experienced and detailed eye.
Patrick is experienced is representing clients within those proceedings but can also advise in conference or prepare written advices were required.
Private law
Patrick acts for parents and guardians (16.4) at all stages of private law proceedings. Patrick to date has represented parties in cases of serious sexual abuse, drug misuse, alcohol abuse, cases involving allegations of physical harm by one parent to another, and to a child. Patrick has advised on cases were long term emotional abuse is alleged, cases of parental alienation, intractable disputes and were parents have had ongoing mental health difficulties requiring a change residence. Patrick has represented clients at both contested final hearings and finding of fact hearings and that includes cases of child arrangements orders, specific issue orders (including relocation cases) and prohibited steps order. Patrick has also advised clients on non-molestation and enforcement orders where one person has breached a previous court order.
Arbitration
Patrick is a member of the chartered institute of arbitrators and can be contacted either via chambers or the institute of family law arbitrators. Patrick brings the above experience to use within Arbitrations and is available to conduct them nationwide including remotely.
'Patrick is an exceptionally gifted barrister, and he is clearly more than capable of handing the most complex of cases. What sets him apart from other barristers is his ability to adjust his advocacy style to the person he is giving evidence to.'
Legal 500 2025
Notable Cases
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Re J (A child) (Resolutions Model) [2021] EWFC 58
Patrick represented the mother in proceedings before HHJ Baker. The mother had previous findings against her involving injuries to a child. Patrick argued for an alternative form of parenting assessment (a resolutions assessment). That was granted by the Court and following its conclusion led to the child within these proceedings returning home to the mother under a safety plan.
more
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Cumbria County Council v AT CB and T [2020] EWHC 3107
Mrs. Justice Leiven heard a 5-day fact finding hearing conducted entirely remotely. Initially mother sought findings that the father had sexually abused their child and other children. The court heard live evidence from the parties and a number of professionals and concluded that the mother had formed an unreasonable belief that her child had been sexually abused.
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Cumbria County Council v AT CB and T [2020] EWFC 58
Mr. Justice Macdonald reviewed the case law in respect of those with intervener status and the proportionality and necessity of the court determining any findings brought against them. This was the Court taking a proactive and proportionate case management decision based on the evidence before it. The Court heard legal argument and weighed the quality of the evidence, the child’s ABE evidence and the necessity of proceedings and then concluded that it would discharge all of the interveners and would not allow the mother to proceed with the findings sought.
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Lancashire County Council v TP and others [2019] EWFC 30
Patrick was junior counsel on behalf of the father involving allegations of induced gender dysphoria and frequent medical contact. Being led by Miss Cheetham QC they successfully contested the case and the Local Authority sought to withdraw. Mr Justice Williams determined that it was a case where threshold could not have been established on the evidence before the Court.
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Cumbria County Council v Q [2015] EWFC 59
Patrick was junior counsel for the Local Authority where a child had sustained a head injury and older fractures which were found by Peter Jackson J to result from a vitamin D deficiency.
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H v A (No 1) [2015] EWFC 58
Patrick represented the father in proceedings where the mother sought three applications. First to revoke an order for indirect contact, secondly to revoke his parental responsibility and finally an order under S.91(14) to prohibit further applications. The matter was heard by Mr Justice Macdonald. The father was in prison. He had a non-molestation order against him and had driven his car into the home of the mother and set it on fire. The mother and children escaped the home. Whilst in prison he has been arrested further in suspicion of soliciting the murder of the mother. The father wished to receive information about the children’s education. Mr Justice Macdonald concluded that it was not in the children’s best interests for the father to receive the school information. The fathers’ parental responsibility was not revoked but the Court did impose limitations on his parental responsibility and removed any obligation on the mother to consult with the father in the exercise of her own parental responsibility.
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A and S v Lancs CC [2012] EWHC 1689 (Fam)
Family
Remains the leading case in respect of applications to revoke freeing orders. An application was made by two brothers freed for adoption for a declaration that the council had breached the boys' Human rights under Arts 8, 6 and 3 of the ECHR and that the independent reviewing officer had breached their rights under Arts 8 and 6. Declarations granted. Patrick as the Solicitor for Lancashire County Council was recognised with the judgement for his contributions to the written submissions and lessons learnt documents which addressed the IRO system and Human Rights Act claims.
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B-G (A Child) [2014] EWHC 444 (Fam)
Family
Patrick represented the Local Authority in proceedings under section 54 of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008. Applications had been made for a parental order by a same sex couple residing in South Africa. The Court was charged with determining if one of the fathers had remained domiciled within the UK despite moving and living in South Africa.
Appointments
- Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
Professional Associations
- Northern Circuit
- Family Law Bar Association
- Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
- Institute of Family Law Arbitrators
Education
- University of Central Lancashire, LLB Law
- College of Law, York, Legal Practice Course
- BPP, London – Bar Transfer Course
Articles by Patrick
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The Family Court and gender dysphoria
Patrick compares the two leading cases involving aspects of gender dysphoria. In doing so Patrick reviews how the Family Court…
By: Patrick Gilmore MCIArb Added in: Family
Posted: 8th September 2021
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The resolutions approach: misunderstood and under-used
Assessing risk and parenting ability is a fundamental cornerstone of the family justice system. However, the way that families have…
By: Patrick Gilmore MCIArb Added in: Family
Posted: 10th August 2021