Annabel Beattie

Annabel has been practising at the Bar for over 15 years. Prior to being called to the Bar, Annabel was a solicitor and partner in a large North East firm, managing a large caseload in respect of family and civil work.

Annabel is a member of Inner Temple, North Eastern Circuit, Family Law Bar Association and Personal Injury Bar Association.

Annabel has a friendly and approachable manner. Following her many years as a solicitor, her subsequent experience at the Bar has meant that she has been able to develop not only her professional skills in relation to the law but also her ability to relate to people from all walks of life who find themselves in very difficult and anxious circumstances. She is proud to be known as someone who has a caring and patient attitude to clients, invariably succeeding in allaying their concerns and anxieties and giving them confidence to cope with the situations in which they have found themselves.

Family

Divorce and Ancillary Relief: Annabel advises on all aspects of separation and divorce, including providing advice on financial matters and complex settlements often involving companies and farms, in respect of which she has a particular interest and expertise given that she comes from a farming background and has an acute understanding of the workings of farming businesses. Annabel represents clients in respect of first appointments through to final hearings. Likewise Annabel undertakes applications for maintenance pending suit, disclosure and enforcement orders. Annabel acts for parents and children in applications under Schedule 1 Children Act 1989.

Private Law: Annabel is regularly instructed in respect of child arrangement orders, prohibited steps and specific issue orders. Her experience includes acting for parents, relatives and Guardians. Her practice includes cases involving relocation within and outside the jurisdiction.

Public Law: Annabel undertakes a significant amount of public law work representing all parties, including local authorities, at various levels in proceedings. She has experience in conducting finding of fact hearings involving allegations of non accidental injury, sexual, emotional and domestic violence. Such cases involve her engaging with experts in various medical and forensic disciplines. Her practice encompasses all aspects of care proceedings including special guardianship orders and adoption.

Civil

Annabel’s civil practice encompasses all aspects of personal injury work and also a variety of matters arising from contractual disputes acting for both Claimants and Defendants.

Direct Access

Annabel is qualified to accept instructions from lay clients and regularly does so.