Cassandra Spenceley

Having previously been employed by one of the UK’s top 100 law firms, Cassandra joined our firm in November 2020 and is a Director, Solicitor-advocate (with higher civil rights), a member of the Law Society’s Children Panel and Head of our Care Team (a role she shares with fellow children panel solicitor Laura Peel).

Admitted as a Solicitor in January 2007, Cassandra has a wealth of experience of dealing with proceedings before the family court.

Cassandra acts for children/young people both directly, but also by their CAFCASS guardians, in both private and public (care) proceedings.

Cassandra also represents parents and family members in care proceedings, and her on-line reviews (ReviewSolicitors) speak for themselves as to her professionalism, dedication, commitment and her approach being described by her clients as ‘tenacious’ but also ‘compassionate’ in what can be highly sensitive and distressing circumstances. Her clients have also comment on her ‘personalised approach’, reliability and described her as highly legally skilled.

Given her wealth of experience, Cassandra is regularly instructed to represent children in some of the most serious cases which are heard in the family courts – involving issues of child trafficking, child death, non-accidental injury, sexual abuse and FII, many of which are heard in the high court and involve multi-expert instruction. She also regularly accepts instructions in respect of applications under the inherent jurisdiction for authorisations to deprive children/young people of their liberty and secure accommodation applications.

Cassandra often represents children/young people directly in proceedings before the family court, where they are so competent and where their views do not align with the views of their guardian. Cassandra is able to engage with young people effectively, establishing rapport and is always keen to ensure their participation in proceedings, to enable their voices to be heard.

Cassandra is well regarded across the legal community, with established relationships with other legal and wider professionals. Whilst robust in her approach, she is pragmatic and able to navigate cases effectively, given her wealth of experience, adopting a child-centred approach throughout.

Cassandra is supported on a day-to-day basis by her legal assistant Shelly Jones, who is equally well regarded both by professionals and clients.

Regularly instructed either directly or through CAFCASS Guardians, Cassandra often deals with complex cases surrounding the welfare of children throughout the North East.

Cassandra is a member of Resolution, the Law Society’s Children Panel and the Local Family Justice Board and fully adheres to their codes of conduct to ensure all matters are dealt with as amicably and as cost effectively as possible.

In December 2020, Cassandra was named the Most Dedicated Child Welfare Lawyer Specialist by the Northern Enterprise Awards – an accolade that celebrates hardworking individuals in the North for their excellence and outstanding performance in their practice areas.