Alyssa Howard
Call: 2014
Alyssa Howard
BA (1st class honours), Trinity Hall, Cambridge University
MA Cambridge University
Bateman Scholar, University of Cambridge (for top 1st in year)
Lincoln’s Inn, Lord Denning Scholar
Lincoln’s Inn, Hardwicke Scholar
Graduate Diploma in Law and BPTC (BPP Law School, London)
Family Law Bar Association
Resolution
Contact
T: 01274 722 560 or 0113 246 2600
Alyssa is an experienced family law specialist, having exclusively practised in the areas of financial remedies and private children for almost 10 years.
Alyssa has a reputation for being exceptionally well prepared and ‘going the extra mile’ to ensure that her clients have the best representation and advice possible. Alyssa is a robust and effective advocate in Court. Combined with her down to earth and approachable bedside manner, she is a popular choice with clients and solicitors dealing with difficult cases.
Alyssa has a particular interest in complex private children cases and is often instructed in cases involving alienating behaviours/implacable hostility. She is also sought after in financial remedy cases, where her technical knowledge and pragmatic advice have made her first choice for many solicitors.
Alyssa accepts instructions on a public access basis.
Reputation
Expertise
Financial Remedy
Alyssa has significant experience in matrimonial finances cases at all stages of proceedings. Her practice also encompasses acting for Intervenors and Schedule 1 Children Act 1989 matters.Recent work Alyssa has undertaken in this area includes:
• Cases involving the Official Solicitor
• S37 injunctions
• The successful setting aside of a consent order on the grounds of misrepresentation and duress
• Acting for Intervenors in a case involving a large family property portfolio
• Cases involving insolvency
• Financial disputes concerning farming and agricultural enterprises
Alyssa regularly provides advice in these areas, at conference and by way of written opinion.
Private Children
Alyssa has a particular interest in difficult and complex private children cases. She is often instructed on cases involving parental alienation/alienating behaviours and matters which involve serious allegations of domestic abuse.Alyssa is frequently instructed to appear on behalf of clients in a wide variety of Private Children Law cases including Child Arrangements Orders, International and Internal Relocation applications, Special Guardianship Orders and Private Adoption. She is also regularly instructed to provide advice in these areas, both in writing and in conference.
Alyssa is popular with solicitors and clients in high-conflict private children cases. A particular case she was instructed on was described by the expert psychologist as ‘the most serious case of parental alienation I have come across in my entire career.’
Domestic Abuse
Alyssa is regularly instructed in applications under Part IV Family Law Act 1996. She is first choice for many solicitors in these matters, due to her sensitivity and care in dealing with vulnerable clients.
Notable Cases
Anon (2023) - financial remedy proceedings involving a current political figure. Income arguments related to parliamentary expenses.
Re O (2022)– private law children case involving two serving police officers, in a matter whereby the Father has been charged with rape and sexual assault. The case also involved legal argument in respect of adducing evidence of covert recordings.
Re B (2022) private law children case whereby F was imprisoned for stalking and other domestic abuse related offences. Case involving serious allegations of coercive control.
Anon (2022) – financial remedy proceedings involving a well-known retired sportsman. Issues in the case included pension sharing in respect of pension accrued at height of sporting career.
N v N (2020)– private law case which eventually became public law, following arrest of one party for employing others to spray acid at one of the children. Criminal proceedings ensued which attracted widespread national press interest.
P (A Child) [2015] EWCA Civ 1428 – Alyssa acted at first instance and thereafter successfully for her client in the Court of Appeal in a complex private law children matter involving international elements and an ‘abusive’ mother, with an order for no direct contact being upheld by the Court of Appeal.
S (A Child) [2015] EWFC B212 – Private law children case involving unknown whereabouts of Respondent birth parents. Child Arrangements Order made in client’s favour.
London Borough of Waltham Forest v AD [2014] EWHC 1985 (Fam) – Instructed on a case for a Local Authority on behalf of the child requesting a reporting restriction in a case where the Father had killed the Mother. Guidance given by Keenan J as to procedure in such applications.
Clerks
