Hannah Nielsen
Year of call
2022
Instructing Hannah Nielsen
For more information please contact our clerks by calling +44 (0)20 7242 3555.
Hannah Nielsen has a busy multi-disciplinary practice.
Hannah is a barrister with a broad Family Law practice in Private Law Children, International Family Law, Care, Adoption, Family Finance, Divorce, Forced Marriage and Surrogacy. Hannah appears in the Family Courts and the High Court, with experience acting alone and as a junior in both. She has extensive experience of multi-day fact findings and final hearings involving serious allegations of abuse and cross-examination of experts. Her cases span issues including international relocation and return, sexual and domestic abuse, parental alienation, barring orders, Section 37 directions, Fabricated or Induced Illness and covert recordings. Hannah is a regular contributor to Family Law Week and other publications where she delivers training seminars and writes.
In the Court of Protection, Hannah frequently appears on behalf of applicants and respondents in Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards proceedings and Forced Marriage Protection Order proceedings. Hannah has experience working with and for vulnerable people with communication needs, learning difficulties and mental health challenges. Hannah’s cases involve capacity to consent to marriage and sexual relations, contact arrangements, accommodation issues, financial arrangements and medical treatment.
Hannah acts in a wide range of Civil Law matters for claimants and defendants. Her practice covers Personal Injury, Clinical Negligence, General Negligence and Commercial Law. She is instructed in cases on the Fast Track, Intermediate Track and Multi-Track. Hannah has an advisory and paper practice, with particular emphasis on drafting pleadings and advising on prospects, quantum and litigation strategy.
In her Employment Law practice, Hannah acts for claimants and respondents. Hannah’s work has included unfair dismissal, constructive dismissal, discrimination (on the basis of age, race and disability) and pay disputes. Hannah has built a paper practice in drafting pleadings and advising on merits and litigation tactics.
Hannah is instructed in Crime and Regulatory matters, appearing in the Crown Courts and Magistrates’ Courts. Hannah prosecutes and defends. She is a Grade 2 CPS Prosecutor. Her experience spans trials, sentencing hearings and procedural matters in a wide range of offences.
Examples of Hannah’s recent work are set out below.
Legal Expertise
Private Law Children Proceedings
Private Law Children Proceedings
Notable Private Law Children Proceedings cases
B v B
Appeared in a child contact application where the young child had disclosed serious sexual abuse by the applicant and alcohol misuse was in issue.
S v K
Acted in an application for a child arrangements order involving a long history of social services involvement which necessitated careful expert cross-examination.
F v O
Acted in Children Act 1989 proceedings where dependency on drugs, alcohol and allegations of domestic and sexual abuse were in issue.
H v S
Represented an applicant for child contact where immigration issues arose and the respondent's physical and mental health conditions required sensitive handling.
M v N
Acted in a child contact application involving historic findings of historic Fabricated or Induced Illness and where the applicant had a conviction of child cruelty.
International Family Law
International Family Law
Notable International Family Law cases
The Mother v The Father [2025] EWHC 826 (Fam) (14 February 2025)
Represented the respondent in the abduction matter, in which the applicant sought the return of the child from Ukraine and habitual residence and jurisdiction were disputed.
Judgment >G v C
Represented the respondent in the High Court to an application for return of the child to Portugal where Article 13 defences of intolerability and the child's objection were made.
E v K
Acted in the High Court for an applicant seeking the return of his children to the USA in a case where the respondent had obtained a temporary sole custody order in the USA.
F v B
Acted in an application in the High Court for location and contact where domestic abuse, sexual abuse, alcohol misuse and drug dependency were relevant issues.
B v B & B
Appeared as junior counsel to leading Silk in a wardship case in the High Court representing an applicant who sought the return of the child to Pakistan.
Care Proceedings & Adoption
Care Proceedings & Adoption
Notable Care Proceedings & Adoption cases
A Local Authority v T & Others
Represented the Children's Guardian in care proceedings concerning alleged child neglect by parents struggling with alcohol/substance dependence and severe mental health difficulties.
A Local Authority v W & Others
Represented a respondent parent in care proceedings who faced serious allegations of harm and who was vulnerable in their own right, struggling with communication issues and complex mental health.
A Local Authority v I & Others
Represented a Local Authority in joined family care proceedings and Court of Protection proceedings in a case of alleged forced marriage, in respect of capacity to consent to marriage and sexual relations. The protected party had severe learning disabilities and mental health difficulties.
A Local Authority v K & Others
Acted in an application for an Interim Care Order and DOLs where the Local Authority sought for the child to remain in a residential placement due to concerns of self-harm, suicidal intent and mental health difficulties.
Family Finance & Divorce
Family Finance & Divorce
Notable Family Finance & Divorce cases
P v P
Represented a respondent to a financial remedy application where division of the FMH, assets in the family company and spousal maintenance were disputed.
H v W and M
Acted in a financial remedy application in which the respondent alleged their assets were not matrimonial because they belonged to a family trust.
M v N
Acted in a financial remedy application in which the court had to determine whether the sale of the FMH should be delayed for an adult child with ASD.
M v M
Represented the respondent to a divorce petition in an application to dismiss on the basis of undue delay, obstruction and abuse of process.
Surrogacy, Assisted Reproduction & Same Sex Parenting
Surrogacy, Assisted Reproduction & Same Sex Parenting
Hannah is building a practice in Surrogacy, Assisted Reproduction & Same Sex Parenting and welcomes instructions to advise and represent intended parents, surrogates and donors. Hannah has extensive experience across a breadth of Family Law proceedings including cross-border disputes which makes her well-placed to accept instructions in cases involving modern families.
Court of Protection
Court of Protection
Notable Court of Protection cases
A Local Authority v F
Acted for the protected party (P) in a Court of Protection matter in respect of capacity for alcohol use, residence and care. P had ASD and ADHD, while suffering from complex trauma, alcohol misuse and suicidal ideation.
A Local Authority v I & Others
Represented a Local Authority in joined family care proceedings and Court of Protection proceedings in a case of alleged forced marriage, in respect of capacity to consent to marriage and sexual relations. The protected party had severe learning disabilities and mental health difficulties.
ICB v T & Others
Represented a respondent parent in a Court of Protection matter concerning accommodation and residence. The protected party (P) had diagnoses of learning disability, ASD, anxiety, depression and attachment disorder. It was important to put advocate for P's cultural needs on behalf of the parent.
Civil Law
Civil Law
Notable Civil Law cases
C v U
Represented an accreditation body in civil proceedings which had been brought by a sole tradesman whose certification had been revoked, involving a strike out application.
S v A Local Authority
Defended in a negligence and nuisance claim concerning alleged public liability.
S v N
Advised a Claimant on the prospects of a proposed personal injury claim. Particular focus was given to causation and remoteness with regard to loss of earnings.
H v A Local Authority & C
Acted in a commercial dispute brought by a Claimant against a Local Authority and another party. The claim itself raised concerns of vexatious litigation and resulted in the court granting a civil restraint order.
P v A Government Departments & S
Acted in a claim concerning negligence and the Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977.
Y v R & I
Acted in a wasted costs matter involving cross-examination and submissions on disputed facts and fundamental dishonesty.
Employment
Employment
Notable Employment cases
M v C & A Local Authority
Acted for the respondent to a claim for direct disability discrimination, injury to feelings and loss of potential future earnings.
T v I
Advised on merits, quantum and litigation strategy in a proposed matter concerning discrimination pay disputes and unfair dismissal of a long-standing employee of over 20 years.
F v M
Acted in and advised on a matter involving disability discrimination in services and public functions under the Equality Act 2010.
L v NHS Trust
Drafted the particulars of response to a claim for unfair dismissal and direct discrimination on the basis of age, race and disability.
Crime & Regulatory
Crime & Regulatory
Notable Crime & Regulatory cases
R v M & H
Appeared as junior prosecution counsel to Gordon Aspden KC in a two-handed murder sentencing, involving defendants with neurodevelopmental disorders (autism and ADHD).
R v L
Acted in a matter where the Defendant had been charged with coercive control, intentional strangulation, harassment and stalking.
R v C
Acted for the Crown in a fraud case where the Defendant had worked at a retail company and was alleged to have abused his position, with an estimated benefit figure over £100,000.
R v B & C
Appeared in a two-handed drugs conspiracy and possession of criminal property case, in which one defendant had cuckooed the other.
R v D
Acted for the Crown in a fraud case involving the alleged abuse of the government backed Bounce Back Loan scheme by the Defendant, where the estimated benefit figure was over £150,000.
Instructing Hannah Nielsen
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