Webinar: Special Guardianship Orders and SGO Support Plans

Webinar: Special Guardianship Orders and SGO Support Plans

Hosted by the Local Family Justice Board and Fenners Chambers, this session shares expert perspectives on Special Guardianship Orders (SGOs) and the expectations surrounding SGO support plans.

Fenners Barrister Louise Ballantyne provides an overview of the regulations surrounding SGOs.

Her Honour Judge Gordon-Saker discusses the Court’s expectations for tailored SGO plans.

Stuart Stapleton and Sue King from Peterborough City Council, alongside Ana Caldararu and Steve Crossman from Cambridgeshire County Council, explore how support for Special Guardians is provided and how SGO plans are drawn up.

Finally, Nicola Silk, Consultant Family Court Adviser at CAFCASS, explains the information CAFCASS requires before approving an SGO plan and the key expectations they have for its content.

You can find the presentations below:

Fenners Chambers: SGO Regulations – An Overview

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Councils: Support for Special Guardians in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

CAFCASS: What CAFCASS Needs to See to Approve a Plan and Key Expectations for its Content

Fenners Chambers Welcomes Nathan Rasiah KC as Door Tenant

Fenners Chambers Welcomes Nathan Rasiah KC as Door Tenant

We are delighted to share that Nathan Rasiah KC has joined Fenners Chambers as a door tenant.

Called to the Bar in 2007 and taking silk in 2022, Nathan brings a formidable reputation to Fenners, practising independently at 23ES (23 Essex Street) in London, where he continues to build on a distinguished career in criminal law.

He handles both defence and prosecution work, with a broad and deep experience in high-profile and complex criminal matters, including homicide, sexual offences and organised crime. A notable recent case includes his role in the successful prosecution, alongside John Price KC, of James Watson for the murder of 6-year-old Rikki Neave – one of the most publicised criminal trials of recent years.

Legal directories consistently recognise Nathan as “an exceptional advocate,” “calm under pressure,” and “fantastic on his feet.”

Nathan frequently appears in the Court of Appeal, and is available to advise on criminal appeals and miscarriages of justice. He has experience of advising and representing individual and corporate clients in relation to criminal, regulatory and disciplinary investigations and coroners’ inquests. He is also authorised to accept direct instructions from clients under the Bar Council’s Public Access Scheme.

Nathan has shared, “Fenners has a fantastic reputation, and I am delighted to be joining such a well-regarded and friendly local set.”

We welcome Nathan Rasiah KC to Fenners Chambers and look forward to the exceptional insight, advocacy, and experience he brings to our community!

Upcoming webinar: Special Guardianship Orders and SGO Support Plans

Upcoming webinar: Special Guardianship Orders and SGO Support Plans

We are delighted to announce our upcoming Webinar “Special Guardianship Orders and SGO Support Plans: Key Insights and Expectations”

📅 18 September 2025 | 🕓 4:30 PM | 💻 Online via Zoom

Hosted by the Local Family Justice Board and Fenners Chambers, this session share expert perspectives on Special Guardianship Orders (SGOs) and the expectations surrounding SGO support plans.

Fenners Barrister Louise Ballantyne will provide an overview of the regulations surrounding SGOs. Her Honour Judge Gordon-Saker will discuss the Court’s expectations for tailored SGO plans. Stuart Stapleton and Sue King from Peterborough City Council, alongside Ana Caldararu and Steve Crossman from Cambridgeshire County Council, will explore how support for Special Guardians is provided and how SGO plans are drawn up. Finally, Nicola Silk, Consultant Family Court Adviser at CAFCASS, will explain the information CAFCASS requires before approving an SGO plan and the key expectations they have for its content.

Don’t miss out on what promises to be an insightful webinar! Click here to register via Zoom. 

Samantha Marsh Secures Successes in Defence and Prosecution – with Strong RASSO Outcomes

Samantha Marsh Secures Successes in Defence and Prosecution – with Strong RASSO Outcomes

Samantha Marsh has had a busy and productive period in court, securing notable results on both sides of the criminal bar – with a growing run of successes in rape and serious sexual offence (RASSO) cases.

On the prosecution side, Samantha secured a conviction in a three-day burglary trial at Peterborough Crown Court, with the defendant sentenced to the mandatory minimum.

Defending, she achieved an acquittal after a challenging five-day rape trial at Huntingdon Crown Court instructed by Devas Keogh James solicitors.  This was followed by a successful defence in a two-day burglary trial at Peterborough Crown Court, which also resulted in an acquittal instructed by Hunt and Coombs solicitors.

More recently, instructed by Credence Law, Samantha acted as defence counsel in a RASSO case involving two minors. The matter raised complex admissibility issues which, following careful preparation and robust defence advocacy, led to the case being dismissed.

In her latest trial, Samantha defended a two-day sexual assault case at Cambridge Crown Court. The Defendant, a taxi driver, was acquitted by the jury after discrepancies in the complainant’s account were brought to light in cross-examination.

Taken together, these outcomes reflect Samantha’s expanding RASSO practice and a strong recent success rate in sexual offence trials. They also demonstrate her meticulous preparation and clear, sensitive advocacy — ensuring robust representation and fairness throughout the trial process.

Chambers Welcomes Dominic Barratt

Chambers Welcomes Dominic Barratt

We are very pleased to announce that Dominic Barratt has joined Fenners Chambers.

Dominic was formerly Head of Chambers at Cardinal Chambers, and led a large Family team on the South Eastern Circuit. Called in 1992, he brings more than three decades of experience as a specialist Family Barrister.

He is highly regarded for his work across the full spectrum of family law, including residence and contact disputes concerning children, local authority care applications, and financial proceedings on the breakdown of a marriage. Known for his approachable and client-focused manner, Dominic is praised in The Legal 500 as someone who “quickly grasps the essentials and knows exactly what must be done” and who “handles high value, complex family matters.”

We are delighted to welcome Dominic to Fenners Chambers as he continues to build his practice with us.