Expertise and experience
Amanda is a Resolution Accredited specialist in international child abduction law and private children law cases.
She specialises in cases concerning children and represents parents and other family members in a wide range of complex private and public law cases.
She has been a member of the panel of Solicitors who receive instructions directly from the international child abduction and contact unit (ICACU) for many years and has expertise in acting for both applicants and respondents in international child abduction and contact cases.
Amanda has represented clients in a number of reported cases in both the High Court and Court of Appeal.
The types of case that Amanda has been involved in include:
- child abduction cases involving both Hague and non-Hague Convention countries. She regularly represents parties in applications made under the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court and in wardship proceedings.
- making emergency applications to stop a child being removed from the country on behalf of parents;
- acting for parents in agreeing arrangements for children in regard to contact and residence, and relocation especially where there is an international element;
- representing parents in local authority care proceedings, including situations where there are concerns in relation to learning difficulties, sexual abuse, radicalisation, domestic abuse and non-accidental injury;
- disputes between parents and families where there are issues of alternative families, mental health, personality disorder or domestic abuse; and
- committal proceedings, where individuals face serious consequences as a result of allegations of being in contempt of court.
Legal 500
Amanda is recognised as a ‘recommended lawyer’ with a ‘fountain of knowledge’ relating to children law in the 2023 Legal 500. She was also highlighted with the following testimonials:
‘Amanda Dench is clearly a leader in international child abduction and children law and her wealth of experience and approach to the work is reflected in her team’.
‘I have worked with Amanda Dench and Mary Richardson. I have been impressed by their professionalism, ability to work under pressure, knowledge and understanding of the law and the issues.’
‘Amanda Dench [has an] extraordinary client commitment.’
Amanda is a member of Resolution and adopts their code of practice and wherever possible aims to resolve matters swiftly and in a non-confrontational and constructive manner.
Practice areas
- Care orders
- Child protection investigations
- Contact with a child in Local Authority care
- Emergency protection orders
- Fabricated or induced illness in children
- Non-accidental injury to children
- Obtaining legal responsibility for a child
- Secure accommodation orders
- Supervision orders
- Female genital mutilation
- Forced marriage