Emma Hughes specialises in criminal, family and civil law matters.
Emma has experience representing both claimants and defendants in a variety of cases.
Family
Emma has a wealth of experience of both private and public family matters within her Family Law practice.
Emma is regularly instructed within private family law proceedings by both applicants and respondents, in applications such as Child Arrangement Orders to determine residence and contact for a child, specific issues and prohibited steps orders. Emma is capable of representing both sides in cases where allegations are made which prevent contact taking place between a parent and a child. Emma is able to deal with serious issues of domestic abuse, including sexual abuse, in a way that remains sensitive, whilst still being able to fully challenge the evidence on both sides.
Emma’s involvement in public family law proceedings oftentimes finds her representing respondent parents against allegations of neglect, failure to protect, sexual abuse and/or non-accidental injuries.
Finding of Fact hearings are also often ran successfully by Emma, in both the private and public arena.
Emma also appears in matters of injunctive relief where domestic violence is alleged (for both the accused and the accuser), such as Non-Molestation Orders, at both ex-parte and contested hearings.
Emma ensures that those accessing the Court system are able to do so to the best of their ability. Those with additional needs or require an intermediary will feel listened to and understood, ensuring that all the support that is available will be in place. similarly, she has experience dealing with all family cases (including cases involving BAME families and children and social services) where a cultural issues feature, as well as issues such a honour based violence, and often works alongside interpreters to ensure parties feel understood and listened to.
Emma’s relationship with clients is one that she often appears from the very first hearing, ensuring she can deal with matters all the way through to final hearing. She understands the importance of client-counsel relationships and will ensure she is there for her client’s in every way she can, creating a trusting partnership you can rely on during proceedings. Her ability to work amicably with others ensures great outcomes without unnecessary delay or expense.
Crime
Emma has appeared for both the Prosecution and the Defence in proceedings in the Magistrates’ Court and in the Crown Court.
In the Crown Court, Emma’s defence work has included committals for sentence and Newton hearings for driving offences, thefts and possession of bladed articles and has also undertaken work for both prosecution and defence in appeals from the Magistrates’ Court. Emma has also been a junior on a Crown Court trial for Arson with intent to endanger life which lasted several weeks.
Emma has also prosecuted in Crown Court trials, as well as dealing with the issues of intermediaries for both vulnerable witnesses and Defendants, ensuring that each Court appearance is as comfortable as possible for every Court user.
In the Magistrates’ Court, Emma appears in cases from first appearance through to trials and sentencing hearings on both sides of representation. These cases cover a broad range of offences and have involved vulnerable victims and defendants. Predominantly in the Magistrates, Emma represents Defendants in drink and drug driver charges and other driving related offences. Emma has also appeared in private prosecutions for breach of fire regulations.
Civil
Emma has appeared in a significant number of County Court matters for both claimant and defendant, including small claims, fast track claims, Stage 3 hearings and disposal hearings.
These have included personal injury matters, contractual disputes (including consumer credit matters and return of goods) and property disputes (such as landlord and tenant disputes and mortgage matters). She has also dealt with bankruptcy proceedings, including contested bankruptcy hearings, change of carriage matters and injunctions. Emma has also represented both applicant and respondent in procedural applications such as default and summary judgment (including setting aside).
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