Child protection specialists
As child protection specialists, we understand the urgency required to safeguard vulnerable children from harm. Our dedicated team’s extensive expertise means there is very little we haven’t encountered.
We provide trusted legal support to one of the UK’s largest local authorities, drawing on our profound sector knowledge, strong public service heritage, and competitive pricing. We are committed to delivering sound and accurate legal advice with professionalism and empathy, ensuring the best possible outcomes for our clients.
Building strong partnerships
We believe the only way to achieve better outcomes for children is by working together. From empowering social workers through training, to close cooperation with partners across the Family Justice System, we are dedicated to working with you to address the immediate needs of at-risk children.
Our Head of Group, Helen Osborn, co-chairs the Kent Family Justice Board, which fosters close working relationships with all stakeholders working within the family justice system both nationally and locally in Kent.
How can we help?
This is a description...
Adoption Law
We advise agency decision-makers in relation to best interests decisions for children, conduct placement order and adoption order proceedings, assist with post-adoption work and adoption placement disruptions. We also delivering regular training to prospective adopters.
Advocacy in all Family Courts
We represent our clients at contested hearings, multi-day final hearings, fact finding hearings appeals and out of hours applications. A large portion of our advocacy is dealt with in-house, either by case-holding lawyers or our specialist in-house advocates. We also have strong links with chambers who are recognised as world leaders in child protection law.
Care Proceedings and Pre Proceedings
Case managing all aspects of care proceedings and pre-proceedings from commencement to conclusion. We advise on all limbs of threshold that feature in pre-proceedings and care proceedings cases including matters where neglect, emotional, physical and sexual abuse or children who are beyond parental control are the prevalent feature.
Care Provisions
For older children and young adults as well as leaving care provisions for young persons who are leaving the care system.
Deprivation of Liberty
For young persons involved in proceedings within the National DOLS Court or under the inherent jurisdiction in care proceedings.
Discreet Areas of Law
We have a wealth of experience in dealing with more discrete areas of law such as child sexual exploitation prevention, forced marriage and female genital mutilation protection order application, fabricated induced illness and parental alienation.
Training
We have developed and deliver a major training programme for social workers and other child protection professionals, helping you to understand the court process, improve your ability to draft documentation and give evidence in court.
Secure Accommodation
We have detailed knowledge of assisting in our client in obtaining secure accommodation orders, which have proved vital in protecting young persons from harm.
Wardship
We advise and represent our clients within wardship proceedings lodged in the High Court.
Client testimonials
Our team
Helen Osborn
Helen is passionate about child protection and under her leadership, the team ensure they provide sound and accurate legal advice in a professional and empathetic way.
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Kirstine Hidalgo Souto
Kirstine currently jointly leads the Child Protection Team at Invicta Law with Helen Osborn. The team comprises over 70 people (including support staff) dealing primarily with public law proceedings including a number of very complex cases…
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Alina Georgescu
Alina joined Invicta Law in 2020 as a Senior Solicitor and was promoted to Principal Solicitor in February 2022. Alina qualified in both Romania and England & Wales. She has over 15 years of experience in child protection law in the UK and worked as a senior child protection lawyer for two busy local authorities in London
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Graeme Bentley
Graeme has nearly 40 years of experience in family law, having qualified as a solicitor in 1986 and thereafter worked from 1991 as a partner in a high street practice. He has been an accredited member of the Law Society’s Children Panel since 1994.
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Joanna Augustin
Joanna has worked for Invicta Law since Summer 2018, initially joining the team as a Senior Solicitor, Joanna became a Principal Solicitor in February 2022. Joanna manages a team of five lawyers and three legal assistants, including the training and supervision of a senior legal assistant working towards Cilex qualification.
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Mark Kitchingham
Mark began practicing law as a legal assistant in 1986 and qualified as a solicitor in 2000. He joined Invicta Law in 2015, initially as a Senior Solicitor and was later promoted to Principal Solicitor. Mark manages a team of six lawyers and five legal assistants.
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Christine Harvey
Christine is a Principal Solicitor in the Child Protection Team. She has worked in Child Protection since joining Kent Legal Services as a Legal Assistant in 2014. Christine qualified as a Solicitor in May 2017 after completing her training at Kent Legal Services. She was promoted to Principal Solicitor in July 2024 and manages a team of five lawyers and three legal assistants.
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Pam McFarland
Pam has worked exclusively in Family Law for over 20 years. After a previous career in the City, she discovered her passion for law and qualified as a solicitor in 2003, initially acting for parents in various Family Law matters before joining Kent Legal Services in 2010. She has been at Invicta Law since its inception in 2017.
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