Karly McGuire
Karly was called to the bar in 2022 after a successful career as a Solicitor-Advocate. Karly qualified as a solicitor in 2007, having completed her training contract at Suffolk County Council. Her specialism became care proceedings, undertaking work for the Local Authority in a range of extensive and complex matters.
In 2013, Karly obtained her Higher Rights qualification in civil proceedings and joined the in-house advocacy unit at SCC. Karly completed her higher rights in criminal proceedings in 2016 and took on a multi-disciplined advocate role, undertaking care proceedings, police law matters and work for the Probation Service. She has always had a strong interest in protective orders and has gained experience in a number of such areas, including Forced Marriage Protection Orders, Stalking Prevention Orders and Domestic Violence Protection Orders.
Since transferring to the bar, Karly has gained substantial experience in both private and public law matters during her time at Cardinal Chambers. Karly enjoys undertaking work for a number of Local Authorities, as well as work for Guardians and Parents.
In her limited spare time, Karly is a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Law, primarily teaching on the BPC.
Sally Catton-Newell
Following completion of a degree in Psychology Sally worked for Suffolk County Council undertaking Public Law Children Act cases. Having completed her studies in law she was called to the Bar in 2009 and has practising in family law ever since.
Sally specialises in Children Act cases, both Private Law and Public Law, and has acted for Local Authorities, parents and Guardians in all manner of hearings including fact finding and final hearings. Sally has extensive experience in representing clients in public law cases involving domestic violence, physical, sexual and emotional abuse and non accidental injury. In terms of her private law practice she has experience in cases involving removal from the jurisdiction applications, cases of parental alienation, domestic abuse and disputes on child arrangements.
Sally is described as an understanding advocate who has a calming and reassuring approach with clients. She has sensitively represented parents with additional learning needs and clients experiencing mental health difficulties or addictions. Sally is able to negotiate effectively but also act persuasively in court to achieve the best outcome for her clients.
Ben Pearson
Simon English (Clerk)
Simon joined Octagon Legal in May 2016 following the best part of 20 years employment in two leading law firms in Norfolk and Suffolk specialising in Criminal Law.
The switch to the role of a barristers clerk is the fulfilment of a long held ambition for Simon who has always held close links to Octagon Chambers and many local law firms.
While having a wealth of experience that he brings to the criminal practice within Chambers, Simon also deals with family and civil work.
In his personal life, Simon is a keen runner and regularly takes part in Marathons both in the UK and abroad.
Emma Cattermull
Emma has developed a successful practice in civil and family law. Emma is an experienced civil law practitioner accepting instructions in a broad range of civil law disciplines including contract, commercial and property law. She regularly appears in the local County Courts on matters such as:
• Contract disputes
• Credit Hire
• Landlord and Tenant
• Housing (particularly matters involving anti social behavior and disability issues)
• Negligence
• Personal injury
• Probate and Inheritance Act claims
• Insolvency
• TLATA applications
• Boundary disputes
Emma represents both Claimants and Defendants in multi track, fast track and small claim trials, interim hearings, CMC’s and cost management hearings, damage assessments and hearings in the Coroner’s Court.
She is regularly instructed in all aspects of litigation whether it be for her advocacy skills, drafting pleadings or advising in relation to liability or quantum.
Emma has a wide range of experience in private and public law cases and regularly represents parents, grandparents, Guardians and Local Authorities.
Emma is well regarded for taking a professional and thorough approach to each case whilst maintaining her down to earth and approachable style.
Emma is available for direct instruction under the Bar Council Public Access scheme.
Robert Aldous (Head of Chambers)
With a wealth of experience in both Family and Civil Law, Robert Aldous is consistently recommended in the Chambers Directory.
Robert has substantial experience in all areas of family law. He deals with ancillary relief and Children Act work (child arrangements as well as care proceedings).He handles co-habitation disputes and TOLATA cases. He is very experienced in cases involving domestic abuse, injunctions and occupation orders.
Having come from a farming background he also specialises in ancillary relief cases involving farms and many small businesses.
Robert also has over 25 years experience in conducting civil litigation. He has successfully tackled a wide range of cases, including contractual disputes, personal injury claims and inheritance disputes.
He has a strong reputation for giving clear and robust advice to clients and for firm and to the point cross-examinations in court and tribunals. His advocacy is clear and directed at the relevant issues, and his long experience means he knows what evidence is necessary and what the judges are interested in.
With the growth of mediation and alternative dispute resolution in recent years, Robert’s negotiation skills have been actively sought out for representing clients at difficult mediations.
Robert also advises and represents clients directly through Public Access.
What others say:
“He tackled all of his varied caseload with maturity and assurance”
“He can be relied upon to give it to you fair and straight” – Chambers & Partners UK directory
Marika Bell
Marika Bell is a family law specialist with 30 years’ experience of all types of cases involving children in both private law and public law proceedings.
In public law care proceedings she is regularly instructed in cases involving allegations of non-accidental injury, particularly cases involving complex medical evidence. Her experience includes cases where fabricated illness, sexual abuse, physical and emotional abuse and neglect are alleged. She represents parents, children, extended family members and local authorities and regularly assists clients with additional mental health needs or learning disabilities, including matters in which the Official Solicitor has been appointed.
In private law cases, Marika’s experience includes applications for Child Arrangements Orders and enforcement of those orders, leave to remove children from the jurisdiction, intractable disputes in which Guardians have been appointed by the Court and complex cases involving allegations of sexual, physical and emotional harm. Marika has also been instructed to deal with Forced Marriage Protection Orders and cases involving domestic violence.
Marika has built a reputation for combining thorough preparation with sound advice and an approach that is simultaneously sensitive and tenacious. Marika aims to alleviate the stress of proceedings for her clients with a calm and empathic approach and a continuity of representation wherever possible.
She also advises and represents clients directly through Public Access.
Notable cases:
Re A (Children) [2012] EWCA Civ 185
Jeremy Dugdale
Jeremy Dugdale undertakes public and private law family work, specialising in cases involving children and with a special interest in mental health.
Having begun his career in London in 1992, undertaking a mixture of criminal and family work, he appeared in all levels of Court from the Magistrates to the Court of Appeal, before returning to his native Norfolk in 2000.
Jeremy maintained a mixed practice until 2004, when, having begun to sit as a Judge on Mental Health Tribunals, he stopped criminal work in order to focus solely on family cases.
His grounding in criminal trials stands him in good stead in cases where factual disputes require thorough cross-examination of witnesses, whilst his background in family law means that he is experienced in providing reassurance and working with sensitivity.
Jeremy acts for Local Authorities, parents and children in a wide variety of proceedings. He is particularly sought out in cases involving non-accidental injury or allegations of physical or sexual abuse of children. From 2008 to 2013, Chambers and Partners have commended his work and he is recommended in the Legal 500.
Jeremy lives in North Norfolk with his wife and 3 children and when not in Court takes every opportunity to mess about in boats.
What other say:
From 2008 to 2013, Chambers and Partners have said:
“Dugdale always delivers a high standard of service and presentation on behalf of his clients.”
“Jeremy Dugdale ‘has all the attributes of a great barrister’”.
“an impressive children’s barrister with a particular interest in mental health issues.”
Notable cases:
Re C and B (Care Order: Future Harm) [2001] 1 FLR 611.
Wood v Collins [2006] EWCA Civ 743 (establishing the principle that one can appeal as of right on the grounds that a sentence for contempt is unduly lenient).
A (Children) [2012] EWCA Civ 185 (appeal arising out the Judge seeing a child during a complex fact-finding hearing concerning sexual abuse of a number of children by a number of adults).
Jeremy also recently represented Norfolk County Council in care proceedings where the Police had not pursued the allegations made by various children. The care proceedings resulted in comprehensive findings of sexual abuse being made, which led to a Police prosecution and a lengthy custodial sentence for the offender.
Paul Butterworth
Having spent several years in a successful Common Law set in Lincoln’s Inn, Paul Butterworth came to Norwich to become a popular, respected and busy member of the Civil Law and Family Law teams at Octagon Legal.
Paul deals with a wide variety of Civil cases – Landlord and Tenant including possession proceedings, applications for injunctions and committal proceedings, disrepair and succession claims. He also has experience of dealing with niche areas within housing law such as disability issues and anti-social behaviour problems. He also covers all areas relating to personal injury, negligence (infant settlements, small claims and MOJ portal and cost case management matters), contractual disputes, discrimination and TOLATA 1996 claims.
Paul also deals in Family Law include Children Act cases, both within care proceedings and private law proceedings and injunction matters. He has been involved in a number of notable cases, including complex cases involving complex issues of residency and cases relating to adoption procedures that have had far-reaching implications for all Local Authorities.
His friendly and open approach means that Paul can connect with clients from all walks of life. He offers careful, clear and consistent advice, guiding his clients through what can often be a very emotional and fraught time.
Paul is qualified to advise and represent clients directly through Public Access and, where appropriate, can communicate with clients remotely via Skype, Facetime and email.
Notable cases:
Re: S Johnson J 2002/4; Fundamental Muslim father & Irish Catholic mother – both seeking residence – mother then seeking removal from jurisdiction – relevance of father’s beliefs.
Re: P – Before full Appeal Court – question of policy re: Local Authority and adoption procedures – far reaching implications for all Local Authorities.
Vanessa Thomson v Hanson White Ltd: – Court of Appeal case, extension of time running for limitation periods in personal injury cases.
Christopher Fletcher
Christopher Fletcher is a highly respected family lawyer in East Anglia and a member of the matrimonial and finance team, practicing in care work for local authorities, parents and children in the Family Court. Appointed Head of Chambers at Octagon Legal (formerly Octagon House) in 2008, he is a firm believer in advocates providing an excellent standard of representation.
Christopher is regularly instructed in difficult and sensitive cases, including cases involving emotional harm, physical and sexual abuse of children.
‘His breadth of experience includes child arrangement orders, conducting complex children cases, same-sex relationship cases, domestic violence cases and cases in which children are being denied contact to parents, as well as cases with an overseas connection. He also advises and represents clients from all walks of life in their divorce and financial provision disputes.
Christopher has been commended in Chambers & Partners, Chambers UK, as a “Leading Junior” for the South Eastern Area. He conducts regular seminars on care work and judges moots at the University of East Anglia.
He is qualified to advise and represent clients through Direct/Public Access, and is able to communicate with clients remotely when necessary via email and Skype.
Outside Chambers, Christopher enjoys writing, painting, and playing cricket.
