Arti Maini

I am a Solicitor and Supervisor in the Child Care Department at Duncan Lewis Solicitors. I qualified as a solicitor in 1996 and during the last 25 years I have worked in different private practices in the Black Country, Staffordshire, Coventry and Warwickshire and Shropshire. I have travelled and represented my clients in various Courts across these regions. I have also represented clients whose cases have appeared before the High Court and the Court of Appeal, with some including an international element, and I have instructed and worked with experienced Barristers on various matters.

Throughout my career, I have represented parents and children, both through their Children’s Guardians and separately, in all aspects of public law proceedings. These include applications for care and supervision orders, emergency protection orders, placement for adoption orders, and adoption applications. Also, in applications for contact to children in care, and applications to vary or discharge care or supervision orders and to revoke placement for adoption orders as well as Rule 16.4 proceedings.

I additionally advise and represent other family members such as uncles, aunts, and grandparents in relation to Special Guardianship Orders, where they are seeking to care for the children who are subject to the proceedings. I have on occasion represented the local authority as well.

I have dealt with a variety of cases which have related to issues of domestic violence, drugs and alcohol use, sexual abuse and non-accidental injury cases, as well as representing parents and children who have educational or mental health difficulties; some cases have involved the Official Solicitor. As Coventry is one of the jurisdictions that implement the FDAC (Family Drug & Alcohol Court) I have been able to represent parents and children in cases which have been considered suitable to follow this process, within the main Care proceedings.

This area of law is not easy, especially given the human emotions involved and the vulnerabilities of the parents and children involved, and when the outcome could very well be a permanent separation. I feel strongly about human rights and try my best to ensure that my clients are fairly and justly represented, and that their voices are heard in circumstances where they might not be able to or feel able to voice them on their own.

I am able to speak Hindi and Punjabi and, therefore, am able to assist clients where appropriate.

• View Arti Maini’s "Adoption" profile

• Law LLB Hons (2:1), Birmingham
• LPC (Legal Practice Course), Birmingham

• January 2022 – Duncan Lewis Solicitors, Birmingham as Solicitor Supervisor
• May 2021 - November 2021 – NJP Solicitors, Telford
• June 2019 - April 2021 – Duncan Lewis Solicitors, Birmingham as Solicitor Supervisor
• July 2018 - May 2019 – Askews Legal LLP, Coventry as Head of Child Care
• 2005 - 2018 – Varley Hibbs LLP, Coventry before they merged with Band Hatton and Buttons solicitors in the spring of 2013 to become Band Hatton Button LLP
• 2004 - Private practice, Stafford
• 2004 – Private Practice, Leamington Spa

• Member of the Law Society’s Children’s Panel (Children Law Accreditation) since 2001

• Arts (theatre and plays)
• Cooking
• Swimming

• Duncan Lewis Solicitors Welcomes Back Child Care Specialist Arti Maini (18 January 2022)