Kathy Walker

I am a Director at Duncan Lewis, I have over two decades of dedicated legal practice and I am a passionate advocate for the rights and well-being of children. My commitment to safeguarding the rights of minors and my extensive experience in this field have shaped me into the formidable advocate that I am today.

I am a seasoned child protection lawyer who has been on The Law Society Children’s Panel since 2010, which affirms me as a specialist in my field. This accreditation is hard to obtain and maintain and requires extensive experience and knowledge of this complex area of law.

I firmly believe that every child deserves a safe, nurturing environment where their rights are upheld and their best interests are paramount. My approach is rooted in empathy, dedication and a tireless commitment to ensuring that the legal system serves the needs of our youngest and most vulnerable citizens.

I represent CAFCASS (who are Guardians appointed by the court to be the voice of the child), however when the child is competent I represent the child directly – this is when experience is key. Children can have a variety of issues and it’s key that they have a solicitor who can listen, understand them and give them assurance that their own voice is heard. I often arrange to take the child to meet the Judge because it’s important that the court knows what the child has to say in person and often it is arranged so that they attend hearings too. Children I find are more receptive when they know they are being heard and it’s important to never raise their hopes but being honest with them and explaining all the possible scenarios helps them to process and understand what is happening to them and why. Using simple language and being available for them whenever they want to talk is also key in this role – they need to earn my trust because often I may be the only adult who will be acting on their instruction.

I have been involved in many complex care proceedings, which have included but not limited to:

• Non-accidental injury
• High profile ‘honour killing'
• Somatic symptom disorder
• Fictitious illness
• Rare genetic conditions
• Death of a child mid-proceedings
• Parents with a mental health condition and lacking litigation capacity who then have an official solicitor appointed to represent them within care proceedings
• Sexual abuse
• Neglect
• Drugs and alcohol misuse
• Emotional harm
• Physical harm

My Practice Areas are:

• Care orders
• Supervision orders
• Emergency protection orders
• Deprivation of liberty orders
• Secure accommodation orders
• Adoption
• Abduction
• Female genital mutilation
• Trafficking
• Radicalisation
• Warship
• Special guardianship orders
• Rule 16.4

Languages:

• Greek and English

• View Kathy Walker’s "Domestic Violence" profile
• View Kathy Walker’s "Deprivation of Liberty Applications" profile

• Westminster - LPC
• Thames Valley University - LLB Hons

• Appointed as a Director (2015)
• Appointed as a Supervisor (2014)
• Admitted as a Solicitor (2005)

Employment History

• Duncan Lewis (2014 – Present)
• Atkins Hope (2005 – 2014)
• DKLL (2003 - 2005)
• Crysos and Co (1999 - 2003)
• Burton Solicitors (1995 - 1999) (Part-time)
• Leon Kaye, Collin & Gittens (1992 - 2000) (Part-time)

• "Kathy has been my solicitor for 3 years now, I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for Kathy. I'm happy and living my life because I have the best solicitor ever. I got my rights back and I got what I needed in court to be where I am today. From day one Kathy has been with me listening, talking and helping my case. If you need justice I would go to Kathy" - Client
• "Kathy Walker is amazing, she ensures she gets what needs to be done done or makes sure all valid information is corrected, even if that means she dedicates all her time doing so." - The Legal 500 2023
• "Personal attention, combined with expertise, particularly in the field of Hague Convention child abduction." - The Legal 500 2023
• "My name is Alexcis and for approaching 3 years now, I have been working with Duncan Lewis Solicitors, my named solicitor is Kathy Walker. Within this time I can say I have been working with the best people." - Alexcis
• "From the very beginning Kathy has been fighting for me to have a chance and for me and my family to get the positive outcome we deserve, and that is exactly what has happened – this is something that is quite special to me, throughout this time I had very little people who had faith that I would get to where I am now & Kathy was one of few who did believe in me and kept me going. Also, this time last year my case was very different and the potential outcome then was the total opposite to what it is now. Kathy never gave up on me – for this I am forever grateful." - Client
• "No matter how busy Kathy may be, she always takes time out of her day to ensure any worries, questions or updates I have, have been answered, understood and seen to - it made me feel confident that I had somebody so professional and highly knowledgeable dealing with my case." - Client
• "Kathy works in a very open and honest manner, she would tell me what’s going well within my case but would also share any concerns she had with the case too, anything that I personally needed to work on Kathy would support with putting things into action, which I appreciate. If by any means I would need to contact a solicitor in the future, Duncan Lewis would be the first on my list. I am thankful for Duncan Lewis, mainly Kathy, for all the support and time that was committed to my case." - Client

• Recommended Lawyer - The Legal 500 UK, (2024 - 2021)

• Association of Lawyers for Children (ALC)
• Resolution
• Nagalro
• Baspcan (British Association for the Study and Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect)
• Law Society's Children Panel

• Reading
• Travelling around the world
• Socialising with friends and family
• Volunteering in helping the vulnerable
• Cooking, baking and cake decorating

• Duncan Lewis’ London Family Team Named as a Finalist at the Family Law Awards (29 August 2024)
• Family Court expresses disappointment in local authority’s care plan and parenting terminology - A (A Child), Re [2019] EWFC B18 (05 April 2019) (23 October 2019)
• Duncan Lewis appoints six new Family & Childcare Directors (3 February 2015)