Stephen Bellamy is one of the leading specialists in family law, judicial review and also a qualified family mediator. He was one of the leading juniors at the Family Law Bar between 1980 and 1996 when he took silk. He has a well-established and recognised expertise in all aspects of children’s work. He is regularly instructed in the most complex, heavyweight and high profile cases, especially those with difficult expert evidence. He appears frequently all over the country and often at appellate level. He has appeared several times before the European of Human Rights in several leading family law cases. He represents parents, local authorities, and guardians and appears as amicus curiae. He is highly regarded for his analytical skills, strategic planning, sound judgment and his inter-personal skills with both professional and lay clients. He has a particular expertise in complex care cases, local authority powers and duties, education, special educational needs, residence and contact disputes, adoption, international adoptions, and relocations. He also advises on medical treatment and Court of Protection cases. He chairs, sits on and appears before various enquiries. He is highly regarded both by solicitors, juniors and judges through out the country and is recommended by The Legal 500.

In judicial review matters he advises local authorities both pre and post their decision making and has appeared in several leading cases involving powers and duties.

In his Boundary Commission work he chaired the inquiry into the parliamentary boundaries of Devon. His conduct of the inquiry and his report were both particularly well received and commented upon.

He has lectured on both family and public law in the UK, Australia, Canada, and Hong Kong and is active with some children’s charities.

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