Profile
Zoe is the Head of Team / Family Supervising Solicitor at the Birmingham office.
Zoe is a specialist Family Solicitor, accredited by the Law Society’s Children Panel. She is extremely well known and respected for acting for children in complex care proceedings, and for parents who are accused of the most serious inflicted (or ‘non-accidental’) injuries.
Zoe has over a decade of experience in Family Law, and specialised in complex care proceedings from the outset of her career. She is deeply passionate about representing and supporting those who need help during the court process.
Zoe has formed excellent partnerships with specialist Barristers and with medical experts. Her knowledge of the system, together with these relationships, leads to securing the best possible outcome for every single one of her clients.
She continues to focus her work on the representation of children and parents within difficult and complex proceedings. These usually involve allegations of the most serious physical abuse, including:
- Shaken baby syndrome
- Head injuries
- Fractures
- Multiple bruises
- Fabricated induced illness (‘FII’)
- Death
- Burns
- Genetic disorders that mimic child abuse
As well as the cases that involve allegations of physical abuse, Zoe is extremely experienced and known for representing children and adults in the whole range of cases relating to child protection. These include (but are not limited to):
- ‘Parental alienation’
- Removal from the jurisdiction,
- Serious sexual, emotional, and physical abuse
- International elements.
- Trafficking
- Paedophile rings
- Deprivation of liberty orders (‘DOLs’)
- Wardship
- Forced marriage protection orders
- End of life decisions.
Zoe works with clients all over the country and in all levels of courts. She is respected by opponents and Judges, and known by all who have been involved in cases with her to fight relentlessly hard for justice and fairness for her clients.
Zoe’s professional motivation is fuelled by the opportunity to positively change a child’s life.
“I have known Zoe for many years. She has always been a brilliant lawyer and any client represented by her is lucky to have her on their side. She is committed to her clients and will fight tooth and nail to get the best possible outcome for them, as well as being frank and honest about their case and their prospects. That’s what makes a great lawyer.”
“Zoe is a solicitor you want on your side. She has vast experience and expertise in representing children and parents in very complex and messy proceedings. Zoe has incredible attention to detail and will ensure that everything is in order for the court to reach the right decision in a timely way. She is absolutely formidable. A force of nature in the legal world.”
“Zoe is exceptional. She always has a detailed command of all the technical details that arise on her cases (many of them complex) and balances that with an approach to her client’s needs which is pragmatic, insightful and empathic. It is rare to work with a lawyer who combines these different aspects of the role as well as Zoe does. She is also a very good advocate: clear, concise and measured. It is very easy to have complete confidence in Zoe and she is, without doubt, amongst the very best in her field.”
“Zoe is a first-class solicitor in the public law child care field. Her instructions are always comprehensive, detailed and accurately presented. She knows each of her cases inside out because of her complete attention to detail and meticulous preparation. She always ensures she gets the best outcomes for her clients. Zoe has a wealth of knowledge and uses it to achieve great results. Her clients all receive the best service from Zoe. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her”.
“I know when I am instructed by Zoe on a case that it is likely to be complex, interesting, and challenging, whether it is on behalf of a parent or for children. I look forward to her briefs because I know that she will be completely on top of the case, have dealt with everything according to the rules and will have given sound advice to the client. We always work well together as a team. It’s always obvious to me when before judges that they know that I have been instructed by her and that they hold her in high regard”.
“Zoe is a superb solicitor who is utterly committed to her client’s cause. She gives sound early advice and is always on top of each issue in the case as it arises. With a significant practice representing children, her reputation for being child-focused and trusted by the courts precedes her. This also makes her a valuable asset for any party within family proceedings.”
“Zoe Brettle is very experienced in child care work and is dogged in her determination to get the best result for her clients, particularly children. She is hard working and organised and meticulous in her preparation, providing comprehensive briefs and instructions to counsel. She has a very good rapport with children’s guardians who instruct her and is very personable and easy to communicate with. She is able to form good relationships with her clients, regardless of age but professional in her approach. She will be a great addition to her new firm and lead the department with her skill and expertise.”
“Zoe balances her skills of tenacity and proportionality expertly; such that she is a widely respected and formidable advocate.
She is highly regarded among the profession for her poise, strategic-thinking, compendious knowledge of the law, and for her friendly and approachable style.
Zoe is organised and detail orientated. She is an outstanding leader; striving to motivate and elevate her colleagues. She is proactive and solutions-driven and instils a sense of complete confidence both in terms of her clients and her colleagues.
When other members of the profession are asked who they would recommend to others, or who they would want in their corner should they ever require support in resolving a family law issue, Zoe is undoubtedly one of the first to come to mind”.
Children Law Accreditation
26 January 2024: A Council v An NHS Foundation Trust & Ors [2024] EWHC 874 (Fam)
07 May 2020: A City Council v M & Ors [2020] EWHC 947 (Fam)
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