Claire Eastwood

Each case Claire is involved with is unique and with that in mind, she delivers a bespoke service to each and every client she works with, focusing on the needs and objectives for the best outcome for that case.

Claire offers a family law service across Yorkshire and has amassed a varied case load comprising the following:

• Acting for parents who have been invited to attend a Letter Before Proceedings Meeting (or ‘PLO Meeting’) with the Local Authority/Social Services, who are contemplating issuing care proceedings.
• Acting for parents in care proceedings including proceedings with complex issues at play e.g. female genital mutilation, intra-familial sexual abuse, non-accidental injury, fictitious and fabricated illness, honour based violence, significant neglect, physical abuse and drug and alcohol issues.
• Acting for persons invited to intervene in care proceedings, by virtue of being implicated in pool of perpetrators as a potential perpetrator of a non-accidental injury to a child.
• Acting alongside the Official Solicitor to represent parents who lack litigation capacity in care proceedings.
• Acting for parents who are opposing a Local Authority plan of adoption.
• Acting for family members or connected carers wishing to challenge a negative assessment from the Local Authority or discharge final Care Orders.
• Advising potential Special Guardians regarding Special Guardianship Orders as a means of achieving permeance for a child being cared for by family members or connected carers. Including preparing such applications for Special Guardianship Orders where necessary.
• Acting for Applicants or Respondents in private children proceedings in applications about where a child will live and who they will spend time with, including proceedings with complex allegations of harm e.g. alienation and emotional harm. 
• Acting for Applicants or Respondents to emergency and contested protective injunctions i.e. Non-Molestation Orders and Occupation Orders. Often with allegations of physical, emotional, sexual, financial and psychological abuse or controlling or coercive behaviour including narcissism.

In her own words:

“My position requires a great deal of trust from my clients, as family proceedings can be amongst the most difficult times in a person’s life. I pride myself on being a voice of reason, and a source of support during these times; ensuring that clients are well prepared for the potential outcomes and equipped with sound and sensible legal advice.” 

Claire ensures she keeps clients updated regularly and she is very conscious to make sure queries are dealt with swiftly to avoid delay. She works with the other professionals and individuals involved in the case to make sure that case management is dealt with promptly.

She offers legal aid for clients who meet the eligibility criteria. Please contact the family law team at one of our offices most convenient for you – York, Selby, Malton or Pickering - to discuss the legal aid criteria and to undergo means and merits assessments where required.

Whilst based at our York office, Claire carries our care proceeding work across our region. She offers in person appointments (at any of our four offices), telephone and video conference appointments.

You can speak to Claire using the contact details on this profile page or get in touch by completing and submitting our online form and we will bet back to you as soon as possible.

Claire is supervised by Greg Cross – Director and joint Head of Family Law team.

You can connect with Claire on LinkedIn

Claire’s specialisms include:

• Letter Before Proceedings (PLO Meetings)
• Care Proceedings
• Challenging Local Authority Assessments
• Discharge of Care Orders
• Special Guardianship Orders
• Child Arrangements
• Protective Injunctions.