Helen Russell,
Partner

Helen is Partner at Wilson Browne Solicitors and acts as head of the child care team.  She is also co-chair of the Northamptonshire Family Justice Board. She has practiced solely as a child care solicitor since 2014 after recognising her passion for this area of law and is a specialist in public law cases, meaning she represents her client/s when the state (the local authority) believe that a child is at risk of significant harm and therefore become involved in the day to day life of a family.

When it comes to adoption cases, whether that be to make an application to adopt or oppose an application that has been made, she is able to help. If you require advice on special guardianship then Helen and her team are happy to offer advice and assistance or make the application should that be required.

Helen is also a member of the Law Society’s Children Accreditation Scheme which is a specialist panel of solicitors who have been assessed by the Law Society as having a high skill level to be able to represent all parties, including children via their Court appointed children’s guardian within court proceedings. This accreditation means that she is able to accept instructions directly from a child in care proceedings, whose wishes diverge from those of their guardian, and who is deemed competent to instruct independently.

She is regularly instructed in cases where issues such as mental health difficulties, substance misuse, neglect and domestic violence feature. She also represents clients in complex cases involving:

• non-accidental injuries,
• sexual abuse,
• child death,
• inherent jurisdiction matters,
• parental alienation,
• international matters,
• and deprivation of liberty.

She offers bespoke, sensible and pragmatic advice in a straightforward manner and works with clients to achieve the best outcome in each individual matter and prides herself on her attention to detail and thoroughness. As a mother she understands that raising children can be tough and so always seeks to offer empathy and a non-judgemental approach to her clients.

Outside of work, Helen volunteers for Age UK. She is a dog lover and in her spare time is often in the countryside walking.