Rhys Jenkins

Called:	2018
Qualifications:	LLM (Distinction); LLB Hons

Contact & Clerk

Email: rhysjenkins@colletonchambers.co.uk

Clerks:

Family & Civil: Gareth Latchem

garethlatchem@colletonchambers.co.uk

Profile

Rhys specialises in Family Law matters including financial remedies and children law, both public and private, and chancery law.  He is instructed across the Western Circuit.

Rising Star Legal 500: ‘Rhys is always exceptionally well prepared and invariably has an excellent grasp of the facts and legal issues of a case. Of note is his superior knowledge of a case and he is an incisive advocate who is able to articulate complex concepts in a way that can be understood by everyone in the court room.’

Civil

Rhys accepts instructions across a broad range of civil matters. In particular Rhys has an interest in traditional chancery including:

Contentious probate: interpretation of wills and removal of executors and trustees.

Charity law: interpretation of governing documents, powers of trustees, and regulatory compliance.

Ecclesiastical law: advising on faculty applications and disputes, land and trusts disputes, and diocesan and parish governance.

Rhys has acted for parties in numerous small claims (e.g. RTA’s, credit hire, consumer rights, and contractual) as well as stage 3 hearings, infant approval hearings, landlord and tenant possessions, mortgage possessions, return of goods matters and various applications under the CPR.

Family

Financial Remedies

Rhys accepts instructions to attend hearings, write opinions and undertake negotiations in financial disputes resulting from relationship breakdown including in TOLATA and probate matters. He has a keen attention to detail and is praised for his calm and authoritative manner by colleagues and clients. Rhys always strives for the best possible outcome for his clients and is known for his robust advocacy.

Children Law

Rhys is regularly instructed in both public and private law proceedings. He acts for local authorities, parents, intervenors, and children through their Guardian in a wide range of cases in the Family Court and High Court.

In public law matters he has frequently been instructed in cases involving non-accidental injury, placement applications, and interim removal.

Notable cases:

• M v LA [2024] EWFC 444 (B): acting for the children in public proceedings where a question arose as to whether the children should be informed or consulted about the mother’s application for return of the children to her care.
• Re W: Successfully challenged a negative special guardianship assessment of a grandparent which resulted in a further positive assessment and the child being placed with them.
• Re D-A: Led by Richard Hickmet in a 12 day fact finding regarding fractures to a baby. They acted through the Official Solicitor for an intervening party in the pool.
• Re B: Successful granted leave to challenge placement orders on behalf of a mother 6 months after they had been made.
• Re O: acting for the local authority in the High Court requesting leave to withhold notification to a father of public law proceedings – successful.
• Re H: acting for a father in a 7 day fact finding regarding skull fractures to a baby.
• Re T: acting for a learning disabled mother in a 9 day final hearing in which the local authority sought care and placement orders.

In private children matters he accepts instructions in relation to contact, residence, fact finds and removal from the jurisdiction.

Notable cases:

• Re T: acting for a mother in fact finding hearing regarding allegations by the mother of rape and sexual assault against the father – allegations found.
• Re S: acting for the child (the only legally represented party) in the High Court where the mother was requesting leave to withhold notification of the father of private law proceedings – leave granted.
• Re L: acting for the child in a fact finding hearing regarding allegations of sexual abuse of the child by F – allegations found.
• Re M: acting for the mother in an urgent hearing for return to the mother of a child who had been retained by the father for 8 weeks – application successful.
• Re F: acting for the father in a fact finding hearing regarding allegations of rape and sexual abuse by the father of the mother, and counter allegations that the mother had lied to the court, fabricated evidence, and abused the father – the mother’s allegations dismissed the father’s allegations found.

Interests

His main interests are eating, drinking, and avoiding exercise. Rhys also enjoys singing having been classically trained and undertakes fundraising activities for a number of charities.

Call

2018 Gray’s Inn

Qualifications

LLM (Distinction); LLB Hons

Scholarships and Prizes

British Insurance Law Association Prize for Best Article (2017 BILA)
Trish Whiting Legal Services for Children Scholarship (2017 Cardiff University)
Masters Excellence Scholarship (2017 Cardiff University)

Memberships

Western Circuit

BSB Register

The Bar Standards Board Barristers’ register (BSB register) shows the barristers who hold a current practising certificate and whether a barrister has any disciplinary findings. A link to the BSB register is here.