Chris Godfrey
| Called: | 1993 (Head of Chambers) |
| Qualifications: | BA (HONS) CANTAB |
Contact and Clerk
Email:
christophergodfrey@colletonchambers.co.uk
Clerk: Mr Gareth Latchem
garethlatchem@colletonchambers.co.uk
Chambers and Partners 2026: “Christopher is excellent all-round, with an air of calmness” “Christopher is a quick thinking and very able barrister-”
Chambers and Partners 2025: “Christopher Godfrey is very experienced and well-read when it comes to law. He knows what he is talking about.”
Chambers & Partners 2022: Focuses his practice on public children law work, and devotes the majority of his time to care matters.
Strengths: “Chris is excellent in care proceedings.” “He is very talented.”
Chambers and Partners 2019: “He’s an excellent children practitioner.”
Legal 500 2020: “Chris is always a go to. He is very experienced, straight talking and no nonsense.”
Chris is Head of Chambers.
Practice Areas
Mainly public law, child protection work, representing local authorities, parents, grandparents, guardians and children.
Private law cases – residence, contact, prohibited steps; with a particular interest in cases involving surrogacy arrangements.
Applications for emigration and removal from the jurisdiction.
Domestic violence fact-finding and injunction proceedings.
Family law appeals.
Notable Cases
Re J (Leave to Remove: Urgent Case) [2006] EWCA Civ 1897
Re N (A Child) Also known as Re P (Surrogacy: Residence) Court of Appeal [2007] 1 FLR 198
Former praise for Chris:
“An excellent barrister who immediately puts the client at ease.” Legal 500 2019
“Focuses his practice on public children work, and devotes the majority of his time to care matters. Also skilled at taking on private disputes involving child relocation and surrogacy.” Chambers and Partners 2018
“A safe pair of hands” Legal 500 2018
“He is consistently very good indeed. He is a public law specialist and he is very persuasive.” “Very good and proactive in his approach.” Chambers & Partners 2017
“An incisive advocate with a critical eye for detail” Legal 500 2017
“He is someone who works very well with both clients and solicitors. He has a very good understanding of the issues and is able to deliver precise points in a calm manner; his advocacy skills are exceptional.” Chambers and Partners 2016
Call
1993 Lincoln’s Inn
Professional Memberships
Member of the Family Law Bar Association
Western Circuiteer since 2007
Interests
Cycling, sea swimming, chess
Married father of two
Counsel in Manchester and Preston 1993 to 2006; Exeter Counsel 2006 to date.
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.