Katherine Res Pritchard

• Successfully and quickly resolved a long-running child arrangements dispute through arbitration.

• Successfully represented the Respondent in a Hague 1980 case, on the basis that the children’s habitual residence had not changed despite a lengthy stay outside of this jurisdiction.
• Successfully defended a Father in an international contact case against all of the allegations made against him in the fact-finding hearing.
• Recently obtained urgent non-molestation and final lives with orders on behalf of a client who made allegations of serious violence against the other parent.

• Father v Mother [2020] EWHC 1929 (Fam) - the case concerned an application for summary return to Dubai, and later for international contact in Dubai, and upholds the principles to be considered when considering removals to non-Hague countries.

• Father v Mother [2020] EWHC 1930 (Fam) - The Mother applied for costs given that the Father had conceded the summary return of the children on the first day of the hearing. The judge declined to award costs, firstly upholding the general principle that costs are not routinely awarded in children proceedings, and secondly because the focus of the hearing became international contact, which the Mother vehemently opposed, and a full hearing therefore took place.
• AB v CD & C [2019] EWHC 1695 (Fam) - this case concerned when and how the child should be informed that his father was not his genetic father, and whether the identity of the biological father should be disclosed.
• L v M [2019] EWHC 219 (Fam) - This case concerned removal to a non-Hague country, repudiatory retention, and on what date the children's habitual residence changed. The judge held, in favour of the Mother, that the children's habitual residence had quickly changed from England to China, and that even if it had not, it was in their best interests to remain there.
• Y v A Healthcare NHS Trust & The HFEA & Z (by his litigation friend, The Official Solicitor) [2018 EWCOP 18] - The Applicant in this case sought a declaration, which was granted, that notwithstanding her husband's incapacity, that she could extract and store his sperm for future use.
• FK v ML (Child's Objections) [2016] EWHC 517 (Fam) A child abduction case under the 1980 Hague Convention, concerning an application for the summary return of a separately represented older child to Ireland.
• JB v D [2016] EWHC 1607 (Fam) A case concerning whether the High Court had jurisdiction, whether under the Inherent Jurisdiction or Parens Patriae for the return of a child from Algeria to Poland.
• A (A Child: permission to permanently relocate) [2016] EWHC 2691 (Fam) An international case concerning a mother's application to relocate permanently to the US, following her previous wrongful removal to the US under the 1980 Hague Convention.
• QS V RS & Anor [2016] EWHC 2470 (Fam) A case where the High Court, under Parens Patriae, exercised jurisdiction to recognise a foreign adoption under common law, and then to make orders in relation to that child despite the child living in Dubai and there being ongoing proceedings in the UAE court.

• "Her expertise and experience in the most complex of children cases, many with an international element, make her a formidable force in this area." Chambers UK 2027

• "She has excellent legal knowledge and a really strong background in international relocation children work." Chambers UK 2027

• "Katherine is very focused on the right outcome for children. She is meticulously well-prepared. Her client care skills are exceptional" Chambers UK 2027

• "Katherine Res Pritchard of Howard Kennedy is a well-regarded family practitioner focused on children matters. Her experience includes child arrangements and cases involving domestic abuse allegations. She has notable expertise in cases with an international element, including relocations, abductions and adoptions." Chambers UK 2027

• "She brings with her a deep empathy and warmth that allows clients to feel they have someone sensible working alongside them at an often troubling time." Chambers UK 2027

• "Katherine Res Pritchard is a very experienced children's practitioner with a diverse background of international work. She is praised for her understanding with clients and is highly sought after. She is widely recognized by the profession as the go-to lawyer for complicated children's work." Legal 500 2027

• "Katherine Res Pritchard is a very experienced children's practitioner with a diverse background of international work. She is praised for her understanding with clients and is highly sought after. She is widely recognized by the profession as the go-to lawyer for complicated children's work." Legal 500 2027

• "Katherine Res Pritchard, head of Children, operates at the top of her field. Her ability to formulate a winning strategy for clients is very impressive and instills confidence in even the most nervous clients." Legal 500 2027

• "Katherine Res Pritchard is an excellent family lawyer specialising in children cases, especially ones with an international angle. She is calm and wise and has the right balance of interpersonal skills to achieve the best child-focused outcomes for her clients. She has instinctive sound judgement and makes the right decisions on the big issues in her cases." Legal 500 2026

• Ranked as a Next Generation Partner, Family: Children, Legal 500 2026
• Listed as Recommended Lawyer, Spear's 500 Family Law Index 2025
• Listed as Next Generation Partner, Family: Tier 3, Legal 500 2025
• Listed as Next Generation Partner, Family, Legal 500 UK 2024
• "A wonderful, high-end law firm that has expanded its family law expertise in recent years and now sits with the very best in this area. The firm has shown leadership in the field with a new annual lecture series led by Katherine Res Pritchard." Legal 500 UK 2024

Katherine enjoys running, cooking, and spending time with her family in Greece. She has recently taken up paddle boarding, and dreams of one day paddle boarding around the Greek islands.