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Christie O’Connell

Christie O’Connell

Call: 2022

Contact:

Christie O’Connell

Expertise:

  • Financial Remedies, Financial claims for children (Schedule 1), Private Law Children, Cohabitation/Trusts of Land, Family Law Act

Services:

  • Advice and Representation

Practice

Christie is a family law specialist accepting instructions across the spectrum of private family law, including financial remedies, private children work, child maintenance appeals, TLATA, and applications under the Family Law Act 1996. She has experience representing clients from first to final hearing at all levels up to and including the High Court.

Christie joined Chambers in October 2023 after completing her pupillage under the supervision of Rachel Spicer, Kyra Cornwall and Ben Wooldridge. During pupillage, Christie assisted on a number of high value financial remedy cases, including in the High Court and the Court of Appeal. She regularly undertook bank account analyses, reviewing disclosure and preparing court documents.

Christie is a contributor to the Financial Remedies Journal, in which she provides summaries of recent cases of interest. Alongside her practice, she also delivers seminars and lectures to firms across the country.

In addition to her work in chambers, she continues to regularly undertake pro bono work with Advocate, and the Islington Legal Advice Clinic. In 2024, she received a nomination for Young Pro Bono Barrister of the year and was featured in the inaugural Pro Bono Recognition List of England and Wales.

Financial Remedies

Christie accepts instructions across the full breadth of family finance proceedings, including matrimonial finance, maintenance pending suit, LSPO, enforcement, variations, and applications under Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989. She has experience appearing in the High Court in her own right and accepts instructions in both court and Private FDRs.

Christie has experience in acting for LGBTQIA+ clients and accepts instructions in cohabitation and civil partnership proceedings. She also acts for interested third parties such as parties’ parents.

 

Private Law Children

Christie accepts instructions in all aspects of private law children proceedings, including contact disputes, internal and international relocation, issues with parental responsibility, and allegations of abuse and alienation.

Christie has a particular interest in Surrogacy proceedings and welcomes instructions in this growing area of law. Christie recently appeared in the High Court in a complex case concerning a Russian surrogacy arrangement and an application for a Parental Order.

Memberships 

  • The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple
  • Inner Temple LGBTQIA+ Society
  • Family Law Bar Association
  • Resolution

 

Positions

  • Treasurer of the Inner Temple Junior Barristers Association
  • Inner Temple Retention & Return to Practice Working Group committee
  • Freebar committee (the Bar’s LGBTQIA+ network)

Qualifications

  • BPP Law School: LLM & BPTC (Distinction)
  • King’s College London: BA Religion & Politics (First Class Honours)
  • University of Sydney: Study Abroad Programme (First Class Honours)

 

Scholarships, Awards and Prizes

  • Jarman Advocacy Prize – Inner Temple – Awarded to the best advocate in the 2022/23 cohort of Inner Temple Pupils
  • Major Bar Course Scholarship – Inner Temple
  • Duke of Edinburgh Entrance Award – Inner Temple
  • Top of the year for the Cross Examination Bar Exam – BPP Law School
  • Major GDL Scholarship – Inner Temple
  • Career Commitment Scholarship – BPP Law School
  • Broadening Horizons Award – King’s College London

Outside of work Christie enjoys playing and watching football. She is an avid theatre-goer and enjoys travelling and road trips in her Renault Kangoo Micro Camper.