Anthony Hajimitsis
Call: 1984
Anthony’s practice solely focuses on financial remedy proceedings and is regularly instructed on cases in the £10M - £20M bracket.
Anthony is often instructed as an evaluator in Private FDR’S and is a trained Finance Arbitrator.
Anthony regularly provides seminars on current areas of legal interest.
Clerks
Roger Bickerdike
Call: 1986
Roger Bickerdike
LLB, Barrister
Chambers & Partners Ranking Barrister Band 1
Legal 500 Leading Individual
Contact
T: 01274 722560 or 0113 246 2600
Roger is undoubtedly one of the North Eastern Circuit’s most experienced and highly regarded family law specialists. Practising exclusively in family work, he is particularly renowned for his expertise in mid and high value financial remedy cases and private law children matters, including both internal and international relocation. Roger also has considerable experience of appellate work, especially in the Court of Appeal.
Reputation
‘An authority in family law, who is particularly adept at handling complicated financial remedy proceedings. He also undertakes private law children work and has experience of appellate advocacy, notably in the Court of Appeal. A fearless advocate. I’ve seen him determined to get a point across when odds are against him, and his paperwork is excellent. He can deal with the most challenging and difficult cases’ (Chambers and Partners, 2020)
“He is an excellent advocate and has the ear of the court because his approach is pragmatic and commercial.” “He is proactive in setting expectations and he’s not a last-minute person. He’s very responsive and very good at what he does.” “His lay client-handling skills are second to none. An authority in family law who is particularly adept at handling complicated financial remedy proceedings. He is further noted for his work on spousal maintenance as well as children matters such as contact arrangement orders. He is experienced across several court levels” (Chambers and Partners, 2021)
"Roger is a brilliant advocate with tremendous attention for detail and who is really well regarded among the judiciary." "A standout financial remedies counsel in the region." "He is proactive, well prepared, robust and a fearless advocate. He provides clear and sound advice on complicated issues, manages clients' expectations well and negotiates good outcomes in court." (Chambers & Partners, 2022)
”The consummate advocate who is more than willing to roll his sleeves up should the case require it. He is a pragmatist at heart and clients value his commerciality. He will fight for what is right for a client’ (Legal 500, 2021)
Roger possesses a finely tuned ability to judge the feeling of a court and so deliver insightful and meaningful advice. That same intuitive knowledge enables him to deliver very effective advocacy’ (Legal 500, 2022)
‘A fearless advocate, Roger is approachable and gains the trust and confidence of clients from the outset. He can accurately read a case and the approach a court or judge is likely to take, and tailors his approach accordingly.' (Legal 500, 2023)
'Roger Bickerdike is an authority in family law who is particularly adept at handling complicated financial remedy proceedings. He is further noted for his work on spousal maintenance as well as children matters such international relocation. He is experienced across several court levels. (Chambers and Partners, 2023)
“Roger Bickerdike is an authority in family law who is particularly adept at handling complicated financial remedy proceedings. He is further noted for his work on spousal maintenance as well as children matters such as international relocation. He is experienced across several court levels. Incredibly bright and an amazing advocate. He is good with clients and very fair. Exceptional counsel. He is thorough and an extremely good advocate, who is very good with clients, helping them to understand complicated matters. He swiftly identifies and grasps the points that the outcome will turn on. He looks at a case from every angle before deciding a strategy and he is always spot on.” (Chambers & Partners, 2024)
"He is exceptionally good as an advocate – he will fight a case, he rolls his sleeves up, and his advice to clients is always on the money. He has excellent judgement and knows how to get a result. Roger is a superb financial remedy practitioner. He has amazing attention to detail and fights for clients. He's tenacious when necessary but pragmatic and commercially aware." (Chambers & Partners, 2025)
'Roger is highly intellectual and forensic in his research and case preparation. He commends great respect in the courtroom and he is an exceptional advocate. He exudes gravitas and experience and is on top of every detail. He never misses a point and is always up for the fight.' ‘top drawer’ Roger Bickerdike is well-versed in advising on high-value financial remedy cases. A phenomenal advocate who is very impressive on his feet. Roger Bickerdike is ‘detailed and precise’ (Legal 500, 2025)
Expertise
Family
Areas of Expertise
• Financial Remedy: specialist in mid and high value claims
• Children Law: private law, including internal and international relocating.
He has been involved in over 30 reported cases and has presented at many seminars on various aspects of both financial remedy and children law.
Notable Cases
WS v HS (Appeal - interim sale of matrimonial home) [2018] EWFC 11
W v H (Financial Remedies: Pensions) [2021] EWFC B63
Clerks
Nicola Shaw
Call: 1992
Nicola practises exclusively in the field of Dispute Resolution. Following a career at the Bar specialising in financial remedies, she was appointed as a full time District Judge in 2016. She was lead Judge for her region in the Financial Remedies Court from its inception in 2018 until taking early retirement in 2022. She now sits regularly in the Financial Remedies Court in London, as well as in the local courts on the North East Circuit.
Clerks
Matthew Rudd
Call: 1994
Matthew is Head of the Employment Team with over 27 years experience. He undertakes work in the Employment Tribunal, Employment Appeal Tribunal and Higher Courts. He is also a member of the Family Team undertaking Financial Remedy and TOLATA and Inheritance Act work. Further, Matthew has expertise in sports law and civil claims relating to his Employment and Financial Remedy Practice.
Clerks
Dornier Whittaker
Call: 1994
Dornier is a highly sought after private children and financial remedy specialist. With over 30 years of experience, Dornier has a wealth of experience in complex relocation cases, intractable children disputes and is recognised for her knowledge in mid-high value financial relief cases, especially those involving companies, partnerships, farms and “hidden wealth”.
Dornier prides herself on her open and easy to approach manner with both solicitors and clients and is a firm believer in practical, no-nonsense advice. She is consistently ranked as a leading junior in the legal directories.
Dornier is described as “an excellent advocate. She can see through a complex and emotive matter and can find a way forward. She is very hands on, robust and kicks a case into order. She is a breath of fresh air and pulls out the stops. She is well prepared, has a very good client care manner and is approachable. She is unflappable even with the trickiest of opponents” (Chambers & Partners, 2025).
Highly supportive of all forms of non-court dispute resolution, Dornier is regularly instructed to act on behalf of clients at round tables meetings, private FDR’s, early neutral evaluations and arbitrations. She has recently qualified as a children law arbitrator and looks forward to supporting parties in reaching non-court based resolutions.
Dornier welcomes instructions under the Direct Access scheme, providing advice and representation direct to the public.
Clerks
Jayne Pye
Call: 1995 (solicitor 1985)
Jayne has over 30 years experience of practising family law. She was a partner and head of the family law department in a large firm of solicitors before being called to the Bar in 1995. As well as undertaking cases for clients, Jayne sits as a Deputy District Judge and Recorder determining private and public law family cases. She was Chair of the Yorkshire Family Law Bar Association for 10 years.
Clerks
Zira Hussain
Call: 1998
Zira Hussain
LLB (Hons ) Law
Legal Aid Supplier Number 305RU
Contact
T: 01274 722 560 or 0113 246 2600
Zira has practised exclusively in family law for over 20 years and has extensive court experience. Her areas of practice are private and public law children, financial remedies, domestic abuse, forced marriage and honour based violence.
Zira is a fearless, tenacious, conscientious and hardworking barrister. She is known as a fighter and is a strong advocate. She is renowned for her thorough preparation and detailed knowledge of case papers. She combines strong client care skills with robust and effective advocacy. Zira has a reputation for always going the extra mile.
Reputation
Zira is ranked in the Legal 500 for both Financial Remedy and Children work. Legal 500 states the following:
2025:
‘A practical barrister and persuasive advocate who is incisive in cross examination’
‘A very personable junior, organised and has a great manner with clients’
2024:
‘Zira is utterly unflappable. She is a stalwart advocate who remains self assured in court’
‘Zira has an exceptional grasp of the facts in a case. Her advocacy is conducted with meticulous preparation’
‘The tenacious Zira Hussain has experience in advising on pre – nuptial agreements’
2018 “She has a great bedside manner with clients”
2019 “Very enthusiastic and a dynamic cross examiner”
Zira was shortlisted for the Family Law Award at the Yorkshire Legal awards 2021, 2022 and 2024. The Yorkshire Legal Awards is the pinnacle of professional excellence, showcasing the best and brightest lawyers, practices and firms the region has to offer.
Zira won the Family Law Award at the Yorkshire Legal Awards 2022.
Zira was also shortlisted at the Yorkshire Legal Awards 2024 in the category of Yorkshire Lawyer of the Year.
Zira was shortlisted at the prestigious Lexis Nexis Family Law Awards 2022 in the category of Family Law Junior Barrister of the Year. The Family Law Awards have firmly established themselves as a highly prestigious event, celebrating the success and achievements of family lawyers and the vital contribution that they make to society.
Zira was nominated by then Legal Services Commission for inclusion in the prestigious Muslim Women Power List 2009. The list was run and devised by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission in partnership with The Times to commend achievements of Muslim women at the top of their profession or on their way to the top and aimed to highlight their contribution to the socio-economic society.
Zira was also nominated for the European Muslim Women of Influence List 2010. Finalists were announced at a gala event in Spain which tied in with the EU Presidency.
Zira has featured in her former university’s marketing and promotional materials. Zira was featured in the Eastern Eye as an inspirational woman. Zira has also featured in a digital magazine as an empowered woman.
Zira accepts instructions to sit as a Private FDR Judge.
Expertise
Private Law Children
Zira has extensive experience in conducting hearings relating to all aspects of private law children proceedings including child arrangements orders, prohibited steps orders and specific issue orders. Zira represents mothers, fathers, grandparents and other family members. Zira also represents children through their Guardian ad Litem. Zira has a particular interest in applications for leave to remove children from the jurisdiction and applications under the Hague Convention.
Zira has been involved in cases involving complex cultural and jurisdictional issues. She has conducted lengthy finding of fact hearings in these cases. Zira is sought after counsel for findings of fact hearings due to her dynamic cross examination skills. Zira has interest in cases involving religious upbringing of children. She was led by a Silk in a complex case where the court was being asked to determine the religious upbringing of a child Re N (A Child: Religion: Jehovah’s Witness) 2011 EWHC 3737
Public Law Children
Zira has vast experience in complex and difficult public law cases. She represents local authorities, parents, Children’s Guardians and extended family members at all court levels. Zira has a detailed knowledge of the children and adoption legislation and associated case law. She has been instructed in proceedings involving the most serious types of non accidental injuries, neglect, physical, emotional and sexual abuse. Zira is well respected for the quality of her court performance and robust advocacy where necessary.
Zira has interest and experience in matters involving complex medical evidence, mental health issues, problems associated with addiction and cognitive impairment. Zira has experience of acting for those with complex psychiatric issues. She is known for her ability to engage those with complex problems and her commitment to ensuring their rights are properly recognised. She remains committed to representing the most vulnerable. Zira’s approach to vulnerable clients is always sympathetic and sensitive.
Zira has experience advising and representing parties in applications involving children giving evidence. She is also experienced in cross examining children and vulnerable witnesses. Zira has significant experience in cross examining expert witnesses including psychiatrists and psychologists.
Financial Remedies
Zira undertakes all types of work relating to resolving financial issues between divorcing couples. She represents husband, wives and intervenors in proceedings in the Family Court and the High Court.
Zira has experience in dealing with straightforward to complex financial remedy cases including applications under s37 Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, third parties claiming beneficial interests in matrimonial assets, land and foreign property and maintenance pending suit applications.
Zira has experience of dealing with cases involving variation and capitalisation of maintenance, applications to set aside consent orders, appeals in financial remedy proceedings and applications under Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989. Zira has experience in cases involving consideration and drafting of pre nuptial agreements. She was instructed to draft a pre nuptial agreement for a premier league professional footballer.
Zira is well placed due to her experience in the field of private law children matters to deal with those cases where issues of child arrangements are tied up with the issue of what orders the court should make in respect of the former matrimonial home.
Zira welcomes instructions at the early stages of the proceedings and would wish to see a case through from the First Directions Appointment to Final Hearing in order to provide informed and focused representation at every stage in the proceedings. She will advise realistically, practically and negotiate a settlement where it is in her client’s interests to do so. She will always advise on commerciality of proceedings
Domestic Abuse
Zira is renowned for her experience in the area of domestic abuse. She has the ability to deal with complex and serious domestic abuse cases. Zira represents both alleged victims and alleged perpetrators of such abuse and has conducted lengthy findings of fact hearings. Zira has extensive experience of applications under the Family Law Act 1996 including contested non molestation orders and occupation orders. Zira is known for her meticulous preparation and being able to quickly and expertly get to the core of the dispute and ensure her client receives the best and most robust representation.
Outside of work Zira has chaired a workshop which investigated the experiences of BAME women in accessing legal aid in domestic abuse cases. The ultimate aim of the consultation was to influence proposed legal aid reforms and gather ideas to improve access to legal aid and access to information. The consultation resulted in the publication of a national report titled “ Report on Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Women, Domestic Abuse and Access to Legal Aid”
Forced Marriage and Female Genital Mutilation
Zira has particular interest in applications for forced marriage protection orders and female genital mutilation orders having advised and represented local authorities and the police in making applications as well as representing respondents to such applications.
Notable Cases
Re N ( A Child: Religion: Jehovah’s Witness) 2011 EWHC 3737
Clerks
Ian Miller
Call: 1999
Ian Miller
LLB (Hons) (Pg Dip) (FLBA)
Legal Aid Supplier Number 385FD
Contact
T: 01274 722 560 or 0113 246 2600
Ian is a renowned matrimonial finance and family trusts/TLATA Barrister. Ian also accept instructions in:
Breach of Confidence (and confidentiality)
Misuse of Private Information and how to protect privacy
Defamation (libel and slander)
Advice on publications, press releases and websites to as to ensure privacy is maintained, consents received, and that material published is not defamatory or in breach of copyright.
Ian is able to undertake private FDR hearings for Trusts of Land proceedings, Inheritance Act proceedings and Financial Remedy cases.
Reputation
In 2014, Ian joined the University of Bradford as a lecturer whilst maintaining his practice in Chambers. During his time at Bradford Ian set up the School of Law’s first Law Clinic, acted as Deputy Head for 3 years and was the Director of Clinical Legal Education. Ian resigned his associate professorship at Bradford in 2022 and was invited to head the School of Law and at Bloomsbury Institute London, where he was also appointed Director of the Institute’s Law Clinic programmes.
During Ian’s time in higher education he taught a wide range of core legal subjects including tort, family law, ethics and legal skills.
Ian enjoys teaching and is available to run training courses, upskilling and refresher courses for law firms in addition to more traditional seminars.
In the summer of 2024, Ian returned to practice full time.
Expertise
Family/Civil
Ian has worked in the field of matrimonial finance and TOLATA his entire career, but has focused principally on matrimonial finance and TOLATA since 2014, together with some civil/common law and 1975 Act cases. During his years of a mixed practice Ian undertook a broad range of civil and family work including child protection, professional negligence, Land Tribunal cases, employment law and general common law. These previous practice areas provide Ian with a good grounding in other areas of law that regularly pervade into complex financial remedy cases involving partnerships, third party property ownership, companies, and tracing.
Ian is able to undertake private FDR hearings for Trusts of Land proceedings, Inheritance Act proceedings and Financial Remedy cases. .
Sports Law
Having taught for several years at the University of Bradford, Ian has developed an expertise in defamation, privacy law, misuse of private information, breach of confidence and media law.
Ian developed modules on privacy and defamation law and taught law and media in the digital age to both undergraduate and post graduate students. Having now returned to full time practice with chambers, Ian is now accepting instructions in the following areas of media Law:
• Breach of Confidence (and confidentiality)
• Misuse of Private Information and how to protect privacy
• Defamation (libel and slander)
• Advice on publications, press releases and websites to as to ensure privacy is maintained, consents received, and that material published is not defamatory or in breach of copyright.
Notable Cases
B v B [2022]
Third generation family farm. Assets circa £2.5m gross. Wife well into retirement. Issue as to how the sharing principle should apply to the assets which were brought into the marriage solely by the H. Agreed that the H would pass the farm to the parties’ son. Matter compromised with the W receiving 25% of the assets.
S v S [2022]
In addition to a modest family home, the parties assets were comprised of a significant pension held by one party and valuable commercial land owned by the other with another family member and which was inherited. Should the court depart from equality after a very long marriage on the grounds that half the assets were inherited? If the party holding the inherited land could or should sell the land in question. How should the pension be divided? Matter compromised. Sharing was to apply to the inherited wealth given the length of the marriage (DJ). The inherited land could be released at some point when the party desired it and could be seen as akin to a pension fund for that party. Proceeds of sale of FMH sufficient to house both parties modestly if divided equally. Small pension share required to equalise capital position. 50:50 division of the whole of the assets was appropriate notwithstanding the inherited wealth.
M v C [2016]
Proprietary estoppel – declaration of trust – whether the court may vary the terms of a declaration of beneficial interest set out in a signed declaration on the grounds that the parties had entered into an explicit oral agreement post dating the original declaration.
M had agreed to re-mortgage their jointly owned home in order that C could inject capital into his business in order to support and promote it. The court found that the parties had explicitly agreed that C’s share in the home would be reduced accordingly, and that C would account to M for the benefit he had received on any future sale. The court finding also that C had agreed to meet the additional sums due each month under the mortgage as a result of the borrowing.
Court declaring that M was entitled to the same amount that C had borrowed as a first deduction before dividing the proceeds of sale equally between them. Hameed v Qayyam [2009] EWCA Civ 352 and Clarke v Meadus [2007] EWHC 352 relied upon. (a transcript of the judgment is available). Permission to appeal dismissed by the Court of Appeal.
Clerks
Joanne O’Shea
Call: 2000
Joanne O’Shea practises exclusively in Family Law.
Joanne is an experienced family practitioner who is regularly instructed in cases of considerable complexity covering the full spectrum of Children Act proceedings where she represents parents/ grandparents and guardians ad litem. Joanne has specialised in Children Act proceedings for over 15 years and has an insightful and sensitive approach while robustly representing her clients to achieve the best outcomes.
Joanne is able to distil the real issues in a case quickly and is an accomplished negotiator achieving sensible realist outcomes for clients both by agreement and via litigation.
There is a frequent overlap between Children Act and criminal proceedings where Joanne’s previous practice in crime gives her further insight and advantage.
Joanne is a well-respected member of the Family Team at Broadway House Chambers; she has extensive and broad experience in terms of her legal knowledge and client care. Joanne has a depth and breadth of experience in terms of range of cases undertaken and is able to draw on and share those necessary insights when advising clients.
Joanne’s experience as a practitioner enables her to be incisive, practical and pragmatic in order to resolve cases effectively for clients including resolving matters by way of agreed orders with represented and non-represented parties.
Joanne is registered with the Bar Council to undertake direct access work.
Clerks
Helen Williams
Call: 2000
Helen is a specialist in both public law and private children law. Helen is known for being ‘down to earth’ and ‘pragmatic’ and is highly sought after by local solicitors.
Clerks
Kiran Dhillon
Call: 2005
Kiran Dhillon previously practised in London and joined chambers in 2012. Since then, she has built up a strong practice in the following areas: Family and Civil law.
Clerks
Jake Ellis
Call: 2010
Jake has very quickly established himself as a leading financial remedy and property specialist and as “a name to watch by instructing solicitors”.
Jake is considered to be well versed in matrimonial finance cases involving trusts, business/commercial interests, inherited wealth and farming assets and is regularly instructed to act in cases of significant value.
As the Head of the Business, Property and Probate Team, Jake’s finance and property practice extends to complex disputes between unmarried couples pursuant to the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 as well as claims arising out of the Inheritance (Provision for Family & Dependants) Act 1975.
Clerks
Camilla Bonifai
Call: 2019
Camilla commenced pupillage in September 2023 under the supervision of Paul Smith and has since gained further experience in different areas of Civil, Employment, Immigration and Regulatory Law. Camilla started her tenancy as a Barrister at Broadway House in September 2024.
Camilla is on Panel for the Government Legal Department’s Junior Junior Scheme. Camilla accepts Employment, Immigration and Civil instructions.
Prior to pupillage, Camilla had a civil litigation background, having worked in the civil courts as a County Court advocate (employed by an international firm) and having handled Claimant insurer-funded cases as a paralegal at a national solicitors’ firm.
Clerks
Danny Smith
Call: 2023
Danny Smith is an employment law specialist with a growing personal injury practice.
Having been admitted as a solicitor in 2016, Danny possesses prior experience within these areas before transitioning to the Bar. Consequently, he is well-versed in working with lay clients beyond the confines of the courtroom, prioritising excellent client care.
Danny has extensive experience dealing with all matters of employment law. Before joining Broadway House Chambers, Danny was employed as a solicitor advocate at a litigation firm in Leeds dealing exclusively with employment law litigation matters. He has experience of drafting complicated statements of case and carrying out advocacy at the employment tribunal including at both preliminary hearing and multi-day final hearings.
Danny is building a specialist personal injury practice and has already gained significant experience advising, drafting opinions, and representing clients at infant settlement approval hearings, Stage 3 hearings, and fast-track trials.
“Danny is a tenacious advocate with a real attention to detail. He grasps complex matters quickly and with alacrity. His pragmatic and down-to-earth style puts clients at ease. I have no trouble whatsoever in recommending him” - Toby Pochron, Director, Freeths
“It is always a pleasure working with Danny on Tribunal matters. He brings an exceptional level of care and attention to detail to every case, ensuring that nothing is overlooked. I highly recommend Danny and look forward to working with him again in the future” - Rinew Legal
Outside of work, Danny enjoys weight training, gaming, and spending quality time with his young family. He is also an avid Sheffield United supporter.
Clerks
Talia Meer
Call: 2024
Talia joined Broadway House Chambers as a tenant in September 2025 following the successful completion of a busy pupillage under the supervision of Dornier Whittaker and Kerry Barker.
Talia accepts instructions in all Family Law matters including financial proceedings, private and public children proceedings and injunctions.
Clerks