Sian Churchill
I joined the Family Team at Crane & Staples in May 2019. I became a Senior Associate Solicitor in April 2022 and Head of the Public Law Care team in September 2022.
I qualified as a solicitor in 2014, and since then I have specialised in Children Law and Domestic Abuse matters including:
- Representing parents, grandparents and other family members in care proceedings in cases involving allegations of non-accidental injuries, sexual abuse, domestic abuse, drug and alcohol misuse, neglect, mental health concerns, and lack of capacity, amongst others.
- Representing parents in contesting adoption applications.
- Representing prospective adopters in contested adoption applications.
- Representing parents in private law Children Act proceedings, including Child Arrangements Orders (previously contact and residence), Prohibited Steps Orders, Specific Issue Orders and Wardship.
- Assisting victims of domestic abuse and representing them in obtaining a Non-Molestation Order to protect them.
I am passionate about providing vulnerable clients the best representation available. I work with local support services to ensure that this happens. I am a member of Resolution, which means I will try to resolve matters with an amicable approach wherever possible.
Awards and Accreditations
I am an Accredited Resolution Specialist in Private Law and Public Law Children Act matters.
In 2022, I was part of the team of barristers and solicitors to win the 'Family Law Case of the Year' Award at the Lexis Nexis Family Law Awards, for our work on the ground-breaking Supreme Court case, H-W (Children).
In 2023, I won the Hertfordshire Law Society Award for Excellence in Client Service.
I am a Recommended Lawyer in the Legal 500 2025 and an Associate to Watch in Chambers UK 2025.
In October 2024, I was announced as a nominee for Solicitor of the Year at the Inspirational Women in Law Awards 2024.
Memberships
- Resolution - You can find out more about the Resolution Code of Practice here.
- Resolution Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee - Disabled Lawyers subcommitee.
- The Law Society's Disabled Solicitors Network
- Hertfordshire Law Society
As part of my role in the Resolution EDI Committee, I was invited by The Baroness Shami Chakrabarti CBE PC to attend the House of Lords in September 2024, to celebrate the launch of the Diversity, Inclusion and Law Report.
Herts Chamber of Commerce 2023 Inspiring Herts Awards at Harry Potter Studios
Reported Cases
- Father v Mother & Anor [2024] EWHC 2578 (Fam) (02 August 2024)
- H-W (Care Proceedings: Further Fact-Finding Hearing)
- H-W (Children) (No 2) [2022] UKSC 17 On appeal from: [2021] EWCA Civ 1451. More information about this Supreme Court case can be found here.
- H-W (Children: Proportionality) [2021] EWCA Civ 1451 (07 October 2021)
- S (A Child: Adequacy of Reasoning), Re [2019] EWCA Civ 1845 (31 October 2019)
- EY (Fact-Finding Hearing) [2023] EWCA Civ 1241 (27 October 2023)
- UDTQ, Re (No Adequate Care Planning) [2024] EWFC 19 (31 January 2024)
- U, Re (A Child: Deprivation of Liberty) [2024] EWHC 228 (Fam) (02 February 2024)
Outside the office
I love attending music concerts with my husband and ‘music’ concerts with friends and my sister. I am a sucker for punishment and enjoy true crime documentaries, and Drag Queen shows.
I completed the Herts Young Homeless Fire Walk in 2021 and the London Legal Walkies with my wonderful dog, Seymour, in September 2024.
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Sian Churchill is a very conscientious lawyer who goes the extra mile for her clients. Her knowledge of the law is impeccable, and she has a knack of anticipating any curve balls in a case to ensure she is always ready to deal with them.
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Sian Churchill – superb, knows her stuff, great client care.
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Excellent solicitors have really helped me through the darkest time in my life. Great people and do their job spectacularly! Very happy and very confident with these fighting my corner.
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I can’t thank you enough for your help and support throughout the proceedings. I had to access legal aid in the past and felt I was just a number but I feel I have been really supported by you and your team.
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Sian, I would like to thank you and your team for everything you have done helping me with this court process and for representing me I will definitely be recommending you to others if they ask
- Chambers UK 2025
- Inspirational Women in Law - Solicitor of the Year Nominee 2024
- Legal 500
- Resolution Specialist
- Resolution