Madeleine is a family barrister specialising in all areas of children law, with a particular emphasis on matters involving harm to children. Maddie has broad experience in public, private, international and non-traditional children cases, which includes acting in cases involving fact-findings of sexual abuse or catastrophic physical injury. Maddie has experience in cases involving cross-border disputes, adoption and complex safeguarding matters and has built a strong reputation in cases involving emotional, psychological, sexual or physical harm to children. Maddie has experience in the High Court acting alone and as a junior, and has a growing practice in surrogacy, donor-conceived children and LGBTQ+ issues.

Maddie is committed to the publicly funded bar and accepts instructions in all areas of children law; she is a regular contributor to the Family Law Journal and Family Law Week and previously hosted a fortnightly podcast on current family law issues.

Key cases & testimonials

Re C (A Child) [2025] EWHC 1648 (Fam) 

B (a father) v M (a mother) [2023] EWFC 281 (B) 

B (a father v M (a mother) [2023] EWFC 282 (B) 

A & Ors (Fact Finding) [2020] EWFC 108 

Extensive experience of fact-findings involving significant allegations of abuse to children and parents.

Acted in the High Court for return orders to non-Hague countries including India and Nigeria.

Experience of multi-day, complex fact-findings involving catastrophic injury to children and multiple instruction and cross-examination of experts.

Successfully challenged Cafcass report in relation to child arrangements and relocation.

Acted for LGBTQ+ parents in securing parental orders and protecting legal parenthood.

A brilliant advocate, who is charming with clients and an excellent all round family lawyer. Chambers UK, 2026
Madeleine is forceful, tactical and not someone who concedes points easily, Brilliant at cross-examination, sensible and very organised in her approach, she will undoubtedly be a silk of the future.Chambers UK, 2026
Maddie is exceptional and has a natural way with clients even in very difficult situations. She is fierce on her feet and has an obvious flair for family law and a desire to succeed. Chambers UK, 2026
Madeleine has a flair for family work. She is a strong and sensible advocate on her feet, she offers pragmatic advice, always with a strategy in mind, and clients are reassured by her approach.Legal 500, 2026
Madeleine is brilliant with clients, always incredibly helpful and approachable, and gets to grips quickly with incredibly complex matters.Legal 500, 2025
One of the best for the future.Chambers UK, 2025
Madeleine is incredibly focused and robust in her advocacy.Chambers UK, 2025
She is not afraid to put forward her points and will always fight for her client.Chambers UK, 2025
Madeleine is very approachable and quickly gets to grips with the issues in a case.Chambers UK, 2025
She takes a sensible and pragmatic approach, and is very good on her feet in court.Chambers UK, 2025
Well prepared, great at strategy and an instant hit with clients.Chambers UK, 2025
Forensic in her approach, she leaves no stone unturned.Chambers UK, 2025
Madeleine Whelan is forensic and quick on her feet. It's amazing to watch her cross-examine. Chambers & Partners, 2024
A really excellent, committed advocate. Chambers & Partners - 2024
Madeleine is a fierce defender of her client’s case and is persuasive in her advocacy. Her quick grasp of the facts of a case and ability to assimilate complex information is very impressive.Legal 500, Rising Star - 2024

Areas of expertise

All areas of private and public children law, including e.g. applications under the HFEA 2008; deprivation of liberty applications and international, cross-border applications.

Extensive experience of complex care work, including allegations of serious sexual, physical or psychological harm to children.

Experience in the Family and High Court in relation to international relocation, return and child arrangements.

Further information

BPP Law School, BPTC, 2017

Downing College, University of Cambridge (MA) 2016

Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Erasmus) 2014 – 15

Back to Members