Emma Taylor

Partner
Head of Family

T: 01273 956283
E: [email protected]

Emma is a Partner at GoodLaw Solicitors and is a Chartered Legal Executive Litigator. Emma obtained her Law Degree from the University of Kent in 2006 and has worked in family law since 2007.

Emma has practised in Brighton & Hove for almost twenty years and has strong local knowledge and connections amongst fellow professionals, services and groups. Emma heads up the Family Department at GoodLaw Solicitors LLP and specialises in cases involving children, including contact and residence disputes, domestic abuse and coercive control, relocation cases and matters involving social services.

In care proceedings, Emma represents parents, grandparents and joined parties. Emma is an experienced specialist in cases concerning complex medical evidence relating to Non-Accidental Injuries, fractures, genetic abnormalities and sexual abuse cases where there are virological issues. With a thriving practice, Emma has acted on a number of recently reported cases.

In children disputes, Emma has specific expertise in cases involving international/jurisdictional aspects including Hague and Non-Hague abduction cases, child welfare or safeguarding issues and also those where clients have specific learning needs or there are Court of Protection issues.

Emma is a specialist in cases involving allegations of complex coercive control and historic and significant domestic abuse. Emma has strong links with local and national domestic abuse services and regularly accepts referrals from IDVAs, refuges and support workers.

Emma is also a Resolution Accredited Specialist in private law children and TOLATA cases (Trust of Land) where there are property disputes between unmarried couples and frequently deal with complicated disputes on separation involving multiple properties and assets. Emma does undertake matrimonial work generally in cases where there are also associated children issues.

In addition to this, Emma is a Family Law Mediator having undertaken her training with Resolution in 2021.

Emma’s objective is to achieve the best possible outcome for her clients, to minimise conflict, to be transparent with advice and on costs and run her cases with a focus on the best interests of any relevant children.

Emma is a member of Resolution and the Association of Lawyers for Children, a committee member for the Sussex Family Justice Board and for the Quality Circle and a contributor to and member of thefamilylawpanel.org Emma has contributed to a book published by Only Mums & Dads called 101 Questions Answered About Separating with Children, which can be found here: https://www.onlymums.org/information/101-questions-answered-about-separating-with-children. Emma is also a voluntary supervising lawyer at the University of Sussex Family Law Clinic.

In her personal life, Emma is an avid lover of the outdoors, camping holidays with her son and dogs, and keeps active as netball team captain, playing with Regional Team, Mavericks and is a qualified assistant netball coach.

Notable cases

A v R (Appeal: Unsupervised Contact Prior to Determination of Allegations: PD12J) – Find Case Law – The National Archives

Emma was instructed on appeal by the mother following an interim hearing at which progression of contact was permitted before any allegations of domestic abuse had been determined by the court. The appeal was successful with the court finding that contact should not have progressed to unsupervised and the original supervised contact was restored.

Brighton and Hove City Council v AB & Ors [2025] EWFC 443 (B) (12 November 2025)

Emma was involved in a complex case concerning historic allegations of sexual abuse, where evidence had to be carefully and forensically managed due to the time that had elapsed and the vulnerabilities of the witnesses in the case.

AM (aged 7 years), Re [2025] EWFC 409 (B)

Emma represented the Father in an appeal concerning interim orders made at a First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointment. The case centred on an Interim Care Order, a Prohibited Steps Order and an attached power of arrest made without the Father having legal representation at the earlier hearing.

On appeal, the court found there were no reasonable grounds to justify the Interim Care Order, that the Prohibited Steps Order had been made without proper welfare analysis, and that the failure of the lower court to give a judgment amounted to a procedural irregularity. The appeal was allowed in full and all orders were set aside. This case was also highlighted in The Times.

Re X & Y (Intermediary: Methods and Approach) In 2024 FAMILY EWHC 906

Emma Taylor was instructed for a recent case, heard by Mr. Justice Williams regarding intermediaries. This is a great, informative read.

WSCC v. MM, FM & GSM and BQM [2023] EWFC 88 & WSCC v. MM, FM, GSM and BQM & PGM [2023] EWFC 28

Emma was instructed in complex Non-Accidental Injury care proceedings concerning two children. There was extremely complex medical evidence throughout the case. Ultimately, no findings were made against Emma’s client and the children were rehabilitated to the care of the family.

WSCC v K [2022] EWFC 170

Emma was instructed by the Official Solicitor on behalf of the Respondent Mother in care proceedings where complex issues arose about what orders should be made and which legal tests were met due to the sad circumstances of the case.

F v M [2022] EWFC 74

Emma was instructed in an appeal within private law children proceedings and was successful in appealing the decision of a Deputy District judge to exclude evidence in respect of non-sexual touching in public from the scope of a fact-finding hearing that the court had deemed necessary in respect of allegations of domestic abuse and coercive and controlling behaviour. The case built on the recent case of Re HN and JK as to the approach to be adopted in cases before the Family Court in which allegations of domestic abuse and coercive control were made.

Re X [2022]

Emma was instructed within a long-running care case by a mother where findings were made by the court of sexual abuse perpetrated by a family member against a child. The case involved significant, complex and conflicting medical evidence at Fact Finding stage whereby the court criticised one of the experts for their approach. In addition, pursuant to a further allegation by the child post the first fact-finding, a second fact-finding was necessary. Subsequent appeal applications were submitted and the matter concluded with a Supervision Order and Child Arrangements Order.

B v. D [2018]

Emma was instructed in a multiple property Trust of Land and Appointment of Trustee case where there was a dispute between the cohabitees following their separation. The case was litigated but a settlement was ultimately achieved at mediation saving significant litigation stress, time and costs for the client.

Re W [2017]

Emma was instructed in a case by grandparents who wished to obtain a child arrangements order in respect of their granddaughter following her mother’s death and the father’s unilateral removal of the child from the grandparents’ care. Emma sought an urgent return of the children and was successful in the parties’ application for a “lives with” order granting her clients, the grandparents, parental responsibility for the child.