2002 – Silk 2022
1999 – Emmanuel College, Cambridge University, MA (Hons) Social Anthropology
2002 – College of Law, London PGDL & BVC
2003 – Tenant at No 6, Leeds (now Park Square Barristers)
2018 – 2022 – Head of Family Team at Park Square Barristers (Leeds)
2023 Elected as Master of the Bench Middle Temple
Middle Temple
North Eastern Circuit
Family Law Bar Association
Secretary for Middle Temple North Eastern Circuit Society
Trustee North Eastern Circuit Charity Committee
Lawyers for Children Committee
Halo Project Committee
Not Beyond Redemption Volunteer
Appointed as King’s Counsel in March 2022 Charlotte is a specialist Family Law silk.
Public Law – Charlotte specialises in contentious and highly complex cases. She is sought after to represent parents, Children’s Guardians and young people who are competent to instruct their own legal representatives. She has significant experience of long cases involving exceptionally complex medical evidence involving death or catastrophic injuries to a child, non-accidental injuries, fabricated induced illness, honour based abuse, forced marriage, sexual abuse, child exploitation, radicalisation. She has extensive experience of cases involving the most vulnerable clients including those without litigation capacity.
Private Law – Charlotte is experienced in all aspects of extremely difficult disputes about children’s welfare representing parents and children through rule 16.4 Guardians including allegations of domestic abuse and coercive, controlling behaviour, physical, sexual and emotional abuse, neglect of a child or alleged parental / partner abuse and alienation, transfer of residence and contact disputes. She also advises and has experience in fertility law, surrogacy and adoption.
Ranked in Tier 1 for Family and Children Law – The Legal 500 (2023), Band 2 Chambers and Partners (2023).
‘An exceptionally talented and skilled lawyer. Her formidable knowledge, combined with strong intercommunication skills, means clients and judges listen to what she has to say. When she speaks everyone listens.’ – The Legal 500 (2023)
“Charlotte Worsley KC is a well-respected barrister with particular strength in public law matters. She possesses experience in complex children cases involving sexual and physical abuse and severe bodily harm. She is also experienced with complex medical evidence and regularly acts for parents and local authorities. Charlotte is an experienced counsel who presents a formidable challenge to opposing counsel. Charlotte is a highly skilled advocate and can explain complex areas of law to very vulnerable clients. Charlotte is a very experienced, conscientious and hard-working counsel. She is empathetic and therefore particularly good at representing vulnerable clients.” Chambers & Partners (2023)
“Charlotte is at the top of her game. She is an exceptional advocate; precise, thoughtful and knowledgeable. Her client care is second to none especially with vulnerable clients. She commands respect from judges and fellow advocates alike.” – The Legal 500 (2022)
“She is hugely impressive, dedicated to her clients, and very popular with fellow practitioners and judges alike.” “She is a very good advocate with an excellent reputation.” “She is an incredible force to reckon with.” Chambers and Partners (2022)”
“Miss Worsley is highly experienced and is certainly a senior junior locally and in her set. Her role as Head of the Family Team at PSQB is a real credit to her work, practice and her commitment to the team. Miss Worsley goes over and above for her clients. She is a fierce but fair advocate and she is excellent at picking up nuances within the case which can get overlooked.” – The Legal 500 (2021)
“She’s well prepared, always thinks carefully about her case and has good client care.” “She’s exceptional. She has an excellent reputation, whether she is acting for the parent or local authority or child, and she does excellent evaluation of the evidence and the advocacy is spot on. She’s just on point.” – Chambers and Partners (2021)
Charlotte Worsley is regarded as fierce but fair in her advocacy. She is very approachable with a strong reputation. She is a superb communicator, she is a robust advocate whilst remaining sensitive and approachable to lay and professional clients. She frequently deals with cases involving issues of cultural sensitivity, with interpreters and intermediaries to assist clients participate. Charlotte can always be contacted to advise in care proceedings and to assist by telephone and email.
Charlotte regularly delivers Seminars and Lectures, locally and nationally to colleagues, solicitors, professional clients and students.
Many of the cases in which Charlotte appears are unreported to protect the confidentiality of the family and due to ongoing criminal proceedings.