Elizabeth Wark – Ranked: Rising Star- FAMILY: CHILDREN AND DOMESTIC ABUSE - ‘Elizabeth has great communication skills and is very approachable. She is very good at getting to the heart of a case.' Legal 500
Prior to coming to the Bar, Elizabeth practised as a Registered Nurse at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in her hometown of Sydney, Australia. She completed a two-year post-graduate training programme in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
This experience gives Elizabeth a unique insight into complex family problems and the difficulties individuals have in navigating the system when dealing with extreme stress, trauma and mental or physical ill health.
Elizabeth practises across all areas of family law:
- Financial Remedies
- Nuptial Agreements
- Private Children
- Public Children
- Schedule 1 Children Act 1989
- Family Law Act 1996
Elizabeth practises in civil law and chancery:
- Cohabitation / Trusts of Land & Appointment of Trustees Act 1996
- Undue Influence
Seminars
- 2020: 'Forgery: General Principles, Practice and Procedure'
- 2021: Setting Aside a Financial Remedy Order -Where Are We Now? A Look at Current Law and Practice in Light of BT v. CU (2021) EWFC 87
- 2022: Where are we now? The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 & Case Update. Delivered alongside Anushka Kangesu
- 2024: Current Issues in Modest Asset Cases: Part 1. Delivered alongside Laurence Cooper. Considered two issues (i) What’s in the Pot? ‘matrimonialisation’ after Standish v Standish [2024] EWCA 567 and (ii) The ‘Chimera’ Problem - Family Loans & Resources
- Forthcoming - Current Issues in Modest Asset Cases: Part 2. Consideration of (i) Conduct (ii) Costs and (iii) Non-Court Dispute Resolution
Articles
Advocacy
- January 2022 – Vulnerable Witness Training – Family Law Bar Association, London
- March 2022 - Advocacy Skills Workshop - Australian Advocacy Institute, Sydney
- September 2022 - Advanced International Advocacy Course, Keble College, Oxford
- January 2024 - Advanced Trial Advocacy, Australian Bar Association, Sydney
Other Roles
- London Resolution Committee
- 3DJB Marketing Committee
- 3DJB Pupillage Committee
- Elizabeth will be involved in the City University Women in Law Society mooting programme and in their EmpowHER mentorship scheme
Previous Professional & Advocacy Experience
Elizabeth represented Middle Temple Inn at the European Universities Debating Championship in 2017, University College London at the World Universities Debating Championship in 2018, and was secretary of the Middle Temple mooting team at the 2017 Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot Competition.
In 2015-16 whilst undertaking the BPTC Elizabeth volunteered on the Vocalise pro-bono scheme which involved teaching debating in schools and prisons.
Her broad interests are reflected by various summer internships, including at the Bar Pro Bono Unit (now 'Advocate'), Médecins Sans Frontières in Madrid and ACI (The Financial Markets Association).
Elizabeth takes on pro-bono work for Advocate as and when she is able.
Qualifications
Bachelor of Nursing, University of Technology, Sydney
Graduate Diploma in Law, City University, London (Commendation)
Bar Professional Training Course, City University, London (Very Competent)
LLM (International Commercial Law), UCL (Distinction)
Memberships
Honourable Society of Middle Temple
Resolution
Family Law Bar Association
Anglo-Australasian Lawyers Society
Britain-Australia Society
Association of Lawyers for Children
Royal Over-Seas League
Areas of Practice
Family
Domestic Violence
Family Finance
Public Children Law
Private Children Law
Civil
Contract, Company and Commercial
Chancery
Other Interests
Outside of the law, Elizabeth enjoys travel and medium distance running. She ran in the London Landmarks Half Marathon in 2021 to raise money for Advocate.