Coercive Control is defined as an act or pattern of behaviour that may include assault, intimidation, threats, or other acts that can be used to punish, harm, or frighten their victim.

Our department contains specialist advisors who enable victims of coercive control to receive expert advice that many clients have expressed has “saved their lives”.

The family team at Watson Ramsbottom specialise in cases of coercive control in the family court across England and Wales such is their reputation in this area and their unique skill sets have led to an unrivalled niche practice in children act cases involving allegations of coercive control and the most complex areas involving abuse, female genital mutilation, honour based violence, stalking, harassment, cyberstalking, international children cases and child abduction where clients are at extreme risk of homicide.

Director Rachel Horman-Brown was instrumental in the introduction of new Coercive Control legislation which came into force in 2015 and continues to advise government on its implementation. Rachel has also advised the government in Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man in relation to domestic abuse legislation. She continues to win national awards for her work on Coercive Control in family law and authored a highly regarded book designed to help victims in the family courts (See here for Rachel’s full profile).

Rachel and several other members of the department are Resolution Accredited Specialists in the field of Domestic Abuse and Forced marriage and Honour Based Violence.

Domestic violence includes physical, psychological, sexual, financial, and Coercive Control. Coercive Control is now taken much more seriously in the family courts and we often obtain findings of fact that coercive control has occurred and is relevant to the level of contact with children

Our team will ensure that if your situation is urgent you are seen straight away without the need to wait for an appointment. In urgent cases we will also endeavour to get you into Court within 24 hours to obtain the necessary protective orders for yourself and your children.