Experience

Catherine is a specialist family and immigration law barrister.

Catherine represents clients in asylum and human rights claims, including victims of modern slavery, human trafficking and domestic violence. Her expertise in asylum law includes applications by refugees who are stateless or whose nationality is disputed, and issues relating to exclusion from international protection. She has significant experience of family reunion cases.

She has a broad family law practice and accepts instructions in relation to complex private law children matters and public law. She has significant experience in cases that involve allegations of serious domestic abuse and parental alienation. And regularly represents parents in care proceedings including those with cognitive impairments and mental health issues. She successfully represented a client in the High Court relating to the abduction of a child.

Catherine is adept at advising and representing very vulnerable individuals in both jurisdictions.

Before she was called to the Bar, Catherine practised as a solicitor. In 2018 Catherine volunteered with an NGO in Lesvos providing legal advice to asylum-seekers.

News & Cases
news
One Pump Court secures 33 rankings in the Legal 500 UK Bar directory for 2026
We are delighted with the incredible feedback received. Watch our video to see our rankings and quotes.
Justine Fisher, Stephen Knight, Alex Burrett, Eleri Griffiths, Angelina Nicolaou, Catherine Philps, James Anthony Shaw, Daniel Grütters, Roshni Popli, Paramjit Ahluwalia
news
Rachel Francis and Catherine Philps appointed as Deputy District Judges
One Pump Court are delighted to announce that Rachel Francis and Catherine Philps have been appointed as Deputy District Judges on the South Eastern Circuit, sitting within the Civil Jurisdiction.
Rachel Francis, Catherine Philps
news
One Pump Court secures 30 rankings in the Legal 500 2025 guide
One Pump Court has secured 30 rankings in the Legal 500 2025 guide! We are delighted with the incredible feedback received. Congratulations to everyone ranked
Daniel Grütters, Sophie Walker, Stephen Knight, Alex Burrett, Angelina Nicolaou, Catherine Philps, James Anthony Shaw, Keelin McCarthy, Paramjit Ahluwalia, Alice Scanlan

Education

BA in Arabic and Persian, University of Oxford, 2012

Graduate Diploma in Law, BPP, 2013 (Distinction)

Legal Practice Course, College of Law, 2014 (Distinction)

Bar Transfer Test, BPP, 2018

For information on hourly rates and fees