Call: 2019 im@onepumpcourt.co.uk
Specialist in
Experience
“Imogen is a strong advocate who will fight her client’s case in court. she is adept acting for vulnerable clients with different needs and complex backgrounds” – Legal 500 ranked “rising star” at the Family Bar (children and domestic abuse)).
Imogen is ranked by Legal 500 as a Rising Star at the Family Bar (children and domestic abuse).
She also has a growing practice in court of protection. Imogen accepts instructions in children law (public and private). She is praised for her approachability, practicality, client-care skills and tenacity.
Imogen has acted as sole counsel in care, private children proceedings and international cases at the High Court. In the latter case, she has been against silks and leading juniors. She has also been led on complex cases.
She is highly adept at dealing with complex cases involving vulnerable clients and their needs, including those with mental health conditions and cognitive difficulties. She is currently learning British Sign Language and is developing a specialism working with Deaf clients. She is knowledgeable in her understanding of the Deaf community and culture, being able to empathise with clients and strategically advise on the best forms of support to meet their needs.
She is a go-to counsel for cases concerning honour-based abuse and child abuse linked to faith and belief. She has been interviewed on BBC Radio London in relation to FGM and she writes and educates on the topic, including presenting at NGOs, charities, to lawyers and for other stakeholders. She accepts instructions in relation to honour-based abuse in the field of family and court of protection.
She has been made a Panel C Counsel member for the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
Imogen has previously represented clients in the First-Tier Tribunal and Upper-Tier Tribunal in asylum appeals, indefinite leave to remain appeals, and immigration bail applications. She has successfully drafted grounds of appeal against First-Tier Tribunal decisions. Imogen is experienced in successfully representing clients in immigration bail applications. As a result of her immigration experience, Imogen is uniquely placed to act in family cases which involve immigration law issues. She has a particular understanding of the obstacles that migrant clients face in the family law context and can advise on appropriate support networks to assist them.
Family Law – Public Children Law
She has a thriving care practice, representing parents and Guardians at all stages of proceedings, including Fact-Finding hearings and Final hearings. She has acted in a range of cases, including involving allegations of non-accidental injuries, child abuse, honour-based abuse, neglect and substance abuse. Imogen is recognised as an advocate who strategically advises her lay and professional clients throughout the court process.
She has been sole counsel and led on multiple complex Fact-Finding hearings and Final hearings. This has included being led on a complex four week Fact-Finding Hearing, where she represented the mother. At the conclusion of those proceedings, the youngest children stayed with the mother under a supervision order as forwarded by her team.
Family Law – Private Children Law
Imogen has experience representing parents when there are allegations of domestic abuse and has developed a particular specialism representing alleged victims of domestic abuse. She has represented parties at all stages of proceedings.
In one recent Fact-Finding where Imogen represented the mother, over 20 findings were made against the father including physical, emotional, and sexual abuse and coercive and controlling behaviour towards the mother. The Court also found that the father had been physically and verbally abusive towards the children.
Imogen has also represented parents in cases concerning allegations of alienating behaviours. She has been led on a complex and long-standing case concerning alienating behaviours, where at the Fact-Finding, several findings were made against the other parent. In these contexts, Imogen has a reputation for providing realistic advice and fighting tenaciously for her client’s interests.
She acted in private cases where there is local authority involvement.
International Family Law
Imogen has represented parents and guardians in the High Court, notably in cases with international elements such as abduction and a parent being stranded abroad. She has acted in inherent jurisdiction cases before the High Court.
Court of Protection and Deprivation of Liberty
Imogen has a growing court of protection practice, and accepts instructions on behalf of all clients, including Local Authorities, Official Solicitors and interested parties. Instructing solicitors have commented upon her pragmatic and strategic approach to cases whilst also being friendly and very easy to work with. She has acted in cases where P’s circumstances and needs have varied substantially.
Imogen’s dual practice as a family and court of protection practitioner enables her to be a knowledgeable advocate where the two areas overlap. She is particularly skilled in cases where a child is being deprived of their liberty.
Other
Imogen was counsel on a large scale public inquiry in 2023. Imogen has been an Associate Lecturer at Goldsmith’s University since September 2022.
Prior to joining the Bar, Imogen was an assistant caseworker at Cromwell Wilkes, working on complex immigration applications dealing with a range of issues, such as asylum, family and human rights and indefinite leave to remain as a victim of domestic violence. Imogen volunteered at Bail for Immigration Detainees and the National Centre for Domestic Violence.
Imogen has a particular interest in honour-based abuse, having volunteered at the National FGM Centre. In that role, she conducted research to be used for professional training programmes. She also advised on FGM law. During her experience, she worked with a number of vulnerable clients.
Imogen was awarded the Peter Duffy Scholarship from Lincoln’s Inn, which gave her the opportunity to work in the UK division of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, where she reviewed substantive applications. She also conducted research for the President of the Court. She has been a headnote contributor for the European Human Rights Reports (Thomson Reuters).
Recorded cases
R v M & Ors (Hague Convention: Withdrawal of Application and Art 16 (Parental Responsibility)) [2024] EWHC 720 (Fam)
Recent Articles
R v Noor: the Second Conviction under the Female Genital Mutilation act. Why is it significant? (Family Law news), available at: https://www.familylaw.co.uk/news_and_comment/r-v-noor–the-second-conviction-under-the-female-genital-mutilation-act.-why-is-it-significant
Zero Tolerance: Fighting FGM in the courts. Available at: https://www.onepumpcourt.co.uk/news/zero-tolerance-fighting-fgm-in-the-courts/
Ethiopia still not safe for Oromo liberation front supporters, Country Guidance confirms.
(Free Movement), available at: https://freemovement.org.uk/ethiopia-still-not-safe-for-oromo-liberation-front-supporters-country-guidance-confirms/
What the directories say
She is accomplished at the efficient consideration of new cases, having been noted to “understand the complexity of the parties’ dynamics very quickly despite being thrown into the deep end of this case”.
“[Imogen] proved to be a great support and advocate for our client at a very taxing and stressful final hearing… The client was delighted by the work we undertook and Imogen’s representation at the final hearing.”
“Imogen is a strong advocate who will fight her client’s case in court. she is adept acting for vulnerable clients with different needs and complex backgrounds”
Education
Bar Professional Training Course, City Law School (Very Competent)
LLM, UCL (Distinction)
Law BA, Clare College, University of Cambridge (First Class)
Classics BA, University of Nottingham (First Class)
Professional Memberships
ILPA
FLBA
COPBA
Lincoln’s Inn
Languages
British Sign Language (basic)
Awards
Sir Peter Duffy Scholarship, Lincoln’s Inn
Lord Denning Scholarship, Lincoln’s Inn
City Law School BPTC Scholarship
Honorary Scholarship, Clare College, Cambridge University
College Prize, Clare College, Cambridge University
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
— Read moreImogen Mellor's recent Family Law article explores the case of R v Noor (Central Criminal Court, 16 February 2024)
Area of Law: Crime
— Read moreIn AAR (OLF – MB confirmed) Ethiopia CG [2022] UKUT 1 (IAC), the Upper Tribunal has confirmed that the situation in Ethiopia has not changed substantially enough to allow a departure from previous cou
Area of Law: Personal Immigration Asylum Deportation
— Read more