Jasmine Kumar
BarristerSpecialising in family law, appearing in a range of courts on the North Eastern and Midlands circuits as well as the Court of Appeal.
Jasmine trained with Her Majesty’s Court Service as a Legal Adviser to the Derbyshire Magistrates in 2003 and was admitted as a solicitor in 2006, where she moved into private practiced in criminal law.
Jasmine obtained Higher Rights of Audience in All Proceedings in 2007, Duty Solicitor status in 2008 and was called to the Bar in 2009 at Grays’ Inn.
Between 2007 and 2020 Jasmine prosecuted for a variety of government agencies including the CPS, but mainly defended in serious offences tried before the Crown Court and appeared several times at the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) in relation to appeals against sentences.
Jasmine is accredited by the Bar Council to undertake Public Access work and authorised to conduct litigation.
Public Law
Jasmine has been instructed in substantial cases that have involved lengthy contested final hearings, including a VHCC case involving an international element across 3 countries in Europe. Jasmine has been involved in cases where final Care, Placement & Adoption orders, Special Guardianship orders have been made and revoked.
Jasmine has also been instructed in cases involving Forced Marriage Protection orders and FGM Prevention orders, which have involved obtaining expert reports in cultural practices across the continent of Africa.
Jasmine undertook a 9-month placement as in house counsel with a local authority in South Yorkshire and regularly appeared in the Family court at Sheffield.
Public law cases have often involved children living in environments where they have been subjected to serious sexual abuse, serious harm by drug poisoning, non- accidental injuries, sustained neglect, emotional and psychological harm often causing irreparable damage.
Most of the cases Jasmine has been instructed in have been subject to concurrent police investigations and criminal proceedings. Jasmine remains astute in relation to criminal law and can cut through police evidence with ease.
Private Law
Jasmine’s principal practice is in private law cases involving Child Arrangements orders, Prohibited Steps orders, Specific Issues orders and Injunctive orders.
Cases often involve allegations involving domestic abuse including allegations of sexual and physical violence, controlling and coercive behaviour, psychological abuse and financial abuse. Cases often require further scrutiny by the court by way of finding of fact hearings in which evidence is called and challenged by the parties.
Jasmine’s previous jury trial experience equips her with a good measure of effective cross examination, and she also appears on the list of court appointed Qualified Legal Representatives for non-represented parties due to her extensive experience of cross examination and representing vulnerable adults and children.
Jasmine is usually instructed in cases of a complex nature which are often quasi care cases, cases where parents are in intractable disputes, cases involving an international element such as the relocation of children outside of the jurisdiction and the temporary removal of children outside of the jurisdiction to countries that are often experiencing the remnants of war and on-going political instability.
Jasmine is professional, yet grounded; she has a strong instinct in detecting those individuals that may have neurodiverse challenges as witnesses and has been instrumental over the years in ensuring that intermediaries or psychologists have undertaken a professional evaluation of her lay clients in order that her clients are able to have the opportunity to give their “best” evidence.
Jasmine is of dual heritage is very much in tune with clients and cases involving alternative cultural issues.
Significant Cases
Re F
Instructed on a VHCC case; represented the father an Albanian national married to a Romanian national. Both their children (Albanian and Romanian subjects) were removed under an Interim Care Order as the mother had caused non accidental injury to her daughter and she had undergone sustained neglect and psychological abuse. Baby boy, my client’s son was also removed, they were placed together in foster care. This was an international case involving family assessments from Greece, Romania and Albania regarding potential alternative carers for the children. The mother was convicted of assaulting her daughter and sentenced to a suspended prison sentence. Both parents were subject to negative parenting assessments, the foster carers wished to be special guardians to both children. I acted until the Issues Resolution hearing.
Re G
Represented a mother who had a learning disability in a case whereby Final Care and Placement Orders were made and the parents sought return of her son. The case involved the instruction of a second Independent Social Worker, a Clinical Psychologist and an Intermediary. The Placement Order was revoked after a contested hearing involving cross examination of the ISW and a Reunification Plan was put in place for the child to return to his parents. This case was complex in as much as it involved two separate Local Authorities as the parents had since moved after the initial Placement and Final Care Order was made and had a subsequent child who was within their care. Both Local Authorities had reached different conclusions on whether or not the parents could give the children good enough care.
Re C
Represented a father whereby multiple parents and extended family members were parties and a 5 sibling group were subject to multiple Court Orders including Interim Care Orders; Interim Child Arrangement Orders and Interim Supervision Orders with different carers. The case was listed for a final 8 day composite hearing before a Circuit Judge, my client was defending allegations of non -accidental injuries to his son, the case resolved at trial. The mother accepted causing the child’s injuries. My client maintained his Child Arrangement Order with his son living with him.
Re P
Represented a father, his baby boy was unexpectedly delivered into a toilet basin as the mother stated that she did not know that she was pregnant, child subject to Interim Care Order. The Local Authority alleged a concealed pregnancy as the mother had three children made subject to Adoption before she met my client. Both parents were made subject to a residential placement during the Lockdown period and were housed some 200 miles away from their home. Both parents completed successful PAMS assessments. The parents returned to the community with their son. My client required an intermediary during proceedings due to his previous diagnosis of Autism. The case resolved with an agreed Supervision Order. The Local Authority did not pursue findings against the mother of a concealed pregnancy after the father provided compelling evidence that he nor the mother was aware of the mother’s pregnancy.
Re P
Represented a mother resident in a refuge as her eldest daughter had been subjected to CSE in a different location and the mother had to be re-housed due to her own personal protection from a criminal group. My client’s other 4 children were removed from the refuge under Interim Care Order when the children discovered their mother unconscious after drink and drug use. The Local Authority sought adoption of youngest child aged just 2 years old, the mother opposed the separation of the sibling group and the Court ruled in her favour. Final Care Orders were made and the sibling group remained together. The mother and her daughter gave evidence in criminal proceedings during the on-going family proceedings and was an extremely delicate and emotional client for obvious reasons. I built an excellent working and trusted relationship with the mother over the course of the proceedings.
Re S
Represented a father in private law proceedings whereby 14 allegations were made against him, of which my client contested all allegations. The mother had special measures throughout the 4 days contested hearing before a Recorder. The allegations were complex and involved linked criminal proceedings whereby my client had previously pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice. 11 of the 14 allegations were proved. The father sought contact with this two young children after not seeing them for some 18 months.
