David Horne
Head of FamilySpecialising in all aspects of family law, appearing in a range of courts on the North Eastern and Midlands circuits as well as the Court of Appeal.
Significant Cases
David Horne has developed a strong reputation for his family law practice. He is instructed in both public and private law matters, having particular strengths in representing parents and other family members in relation to residence and contact cases.
His sensitive and considered approach makes him a popular choice with instructing solicitors and lay clients alike. He is often instructed in cases that require delicate and careful handling of vulnerable clients or clients who have difficulties because of their personal circumstances.
He is frequently involved in cases involving allegations of serious sexual abuse or substance misuse, complex medical issues, and cases involving issues outside of the jurisdiction. He has also developed particular experience in allegations of domestic violence, and frequently undertakes finding-of-fact hearings involving serious and complex allegations.
David has also gained experience in a number of appeal hearings, including appeals at the Court of Appeal and successfully applying for a stay of final order of a lower court before successfully challenging the decision previously reached.
David has recently been appointed a Deputy District Judge and also named ‘a leading junior’ in the 2024 Legal 500.
Significant Cases
B v B [2023] – Represented a mother in a 5 day fact finding hearing concerning allegations against the father of sexual, physical and emotional abuse of the 5 year old child. All findings sought were made.
BMDC v B v B [2022] – Represented a father at an 11 day finding hearing involving the shaking of a 6 week old baby, causing significant, long-term injuries. The case involved significant amounts of complex medical evidence.
NCC v P v H [2021] – Represented the local authority in both a fact-find and final hearing in a matter in which the Court found that the father has shaken his young baby on two separate occasions. The case involved complex medical evidence and significant amounts of disclosure.
DMBC v T v B [2021] – Represented a father at a composite finding of fact and final hearing, involving allegations that the father had sexually abused his two young sons over a significant period of time.
DMBC v O v M v B v C [2020] – Represented an intervenor within proceedings in which the intervenor was subsequently found to have murdered a two year old child following a criminal trial.
DMBC v B v M [2020] – Represented a father in a case involving a non-subject child making allegations of serious sexual abuse from several years prior to the complaint being made.
NCC v H [2019] – Represented the respondent local authority before the Court of Appeal regarding an appeal against final care and placement orders being made.
NCC v H v H v P [2019] – Representing the sister and her partner of a child in which the child’s father had killed the mother in the presence of the child. The case involved the question of with whom the child should now live, and the ongoing role of other family members. The matter was heard before Mr Justice Keehan.
S v A [2018] – Representing a father at a 3-day finding-of-fact hearing. The mother had made allegations of sexual, physical, emotional and financial abuse. No findings were made against the father.
NCC v P v P [2017] – Represented the local authority on a 4-day finding-of-fact hearing, and thereafter in final care proceedings. Following the finding-of-fact hearing, the father was found to have raped his own daughter and encouraged her to perform sexual acts on other children. Final care and placements order were made in favour of the local authority at the conclusion of proceedings.
SCC v H v P [2017] – Represented a mother at a final hearing on issues concerning Slovakian culture and the ability to provide care for a child with an illness which medical professionals had not been able to diagnose.
DMBC v S v S [2017] – Led by Nkumbe Ekaney QC on 3-day case involving significant disclosure from Scotland, including concerns regarding the practice of satanic rituals and child abuse.
SCC v D v A [2016] – Represented the mother in a 7-day contested final hearing involving substantial cross-examination of a psychiatrist, an independent social worker, and foster carers, and involving issues as to the appropriateness of cessation of contact during the final hearing itself.
SCC v B v L [2016] – Represented the child in a 5-day finding-of-fact hearing involving allegations of serious sexual abuse perpetrated by the father against his own daughter. Significant findings were made following the hearing.
How much will David’s services cost?
David mostly works under the Legal Aid scheme, but also does fixed-fee work. This will depend on the type of work you request. If you’d like a quotation for his legal services in a particular matter, please contact our clerk using the details below and we’ll be very happy to help. Please also refer to Bank House Chambers’ standard terms & conditions.
What might influence the timescales of the services David offers?
Despite our best intentions, we can’t always control timescales or the amount of time we spend on a case. These can be affected by factors such as urgency; complexity; your own (or your client’s) availability; David’s availability and that of any third parties; the volume of documents David needs to review or must request; and the court’s availability.
Can you have confidence in David’s work?
He is regulated by the Bar Standards Board.
How can you contact David Horne?
In the first instance, please contact our senior clerk, Wayne Digby, on 0114 275 1223 or email him at w.digby@bankhousechambers.co.uk.
Public Access Work
Can you contact David without going through a solicitor first?
Yes, he’s qualified and registered to offer services under the Bar Council’s Public Access scheme. You can find out more about our own Public Access work, and for more about the scheme in general please refer to the Bar Standards Board’s Public Access guidance for the public.
David provides Public Access services in matters including:
- Private family law work, including issues pertaining to contact (spending time with), residence (living with), and any prohibited steps order or specific issue orders.
- Motoring matters, including totting-up, speeding, and special-reasons arguments.
Public Access fees
For Public Access cases, David works on a fixed-fee basis. The sort of fees you might pay are shown below, but they can vary. This can be for a range of reasons, but commonly might include the complexity and urgency of the matter, additional hearings, the need to instruct one or more expert witnesses, a change in the nature of the case, new issues emerging, and travel costs if the case is moved (by the court or tribunal to a new venue). To discuss costs or to obtain a quotation, please contact our clerk using the details above.
Public Access – Family law
David Horne can advise and represent clients on a range of private family law matters. These include arguments over with who a child should live with, the time that the child should spend with a parent, any prohibited-steps orders sought, or any specific-issue order sought (such as which school a child should attend).
Timescales – Timescales for your case may vary, as explained above.
Fees – David’s fixed-fee basis means you will be charged a pre-determined amount of money for the services provided. The table below shows indicative price ranges, reflecting the complexity of the case. Please note that these are estimates and not quotations, and that VAT will be added at 20%.
Estimated range of fixed fees based on stage of case
Written advice on an application
£300–£750
Preparation of case, including meetings with you and assistance with drafting any witness statements
£500–£1,000
Court hearing (listed for up to 1 hour)
£500–£1,000
Court hearing (listed for 3 hours/half-day)
£750–£1,250
Court hearing (full day)
£1,000–£1,500 (per day)
Public Access – Motoring law
David Horne can assist you at any court hearing dealing with motoring matters. This may include offering mitigation for motoring offences such as speeding or driving whilst over the prescribed limit. He can also advance arguments concerning exceptional hardship when you have become a ‘totter’ (12 points or more on your licence), or special-reasons arguments.
Timescales – Timescales for your case may vary, as explained above.
Fees – David’s fixed-fee basis means you will be charged a pre-determined amount of money for the services provided. The table below shows indicative price ranges, which reflect possible variations in the complexity of the case. Please note that these are estimates and not quotations, and that VAT will be added at 20%.
Estimated range of fixed fees based on stage of case
Conference to provide general advice
£300–£500
Court hearing – mitigation or other short hearing
£500–£750
Court hearing – half-day trial or case
£750–£1,250
Court hearing – full-day case
£1,250 – £1,750
