Re Y KC to speak at Modern Families Conference

26th February 2026

We are very excited to announce that Professor Jo Delahunty KC will now be speaking at our upcoming conference. Jo is a recent addition to the programme following her involvement in a high profile case that was published on 20 February 2026 and which all family lawyers will be keenly aware of: Y (Experts and Alienating Behaviour: The Modern Approach) [2026] EWFC 38.

The case related to parental alienation and Jo acted for the now 16 year old child who had been removed from his mother on the evidence of an expert who was later shown to be lacking in the requisite qualifications or practise to provide evidence to the court on the issue. It is always a sad situation when a child is removed from a parent but to find that the decision was not backed by credible research and evidence is really devastating.  It can be very difficult to determine whether there is alienation but any evidence put forward should be of the highest calibre. 

Sir Andrew McFarlane P said "Before turning to the detail of the case it is necessary to stress that, although the role of Ms Melanie Gill in these proceedings is of some importance, this judgment is not about one person. When the process that was followed in 2019 is held up for audit against the principles of good practice in cases concerning alleged alienating behaviour which are now well established, every agency involved in these proceedings can be seen to have been at fault. By “every agency”, I am referring to CAFCASS, the children's solicitor, the local authority and the court. This judgment is not therefore ‘about Melanie Gill’, it is, much more worryingly, about the failure of the system to act, as it should have done, in discharging its responsibility to protect the children and to prioritise their welfare needs."

The main point Sir Andrew is making is that the experts must be experts and everyone involved in the court process shares the responsibility for ensuring that the people advising the court in their expert capacity, are properly and suitably qualified. 

Read more about it on 4PB's website/blog

More about Jo Delahunty KC:

Jo is the author of the book Domestic Abuse in the Family Justice System which you can buy following this link: Bloomsbury Professional 

The Legal 500 2026 says ‘Watching Jo on her feet cross-examining witnesses is akin to watching gold being spun. She is a master of dynamics in the courtroom.’ and 

‘Jo is a tour de force. She prepares for her cases with exceptional skill and rigour. An incredibly powerful KC.’

Rt Hon Sir Andrew McFarlane P

The judgment was given by the Rt Hon Sir Andrew McFarlane who is President of the Family Division. Sir Andrew is the key note speaker for our conference in October 2026.