Ruth Hawkins
Ruth Hawkins is a founding partner of Boardman, Hawkins & Osborne LLP.
Ruth qualified as a solicitor in 1997. She has been a member of the Law Society’s Children Panel since 2005, and her legal work involves specialising in childcare work and complex children cases.
Ruth also became a family mediator in 2012 and mediates in all areas of family disputes including children and financial disputes. This allows her to use her vast experience in childcare law and child development, in her mediation practice. Ruth has undertaken the What about Henry Course on child development. https://www.onlymums.org/what-about-henry
In her Legal practice, Ruth specialises in acting for children, parents and family members, grandparents and aunts and uncles in court proceedings including care proceedings, children law disputes, adoption and wardship. Ruth is able to represent children and young people in court proceedings, either with their court appointed Guardians or separately represent them where appropriate.
As well as being a member of the Law Society’s Children Panel, Ruth is a member of the Association of Lawyers for Children and Resolution. Ruth is also a Family Law Panel member https://thefamilylawpanel.org/ through Only Mums/Only Dads and provides assistance through that scheme and is also a regular contributor to their publications.
Ruth leads the firm’s community and charity involvement, both locally and nationally. Ruth is a Trustee of Abingdon Carousel, the Children’s Centre in Abingdon, and is a passionate advocate for community services, especially for those more vulnerable members of the community.
She is rated in Chambers & Partners as a key individual.
“Ruth is an extremely calm and reasonable adviser who always gives sensible advice.”
“Ruth is my go-to for children work regarding guardians”
“Ruth is approachable, professional and knowledgeable.”
Legal 500 notes that “Ruth Hawkins goes to great lengths to meet the needs of clients in complex private law matters. She excels in seeing a case from the client’s point of view and accordingly goes the extra mile.”
Ruth prides herself in acting for her clients in a humane compassionate way, and is well regarded for her problem-solving approach.
Ruth is especially keen to use her skills and experience to develop her mediation practice and help couples and parents to find better ways of resolving the issues that arise upon separation. She has a growing reputation for enabling couples she mediates with to think creatively about solutions, and focus especially on their children’s needs.
Read what clients say:
This is the first time I’ve ever had to deal with solicitors and court but very quickly I became comfortable and felt like I was properly being heard and that is due to Ruth being very fair, understanding, hard working and going above and beyond to get the job done.
“Ruth Hawkins’ calm, considerate approach – always putting the children’s interests first – has helped me to navigate extremely complex circumstances in the best possible way.”
‘Ruth possesses a winning combination of fierce intelligence and great sensitivity which she applies to all her cases. She invests herself fully in her clients. They are lucky to have her on their side!’ (Barrister)
‘Ruth has extensive experience in children proceedings and her expertise is underpinned by an empathetic but realistic approach. Her cases are always extremely well prepared, and she is willing to go the extra mile for her clients. I have no hesitation in recommending her and do so frequently.’ (Barrister)
‘Ruth has represented me several times in the last 15 years; she is extremely professional and has always treated me with respect, understanding and compassion.’
“Ruth regularly gives me advice which is prompt, comprehensive and reliable in language which makes sense. Her advocacy in Court is skilled, authoritative and reassuring.”
“You’ve both been really helpful and supportive through all this, and it was a great relief to have somebody on my side. We’re hoping to put all this behind us as far as possible and concentrate on working with the new social worker. It will be a real relief to be able to get things back on track without court hanging over us.
Many thanks again for your work.” (SE – client)
“If you’re looking for a firm that’s ethical and dedicated to your case then look no further. BH&O gave me incredible support as I went through what 35 year tenure judge said was their most complex, and achieved success not just for me but for my children.” ON, June 2022
“The moment I made contact everyone has been so informative and helpful, Ruth has been amazing, always honest, changed things when needed with great support and expertise. Thank you Ruth and team.”
Contact
Direct: 01235 425502
Reported cases and articles:
- K (Forced Marriage Protection Orders; Abuse of process) 2021] EWFC B94 (15 October 2021) https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWFC/OJ/2021/B94.html
Ruth acted for the subject teenage girls with their court appointed Guardian, in an application brought by their paternal aunt, for a Forced Marriage Protection Order. The application did not succeed, and the Judge found that there was no evidence that the girls were at risk of forced marriage, and further found that the application was without merit. - Re M (Special Guardianship Order: Leave To Apply To Discharge) (Rev 1) [2021] EWCA Civ 442 (26 March 2021) www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2021/442.html
Ruth acted for the special guardians, the maternal grandparents, in this appeal brought by the child’s mother. The mother was appealing against an order to refuse permission to apply to discharge a Special Guardianship Order (SGO). The appeal was allowed, and permission was granted to the mother to make her application and also make her application for a child arrangements order. There are not many cases where the Court of Appeal or higher courts have considered the law in relation to SGOs. - Re A and B (No. 2)(SGO)(domestic abuse no direct contact to father) [2020] EWFC B15 (06 March 2020) www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWFC/OJ/2020/B15.html
Ruth acted in long running proceedings for these children, via their court appointed Guardians. The initial case involved findings of serious domestic abuse by the father against the mother. Before the case could be concluded, the children’s mother committed suicide, and their future living arrangements needed to be decided against this background. The court decided to make SGOs in favour of the family friends that the mother and the children were living with, and made orders preventing the father from making further applications to the court as well as refusing contact between the father and the children
Boardman, Hawkins & Osborne articles:
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January 19, 2024
By Karen Newman and Ruth Hawkins Family Mediation week is taking place from 22nd to 26th January 202
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Our clients can find dealing with their divorce, or trying to sort out their children’s arrangemen
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Don’t wait until school holiday are here before you think about your parenting arrangements and pl
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May 31, 2023
There has been a very welcome recent change in eligibility for Legal Aid for those involved in Speci
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May 31, 2023
Until recently, parents who could not reach agreement on their child or children’s arrangements, a
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November 02, 2022
Boardman Hawkins & Osborne LLP are delighted to have appointed Helen Bishop to head their matrim
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World Mental Health Day (10 Oct) is a day to talk about mental health and show everyone that mental
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Boardman Hawkins & Osborne have decided to provide our clients, prospective clients, and anyone
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March 10, 2021
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June 13, 2023
When you separate, there are often a whole host of issues that you need to consider, and if possible
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October 16, 2020
At BH&O, we know what a great job many grandparents, aunts and uncles and relatives are doing in
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October 04, 2024
Grandparents Day approaches this weekend on 6th October Many grandparents support parents with child
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September 24, 2020
When we formed this firm just over two years ago, whilst we set out to establish a modern, innovativ
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July 14, 2020
Irena and I are delighted to have contributed to this new book, a supplement to last year’s 101 qu
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October 07, 2019
5th to 11th October is Kinship Care week. At BH&O, we know what a great job many grandpare
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Happy Even After: a play about domestic abuse
October 04, 2019
Last night BH&O sponsored the launch of a new play written by local play-write Gaye Poole, Happy
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September 17, 2019
When Emily, Irena and I started planning this firm, we wanted to create a modern thinking innovative
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February 27, 2019
Boardman Hawkins & Osborne are delighted to be taking part in this year’s Great Legal Bake Off
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February 01, 2019
Ruth Hawkins has contributed to this New Book 101 Questions Answered About Separating with
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January 10, 2019
It’s that time of year when families come together, and grandparents and aunts and uncles get to s
Read More >>Paying it forward…. or giving back to clients and our community.
December 14, 2018
We’ve now been open for three months. It’s been a very busy period, which Emily has already writ
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October 25, 2018
By Ruth Hawkins A report published this week by the Children’s Commissioner for England, sugge
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October 25, 2018
By Ruth Hawkins As has been reported in the media, the Prime Minister, Theresa May, has announced th
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