Chambers UK 2022:
‘A highly respected advocate whose broad knowledge covers the full family law spectrum’. Prior to taking silk in 2018 Owen had been ranked within the first band of leading juniors in family law by Chambers UK for many years. He is described as ‘a wonderful advocate’, ‘he is never ruffled by anything – he makes the most complex matters look easy and relaxes clients with his approach’, ‘outstanding advocacy: he was incredibly impressive in the courtroom’, ‘ a fighter with a real gift for oratory’, ‘always effective in terms of the case he puts on behalf of his client. He is very calm and measured and able to communicate effectively at all levels’
Legal 500 2021: recommended as a Leading Silk
“An experienced family law generalist.” “highly recommended for a broad spectrum of family matters”
AREAS OF PRACTICE
- Children Law (Public and Private)
EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS
- Called to the Bar 1994
- Silk 2018
- Wadham College, Oxford (BA, Jurisprudence)
- Inns of Court School of Law London
APPOINTMENTS
- Head of Family Team – 9 Park Place Chambers, Cardiff
MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS
- Family Law Bar Association
- Wales & Chester Circuit
- Gray’s Inn
ABOUT OWEN
Owen Thomas KC is a very experienced family law specialist who has been consistently highly recommended in the field since his early days of practice.
Owen’s first case in silk was in Hull, where he has since appeared in the Family and High Courts on many occasions, including recently leading for the local authority in a case involving complex allegations of sexual abuse against multiple adults against multiple children. The trial ran to some four months and involved six silks, five leading juniors and eleven juniors.
Owen acts for parents, relatives, intervenors and children as well as for local authorities.
During the past year, Owen has appeared in cases involving the death of a child, abusive head trauma, inflicted injuries, FII, sexual abuse and serious emotional harm.
Within the private law field, Owen appears in complex fact-finding hearings and those proceedings involving high conflict.
The cases in which Owen appears often involve complex issues of expert and medical evidence, calling for experienced and skilful cross-examination.
He regularly appears in cases where children (as victims and perpetrators) give oral evidence and in many more where there are contested issues of whether they should do so or not.
Owen has appeared in many cases involving vulnerable adults and is fully conversant with the availability of special measures and is experienced in working alongside intermediaries.
From Burry Port in South Wales, Owen was educated at Ysgol Gyfun y Strade in Llanelli and read law at Wadham College, Oxford before going to the Inns of Court School of Law in London.