2 New Street Chambers Reviews 

Following my formal complaint about Miss Jenna Allen’s conduct and representation at my Family Court hearing on 25 March 2025, I received a detailed reply from Ms Burden, the Head of Chambers, dated 17 April 2025. While Ms Burden addressed some procedural matters and gave background on Miss Allen’s experience, many of my core concerns remained unresolved.

I therefore submitted a further, detailed response clarifying eleven separate issues — including serious failings in preparation, the handling (and in some cases dismissal) of key evidence, safeguarding concerns, and misrepresentation of facts in court.

Central to my follow‑up complaint was this:

Chambers’ own complaints procedure stated I would receive a reply from Miss Allen within two weeks.

Despite this, months later, I have had no acknowledgement, explanation, or reply from Miss Allen whatsoever.

This lack of engagement is, in my view, entirely unacceptable, particularly given the serious nature of the allegations and the life‑changing impact of the hearing’s outcome on my relationship with my daughter.

For fathers navigating parental alienation and high‑conflict contact disputes, this silence from your own representative when you raise legitimate complaints can feel like a second blow. It reinforces the sense that your voice and evidence are not being heard — in or out of the courtroom.

I have now informed both the Legal Ombudsman and my Legal Aid provider of this non‑response, and I am mindful of all regulatory time limits for escalation.

My advice to other fathers: do not assume that escalating a complaint within Chambers will result in engagement from the barrister concerned. Document everything, keep to deadlines, and consider taking your complaint to the relevant regulators at the earliest opportunity.

I was represented by barrister Jenna Allen at my family court hearing on 25 March 2025. In my view, her conduct and preparation not only fell below professional standards — it actively harmed my case in a situation where the emotional and legal stakes could not have been higher.

What fathers need to know:

Completely unprepared – She came to court with no personal statement for the judge and no grasp of my case history or strategy. In the short time I had with her before the hearing, I had to explain my entire case, including breaches, evidence, and safeguarding concerns — all of which she later ignored.

Failed to present critical evidence – Serious breaches of the court order and safeguarding risks to my daughter were not raised unless I pressed her in front of the judge.

Undermined my position – At several points, she appeared to adopt my ex‑wife’s narrative, supporting explanations that conflicted with documented evidence and were introduced for the first time during the hearing.

Dismissed safeguarding risks – Concerns about alcohol misuse, self‑prescribing medication, and theft of controlled drugs were brushed aside, despite our prior agreement that these issues warranted fact‑finding and testing.

Misrepresented facts to the court – Incorrect statements were made about mediation, contact history, and my own conduct, leaving the judge with a false picture of events.

Inappropriate conduct and comments – Personal questions and dismissive post‑hearing remarks left me feeling undermined by the very person meant to represent me.

This was not simply “poor service” — in my opinion, it left me fighting my own barrister as well as the opposing party. For a father already facing the isolating, damaging effects of parental alienation, this kind of representation can push you closer to hopelessness. I can now understand why so many fathers in these circumstances speak of feeling broken, silenced, and — tragically — why some take their own lives.

If you are a father in a high‑conflict contact dispute, do not assume any barrister will advocate for you just because they are instructed. Demand evidence they know your case inside out and will challenge misleading narratives. In my experience, Jenna Allen did neither.

Our children deserve to have both parents represented fearlessly and fairly. Anything less can have permanent consequences.

Absolutely useless save your time and money and employ the services of a company that can raise more than an eyebrow for you .
WASTE OF TIME !!!!!!!!!!!