David Parkes qualified as a solicitor in 2006. David spent the early part of his career working in a busy Manchester practice before moving to Bakers Solicitors to develop the family department.

David specialises and concentrates on all aspects of Civil and Family Law including divorce, separation and financial disputes but takes a particular interest in children law including care proceedings. David became a partner in 2012 and has helped drive the business forward.

David is also accredited as a Higher Court Advocate (Civil). This allows David the right to appear as an advocate in all civil/family cases before the highest courts, including the Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and High Court, without the need to instruct a barrister.

David has considerable experience in the representation of parents, relatives and children in child protection cases and represents clients in various courts including Manchester and Derby.

The Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) regularly instruct David to represent children in proceedings brought by a local authority. David has provided representation in the most complex of children matters, often before the High Court. Such cases have involved sexual abuse, physical abuse, non-accidental injuries, fabricated and induced illness, secure accommodation, parents with mental illness, issues of mental capacity, adoption and forced marriages. David also has experience of receiving instructions directly from young people and is often asked to deliver training on issues relating to family law.

David is proud to be a member of the Law Society Children Panel recognising his experience and specialist ability to represent children, parents and other parties in Family Law Proceedings such as applications under the Children Act 1989.

Cases that David has been involved in include: F (Children) (DNA Evidence) [2007] EWHC 3235, Derbyshire County Council v A Mother and A Father [2013] EWHC 1864 (Fam), Lancashire County Council v T (Flight to Ireland) [2015] EWFC 51 and W (Care Proceeding: Jurisdiction) [2017] EWFC B1.

In May 2020 David was appointed by the Lord Chief Justice as a Deputy District Judge.

If you have a family law problem, you can contact David directly by email at dparkes@bakers-solicitors.com.