Practice Profile

Legal 500 2021

Kyle is listed in the Legal 500 2021 as a Rising Star for Children Law (Public and Private).

“Has an eye for detail. He is able to disseminate complex information quickly but with accuracy. Kyle is approachable and friendly. He is articulate during his advocacy, addresses all relevant complex points without being verbose.”

Education

LL.B Law, First Class, University of Hull (2012)

Scholarships & Awards

Lord Denning Scholarship, Lincoln’s Inn

Hubert Greenland Scholarship, Lincoln’s Inn

Dean’s Award for Highest Performance in Civil Litigation on BPTC

Dean’s Award for Highest Performance in Criminal Litigation on BPTC

OUP Prize for Transnational Commercial Law

Practice Profile

Kyle principally practises in family law with an emphasis on children cases, and in the Court of Protection (health and welfare). These fields complement each other, and he is frequently instructed in cases which involve issues from both jurisdictions. Kyle is listed as a Rising Star in the area of Children Law (public and private) in the Legal 500 2021: ‘Has an eye for detail. He is able to disseminate complex information quickly but with accuracy. Kyle is approachable and friendly. He is articulate during his advocacy, addresses all relevant complex points without being verbose.’

Kyle approaches all his cases in an empathetic manner and strives to understand the difficult predicament in which clients find themselves. He acknowledges that parties are likely to be facing a very stressful period in their lives and will do his utmost to ensure that this difficult and challenging process is made as manageable as possible.

Kyle is a contributing author to LexisPSL expert Q&A panel, and regularly answers queries which are published by LexisPSL. Additionally, Kyle blogs on issues of mental health as they arise in the family courts and Court of Protection, and his blog can be accessed at www.mentalhealthbarrister.com.

Kyle is authorised under the Direct Access scheme to receive instructions directly from clients without the need to go via a solicitor.

Children

Kyle has extensive experience of acting in cases involving children. His main area of practice is public proceedings where he is frequently instructed by local authorities, parents and children. Kyle is regularly instructed in cases involving:

• Non-accidental injuries including conflicting medical evidence;

• Allegations of sexual abuse;

• Allegations of fabricated or induced illness (FII);

• Cases involved alleged involvement with ‘county lines’;

• Applications for orders under the inherent jurisdiction for authorisation of deprivation of liberty;

• Cases which involve forced marriage and female genital mutilation;

• Cases with an international element, including placement outside of the jurisdiction;

• Appeals.

Kyle is often instructed to represent vulnerable parties and has been instructed by the Official Solicitor on numerous occasions. His knowledge of Court of Protection issues complements his work with vulnerable parents well, and he had been described by solicitors as ‘going above and beyond what is expected of counsel’.

In addition to his public law practice, Kyle often acts in private children disputes. He has acted at all stages through to final hearings, including fact findings. He has acted in cases of intractable opposition and has a good grasp on international issues.  

Kyle has experience of international child abduction and understands the need to swiftly develop a coherent and robust strategy to successfully achieve return of children from abroad.

Significant Cases:

• Re SM (2020) – Kyle was successful in an urgent application for a stay and appeal against a decision to separate a child from a vulnerable young mother. 
  

• Re W (2020) – Instructed by a local authority in a FII case which includes allegations of smothering to induce illness.

• Re JD (2019) – Acting for a local authority in High Court care proceedings concerning a young person suspected to be involved in ‘county lines’. The case involved a contested PII application.

• Re RV (2019) – Acting for a local authority in fact-finding hearing to determine how a young child acquired a sexually transmitted disease. Findings of sexual abuse were made. 

• Re L (2019) – Advising on a relinquished baby case with significant international elements.

• Re KH (2017) – Led junior acting for a parent in a case involving serious allegations of non-accidental injury with conflicting expert medical evidence.

Whilst acting as a judicial assistan, Kyle assisted in a multi-week fact-finding hearing to determine the mechanism of death of a young teenager. He also assisted in an application for judicial review against a local authority’s decision not to allow a young person to leave secure accommodation, where the independent panel had determined that the s.25 criteria were no longer met.

Court of Protection

Kyle regularly appears in the Court of Protection in applications under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. He has appeared on behalf of the Official Solicitor, local authorities, NHS Trusts and CCGs. He has experience of acting in applications relating to personal welfare, DoLS challenges, and experience of use of the inherent jurisdiction where a vulnerable person has decision making capacity. Whilst acting as a judicial assistant, Kyle assisted in cases involving serious medical treatment (including force feeding) and consent to sexual relations.

Kyle’s experience in children cases makes him particularly adept at acting and advising in cases where a young person is transitioning from child social care to adult social care services.

Kyle has acted in a number of applications for Forced Marriage Protection Order and Genital Mutilation Protection Orders for adults, including being instructed by the Official Solicitor on behalf of the protected person.

Significant Cases:

• A County Council v KK & Ors [2020] EWCOP 68 – Acted for a local authority in proceedings before a High Court judge concerning an 18 year old woman and whether it was in her best interests to be deprived of her liberty for the purpose of medical treatment. The case is reported at: https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCOP/2020/68.html

• Re AA (2019) – Instructed by the Official Solicitor on behalf of the protected party in an application for a forced marriage protection order in the High Court.

• Re BW (2019) – Instructed by the Official Solicitor on behalf of P who was a young person transitioning from children’s social care to adult’s social care. Application raised potential breaches of Art 5, 6 and 8.

• Re MF (2018) – Instructed on behalf of local authority and CCG in long running dispute regarding P’s living arrangements.

Whilst acting as a judicial assistant to Lieven J, Kyle was significantly involved in the important case of A Local Healthboard v JK [2019] EWHC 67 (Fam) which involved an application under the inherent jurisdiction that it was permissible to force-feed a patient pursuant to s.63 of the MHA 1983.

Kyle acts in financial remedy applications. He recognises the benefit to clients of having continuity of representation in determining both children and financial remedy applications.

Kyle’s experience involves cases with significant assets including property both within the UK and abroad, and complicated business structures. Kyle’s previous experience of working in property litigation places him in a particularly advantageous position to deal with cases which involve intervening parties seeking to establish beneficial interests over properties.

Professional Memberships

The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn

Court of Protection Bar Association

Family Law Bar Association

Appointments

Kyle is a trustee of Live Unlimited, a charity whose mission is to improve the experience of children and young people in local authority care.

What Clients Say

"I would book Kyle Squire for every single case if he had availability. His knowledge is extensive, very thorough in dealing with a case and is highly liked by clients"

Aynur Duman - Faradays Solicitors - April 2019