Ravi is a Solicitor-Advocate and specialises and litigates in all areas of Children Law. She is a leading lawyer in her field and ranked in Chambers and Partners.
Ravi qualified as a solicitor in 2002. She has developed a specialism in acting in cases involving forced marriages, abandoned spouses, honour based violence and female genital mutilation (FGM). She has expertise representing children and young people in complex medical cases involving allegations of ‘baby shaking’, non-accidental injuries, attempted murder and factitious illness syndrome. Ravi undertakes the majority of her own advocacy in all levels of courts and especially in cases involving children in care, finding of fact hearings, wardship and cases with international elements.
Ravi is committed to legal aid and pro bono work. She has worked in legal aid for most of her career and has been involved in running and supporting a variety of pro bono clinics and organisations over the years.
Some of the organisations that Ravi has worked with and supported include Not Beyond Redemption; Children Seen and Heard; 13 Community Clinics; Women’s Aid, MENCAP, Fathers Groups, the National FGM Clinic/Forward.
Ravi is regularly invited to speak at events in relation to children law, charity work and neurodiversity. She has presented at the Family Law Bar Conference, at the Resolution National Conference where she was a keynote speaker on Neurodiversity and at a NAGALRO annual conference where the optic was poverty in care proceedings.
Ravi is currently working with the Family Justice Board on a project and has previously been invited to advise the judiciary by sitting on a steering group committee to pilot new schemes.
Notable cases
Court of Appeal
- Re X (A Child: FGMPO) (Rev2) [2018] EWCA Civ 1825 (31 July 2018) – Ravi acted pro bono for the Mother and lodged an appeal against the decision to impose a worldwide travel ban due to risks of FGM. The appeal proceeded with Father granted permission to appeal in her place. The appeal was allowed.
http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2018/1825.html
- I (A Child) [2012] EWCA Civ 217 – Ravi was instructed to appeal placement orders made by the court on behalf of the Father. The appeal application was successful.
http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2012/582.html
High Court
- Re H (a Child) [2023] EWFC 19 – Ravi was instructed in respect of FGM proceedings in which the court considered risk in the UK and another jurisdiction. The outcome was positive for the client as the worldwide travel ban was lifted enabling the mother to return to visit her family following specific undertakings and consideration of the individual ‘micro’ considerations and contextual ‘macro’ factors as set out in Re X.
http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWFC/HCJ/2023/19.html
- Re X (Female Genital Mutilation Protection order. No.2) 2019 EWHC 1990 (Fam) – Ravi acted for the Mother in a hearing where the court considered whether a Mother and child should be permitted to travel to Egypt to see Father. The court was required to asses the risk of harm of FGM and what individual and contextual considerations the court should have regard to in determining risk of harm and whether permission should be given to allow travel abroad where there is a risk of FGM. This is now a leading authority in FGM law.
http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Fam/2019/1990.html
- Re C (Female Genital Mutilation and Forced Marriage: Fact Finding) [2019] EWHC 3449 (Fam) – Ravi acted for the Intervenor in this application against whom allegations had been made of sexual abuse. No findings were made.
http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Fam/2019/3449.html
- A Local Authority v X & Ors [2018] EWHC 874 9Fam) (19 Apr 2018) – Ravi was instructed by a diplomat in complex care proceedings. The court was required to consider the courts jurisdiction to make orders in respect of the children and whether the children exercised diplomatic immunity.
http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Fam/2018/874.html
- X (A Child) Female Genital Mutilation Protection Order: restrictions on Travel) [2017] EWHC 2898 (Fam) (18 December 2017) – Ravi acted for the Mother in this matter, which is now one of the leading cases for FGM proceedings in the UK.
http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Fam/2017/2898.html
County Court
- Re W-Z (Children: Welfare Decision) [2023] EWFC 94 – Ravi was instructed by the Guardian in respect of care proceedings involving non accidental injuries and international elements.
http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWFC/HCJ/2023/94.html
- Re X – Z (Children: Fact Finding) [2022] EWFC 193 – Ravi was instructed by the Guardian in this matter and undertook the advocacy as a Junior in a complex medical fact find case.
http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWFC/HCJ/2022/193.html
- Re N (A Child: Fact Finding – NAI [2020] EWFC B80 – Ravi and her team were instructed in a non-accidental injury/serious baby shaking case. The client was exonerated in full in respect of any injuries caused.
http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWFC/OJ/2020/B80.html
- Re A – F (Children) (Care and SGO- older children) [2019] EWFC B45
http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWFC/OJ/2019/B45.html
Professional Qualifications and Memberships
- Member of the Association of Lawyers for Children
- Member of Resolution
- Associate Member of Nagalro
- Founding Council Member of Sikhs in Law
- Charity Trustee for Not Beyond Redemption
- Mentor for Women High Up
- EDI Team at Resolution
Panel memberships
- Ravi has been a Member of the Law Society’s Children Panel since 2011.
Awards
- Ravi was awarded the Community Champion Award by Resolution 2022 for her ongoing work with various charities/organisations and her work in campaigning for a better understanding of neurodiversity in the Family Justice System.
- As the lead Solicitor at her former firm and as Trustee of Charity ‘Not Beyond Redemption’, the Lexis Nexis Community Interaction Award in 2022.
- Ravi was Highly Commended by the Law Works Pro-bono Awards in the Best Contribution by an Individual category for her pro-bono work in 2019
- Ravi was shortlisted for the Jordans Family Law Partner of the Year award in 2017.
Languages
- Fluent in Punjabi
- Conversational Hindi and Urdu
Publications
- Neurodiversity and family law: embracing, navigating and mapping the future | Resolution – Authored Neurodiversity Sample Policy for Law firms in 2021 – this is available by emailing Ravi or Resolution for a copy.
Recommendations
Ravi Mahey is the doyenne of everything in relation to forced marriage and FGM.
– Legal 500, 2024
Applauded as a ‘safe pair of hands’ and ranked for her ‘notable expertise across a range of public law matters including care proceedings and adoption.
– Chambers and Partners, 2024
Ravi is a very capable lawyer who has a good practical understanding of international matters.
– Chambers and Partners UK, 2023
She is very committed and a joy to work with.
– Chambers and Partners UK, 2023
Ravi is always attentive and is a fantastic representative for children. She is a leader when it comes to child care case work and I am delighted to have worked with her. I would have no hesitation in recommending her to other Children’s Guardians.
– Legal 500, 2023
I am very grateful for her patience and professional management of hearings.
– Children’s Guardian
Ravi not only provides exceptional client care and services to individuals who are able to afford assistance but also pro bono to those most vulnerable in society who require expert legal assistant the most.
– James Holmes Barrister
Ravi has an excellent knowledge of children law. She is an outstanding family lawyer that really puts out the stops to get the best results for her clients. She has an ability to really understand the needs of her clients, especially those who are very vulnerable.
– BS Barrister