Karen O’Leary | Senior Partner, Head of Family & Child Law Practice
Karen leads Caldwell & Robinson’s Family Law practice. With extensive experience on all issues that may arise upon the breakdown of a relationship and family law, her specialist expertise covers both private and public law, and multiple jurisdictions.
Qualified to practice in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, England, and Wales, Karen is regularly consulted by government and state agencies on legal matters from other jurisdictions. In 2011, she was invited to be a fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL), an organisation of leading global family lawyers. She is also a regular speaker on family law matters and has addressed the Four Jurisdictions Family Law Conference on a number of occasions, the European Family Justice Observatory, most recently speaking about the implications of Brexit on family law.
Educated at the United World College (New Mexico, USA), Birmingham University, and the College of Law (Chester), Karen qualified as a solicitor in 1994. She worked for Gouldens (now Jones Day) in London and Brussels, before moving to Northern Ireland in 1995 when she was admitted as a solicitor in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Karen is a qualified mediator, a Chartered Family Arbitrator, Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers, Member of the Northern Ireland Children’s Panel, Member of Lawyers in Europe on Parental Child Abduction, Member of Central Authority of Northern Ireland Panel on the Hague Convention, and Member of the International Committee of Resolutions.
Contact Karen by email — K.OLeary@caldwellrobinson.com
“A highly skilled advocate whose people skills and negotiating skills are impeccable.” She demonstrates considerable expertise in private family law cases, especially those with an international aspect, and one source notes that “her knowledge of childcare matters is unrivalled.”
“An excellent practitioner, who goes above and beyond for her clients.”
“Karen is calm in the face of tension, extremely hard-working and has a deep knowledge of her brief. She understands the very complex legal issues involved and has an ability to explain them to her clients.”
“She is courteous, empathic, friendly and has considerable expertise in this area of the law.”
“Karen O’Leary is an expert in her field.”