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At the specialist family Bar there are few junior barristers who can genuinely be described as expert in both finance and children, Charles is one. Instructed and trusted by leading London and national solicitors (Manches/Hughes Fowler Carruthers/Stewarts Law/Kingsley Napley/Irwin Mitchell and Mills & Reeve), Charles represents clients as effectively in high wealth ancillary relief cases as he does in alienated parent or alternative family cases. From a 9 million ancillary relief case heard before Parker J complicated by massive income, (which settled after his cross examination of the husband), to the case of A, B and C in the Court of Appeal, an alternative family case (now the leading judgment in the area), in 2012/13 Charles has been involved in many significant cases. In A, B and C his arguments at first instance were unanimously confirmed by a strong Appellant Court when allowing the appeal. In the Supreme Court in the case of Re T, Charles led the arguments put forward by the Grandparents Association (acting Pro Bono) in what is now the leading case on costs in child law cases.
In 2012 Charles won the prestigious Jordan’s Family Law Junior or the Year, award.
Many solicitors have commented that it is Charles’s commitment and dedication to his clients, his ability to forge strong trust with them, which sets him out from his peers. Chamber and Partners and the Legal 500 have for many years recognized Charles as a leading junior at the family Bar in both children and finance with comments such as,
The 'very personable' Charles Hale is 'one of the very few senior juniors around who can tackle both financial remedy and children cases with equal facility'. 'He is meticulous in preparation and a master of cross-examination.' Legal 500 2013 An ‘exceptional performer’ who is ‘outstanding at both children and money work’. Charles Hale is ‘a formidable advocate, particularly in cross-examination”
A popular choice among many of London's leading solicitors. He is equally adept at children and matrimonial finance work. Sources note that "his jovial character enables him to forge strong relationships with clients
.... brings his "straight-talking approach" and "excellent attention to detail" to a practice that combines children-related matters with matrimonial finance work. He is regularly briefed, and is a "careful, vigorous and balanced advocate."
Beyond his own practice Charles has also worked tirelessly for the Bar, for the FLBA and for family justice. He has been an elected member of the Bar Council for 9 years, serving on many committees and Chairing the Public Affairs Committee for 3 years. He sits on the General Management Committee of the Bar. As a FLBA committee member for 9 years Charles has been committed to assisting many Chairman often with the interface between the Bar, Government and family justice policy, drafting consultation responses and supporting the Bar’s fight in respect of legal aid. Charles co-wrote for several years. a monthly column in Counsel called Westminster Watch, informing barristers, often in a light hearted way of the changes imposed by government in the justice system. Charles continues to take on Pro Bono work. In 2011/12 he successfully appealed and overturned a care order in respect of a 2 year old child after the mother was refused funding to appeal. He has remained committed and active in the fight against legal aid cuts despite his practice being almost exclusively private. He lectures widely to solicitors and the profession across the country.