In December 2008, Anne-Marie Hutchinson acted for Dr Humayra Abedin in one of the first cases under the new Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007. Dr Abedin had been held captive, drugged by her family in Bangladesh and forced to marry against her will. Following orders obtained in the English courts, Dr Abedin was recovered and safely returned to England. This important case attracted extensive media reports worldwide, including:
Television Newspapers
BBC Breakfast - 15th December 2008 The Independent - 7th December 2008
Channel 4 News - 19th December 2008 Daily Express - 14th December 2008
BBC News - 19th December 2008 The Telegraph - 14th December 2008
Sky - 19th December 2008 Daily Mail - 16th December 2008
Dawson Cornwell receives its best ever ranking in Chambers & Partners with the launch of the 2009 edition. The firm is given the top ranking for its international work with children and is noted for its ability to “handle anything”. 5 partners are given particular credit and Anne-Marie Hutchinson is named as a “star individual”.
Dawson Cornwell successfully prevent the return of a child to Lebanon in a decision of the House of Lords, reversing rulings by the Court of Appeal, the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal and the Home Secretary on the ground of a human rights breach.
Four members of Dawson Cornwell attend the IBA conference in Buenos Aires.
The official launch of the Argentine Republic Network of Expert Judges on International Restitution of Children took place on 14th October 2008 in Buenos Aires.
Anne-Marie Hutchinson OBE and Carolina Marín Pedreño attended the official launch at the invitation of Graciela Tagle, Liaison Judge.
Also present were Professor William Duncan, Deputy Secretary-General of the Hague Conference on Private International Law, Ignatio Goicoechea, Liaison Officer for Latin America of the Hague Conference on Private International Law, Victor Velez, President of the Magistrates Association of the city of Cordoba, Santiago Otamendi, Secretary of the Argentine Federation of Magistrates and Officials and the Expert Judges.
