Rose Colley

Admitted

• Jersey Advocate - 2000
• English Solicitor - 1980

Year Joined
2000

Education
Aberystwyth University - BscEcon Political Science, University of London - CertEd, Nottingham Law School - MBA Legal Practice Management

• 'Hall of Fame' - Legal 500 2024
• 'Leading Individual' - Legal 500 2023, 2022 and 2021
• 'Recommended Lawyer' - Legal 500 2023

• Former President of the Law Society (President 2017-2024)
• Member of the Law Society of England & Wales
• Chair of the of Jersey Family Law Association
• Resolution Member
• Member of Institute of Directors
• Honorary Alderman of the London Borough of Southwark
• Freeman of the City of London
• Chair of the Jersey Consumer Council 2014-2018

Rose regularly speaks at public events on family law and consumer issues. She is also a regular contributor to the local radio and television.

Rose trained in local government in England and then lectured in family and housing law in inner London for several years. She then set up in private practice in London and Kent, during which time she set up the Kent Injunction Network to provide legal assistance to victims of domestic abuse and assisted Counsel with a number of high profile judicial review cases. Rose moved to Jersey in 1997 to work for a large Jersey law firm. In 2000, having requalified as a Jersey Advocate, Rose joined Viberts.

Rose was President of the Law Society (2017-2024) and a former chair of the Jersey Family Law Association. Rose was the Acting Bâtonnier administering the Jersey Legal Aid system from 2000-2002. Rose is also a member of the exam board for the Jersey Law exams and previously sat as a Board member for the Institute of Law.

Rose has appeared in over 70 published judgments in Jersey since 2000. Some of the most notable are:

A & B [2014] JRC218 - Acted on behalf of the Guardian in a case where both parents opposed an adoption order where there had been previous proceedings in relation to a number of other children born to the mother. The case involved the failure of a residential assessment for the parents with the child.

In the Matter of Barbara [2015] JRC082 - Acted for the Minister in this case. It concerned issues with regard to adoption and connected person (maternal aunt) and the consideration that the court should give to a child staying in the family. In this case the child was freed for adoption.

In the Matter of Imogen [2016] JRC081 - Acted for the Guardian in difficult proceedings regarding a child where there were a number of possible carers. The role of the social workers in this case was criticised by the Court.

C v D [2016] JRC044A - I acted for the wife in a 2nd marriage where the vast majority of the assets had been built up by the husband prior to his 1st marriage. The wife was still awarded sufficient assets to meet her needs and the husband was criticised by the court for refusing to mediate.

A & B [2012] 165A - This case was the first of note to deal with the payment of lump sums for the benefit of a child where the parents are unmarried under Schedule 1 of the Children (Jersey) Law 2002.

In the Matter of QQ [2010] JRC 217E - In this case Rose acted for 3 children in tandem with their Guardian. This decision which considered the welfare stage of care proceedings was heard after a long fact find hearing on whether or not threshold had been met (CC [2010] JRC 274). The case is notable for the large number of witnesses that were called and how the court considered their evidence in its application of the law.

Downes and Marshall [2010] JRC 115B - This case changed the test for the hearing of appeals in family cases in Jersey. It overturned Murphy & Collins [2000] JRL 276 which has laid down the previous test. This decision has been significant and has been applied by the Royal Court in many cases since.

PS and HF & SS [2008] JRC 128 - This case is the most significant decision in Jersey regarding the setting aside of a consent order agreed in matrimonial proceedings and involved examination of lack of judicial scrutiny/non-disclosure and supervening events. The linked judgment of PS and HF and SS [2008] JRC is a key authority regarding the court awarding indemnity costs.

VKS and PAS & Health & Social Services Committee [2005] JRC 124. This was the first case in Jersey to refer to Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms 1950 regarding the removal of a child from his mother who was breastfeeding.

C & S [2003] JRC 104. This is a crucial judgment regarding the right of the weaker party financially in divorce proceedings to have a contribution towards legal fees paid as part of the interim maintenance provision.