Heather Popley is a family law practitioner, with a focus on matters involving children.
Heather practices the following areas:
Heather has extensive experience of private law children cases involving complex issues, including “parental alienation” and intractable contact disputes; fact findings, such as those involving allegations of domestic violence, physical and sexual abuse; removal out of the jurisdiction, and internal and international relocation.
Heather provides written advice in all areas of her family practice along with other written work, such as skeleton arguments, Scott Schedules, threshold documents and submissions. She appears regularly in the Family Court and High Court and has appeared in the Court of Appeal.
Heather is sensitive to the needs of each individual party she represents, rigorously putting their position, whilst providing clear and practical advice having regard to the overall circumstances of each case. She has experience working with clients who are vulnerable, and parties with learning difficulties requiring a litigation friend to be appointed, including cases involving the appointment of the Official Solicitor.
Heather represents local authorities, parents, other relatives and children’s guardians in care proceedings, including Special Guardianship, placement and adoption applications, secure accommodation orders and deprivation of liberty applications.
Heather has experience of cases involving serious allegations of sexual abuse (including child sexual exploitation); non-accidental injury including brain injury, multiple fractures, suffocation; factitious or fabricated illness; chronic neglect; and domestic abuse.
Heather is experienced in dealing with cases that have concurrent criminal proceedings and issues regarding disclosure that may arise. She often appears in complex cases involving vulnerable witnesses and applications necessitating Re W arguments and ground rules hearings.
We are delighted to welcome 6 new pupils to Chambers, commencing their pupillage today. Nicole Hausdorff joins the Business and Property group and will be…
No5’s Heather Popley has been nominated for the prestigious Barrister of the Year award at the 2025 Leicestershire Law Society Awards, recognising her outstanding contributions…
"Heather is an outstanding advocate and is always thoroughly prepared."
"Heather is tenacious and pays excellent attention to detail. She is clear and concise with her advice and is really good with vulnerable clients. Her advocacy is on point in an articulate and persuasive manner."
"She provides astute advice and excellent client care."
"Heather is a very strong advocate, she is well prepared, personable and makes herself available."
"Heather is excellent, her preparation and paperwork is outstanding and she brings with her a lovely manner and compassion towards the clients."
"She is an excellent advocate with great attention to detail in both advocacy and written work."
"Heather is a very strong and passionate advocate. She is well-prepared and thorough. She has excellent client care skills and provides detailed attendance notes post-hearing."
"Heather has incredible attention to detail and is very tenacious. Heather is an excellent advocate. She handles the most complex cases. She provides high levels of client care."
"Heather is a strong advocate who works hard to ensure her clients interests are carefully represented. She is persuasive and articulate. She is popular and respected by her peers as well as the local judiciary. She communicates well and her client care is excellent."
We are delighted to welcome 6 new pupils to Chambers, commencing their pupillage today. Nicole Hausdorff joins the Business and Property group and will be…
No5’s Heather Popley has been nominated for the prestigious Barrister of the Year award at the 2025 Leicestershire Law Society Awards, recognising her outstanding contributions…
