Heather’s practice areas include the following:-
Public law Children:
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.
Private law Children
Heather has extensive experience of private law children cases involving complex issues, including parental alienation and implacable hostility cases; 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 for complex legal argument, Scott Schedules, threshold documents and submissions. She appears regularly in the Family Court and High Court. She is happy to advise parties in person at conferences not only at Chambers but also at instructing solicitor’s offices if this is more convenient.
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 is qualified to accept public access instructions.
Recommendations
“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.”
Legal 500 2023 - Ranked Tier 2
“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.”
Chambers UK 2023 - Ranked Tier 3
Ranked Tier 2
Legal 500 2022
Notable Cases
BCC v Riaz et al [2014] EWHC 4247 (Fam) before Keehan J
RE T(A Child) [2016] EWCA Civ 1210 (06 December 2016)
Memberships
Member of the FLBA
The Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn
The Midland Circuit
Association of Lawyers for Children
Qualifications
LL.B. (Hons)
Called to the Bar 2003 Gray’s Inn
