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Claire Heppenstall

Claire Heppenstall

Position

Claire practises exclusively in private family and family related work. Her practice is largely split between Private Children Law and Financial Remedies work. She also has particular expertise in dealing with Schedule 1 claims. 

Dealing with both children and money work allows her to assist the private client across most areas of dispute that arise during difficult family breakdowns in a highly effective and pragmatic but also robust way.  She is frequently instructed to appear against Leading Counsel. 

In the area of Private Children Law, she has a particular interest and a huge amount of expertise in cases involving relocation, both external and internal.  She is also has extensive experience of being instructed in highly acrimonious and long-running intractable child arrangement disputes, and is often instructed in cases involving allegations of parental alienation and where expert psychiatric assessment has been required. 

In Financial Remedies work, she is often instructed in difficult cases involving issues of non-disclosure or where careful analysis of family businesses and trust interests is required. 

Claire has considerable experience of dealing with Schedule 1 applications and is regularly instructed in this type of claim. 

Claire is also dual qualified as an Arbitrator to deal with disputes under both the IFLA finance and children schemes. 

Career

Year of Call: 1990, Inner Temple Bar Pro Bono Unit Panel Reviewer MCIArb (Family Finance) MCIArb (Children)

Recorder on the South Eastern Circuit to sit in Family matters (2022)

Publications: Co-author of DIY Divorce & Separation: The Expert Guide to Representing Yourself (Jordan Publishing), 2014 Contributor to ‘Halsbury’s Laws of England’ Volume 5 (3) and (4) – ‘Children and Young Persons’ Contributor to Butterworth’s Cohabitation Law and Precedents (Same Sex Cohabitation) Contributor to ‘Applications under Schedule 1 to the Children Act 1989’ published by Family Law

Memberships

FLBA The Association of Lawyers for Children

Education

University College London: LLB (Hons) 1987 University College London: LLM (Merit) 1988

Mentions

London Bar

Family: children and domestic abuse

Leading junior1
Claire Heppenstall –1GC | Family Law ‘Claire is a good negotiator and strong in court. She is ready to fight her corner.'
London Bar

Family: divorce and financial remedy

Leading junior2
Claire Heppenstall –1GC | Family Law ‘Claire is a safe pair of hands. She negotiates sensibly and takes a stand when needed.’
London Bar

Family: private FDR judges and arbitrators

Other key lawyer2
Claire Heppenstall – 1GC | Family Law ‘Claire's judgement is invariably spot-on. She demonstrates a quick grasp of cases.'