Specialisms
- Big Money Assets
- Child Maintenance
- Children Financial Disputes
- Civil Partnership
- Cohabitation Claims
- Family or Small Business
- Farming Cases
- Finances and Foreign Divorce
- Inheritance Act Claims
- Middle Range Assets
- Modest Assets
- Offshore Trusts
- Trusts
- UK Pensions
Claire Heppenstall
T: 020 77977900 | heppenstall@1gc.com
I am an extremely experienced barrister of 25years + who practises exclusively in private family and family related work. My practice is largely split between all aspects of Private Children Law and Financial Remedies work. I am based at 1GC|Family Law – one of the leading Family Law sets.
Dealing with both children and money work allows me to assist the private client across most areas of dispute that arise during difficult family breakdowns in a highly effective way.
As a barrister I act in all levels of court and am frequently instructed in cases where King’s Counsel is instructed on the other side.
In the area of Private Children Law, I have a particular interest and a huge amount of expertise in cases involving relocation, both external and internal. International leave to remove cases are a specialist area and I have most recently been involved in contested removals to Brazil, USA, Germany, Italy and Australia.
In Financial Remedies work, I am often instructed in difficult cases involving issues of non-disclosure or where careful analysis of family businesses and trust interests is required. I have considerable experience of dealing with Schedule 1 applications and am regularly instructed in this type of claim.
As an arbitrator qualified to take on both private children and financial remedies work under the two separate IFLA schemes, this dual qualification allows me to provide clients with the opportunity for all aspects of their separation (children and financial issues) to be determined in one consolidated hearing – saving huge amounts of time, money and stress.
I have been instructed to arbitrate both narrow “single issue” disputes e.g. change of name, schooling or holiday issues as well as the more complex child arrangement issues that arise on family breakdown.
In financial work – I have been instructed in both straightforward lower value cases in addition to more complex high net worth disputes. No matter the degree of complexity – all arbitrations conducted before me receive the same careful consideration and special attention to the detail of the dispute.
I am ranked as a Leading Junior for both Children and Matrimonial Finance Work by both Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners. Most recent descriptions –
“Claire is a very safe pair of hands, astute, hardworking and talented. She has an in -depth and technical understanding of family law. She is a deeply compassionate advocate who supports the client with her steadiness and wisdom” Tier 1 for Children Legal 500, 2023.
“Claire has great commercial acumen. She is clear, direct and exudes authority in court. Her advocacy is polished and persuasive”, Tier 2 for Family (incl Divorce and Financial Remedy), Legal 500, 2023
“Robust, very clear thinking and someone whose advocacy is outstanding. She gets straight to the heart of the matter, which clients appreciate”. Chambers and Partners, 2023
“Claire is excellent, tenacious, professional and very forthright when required”. Chambers and Partners, 2023.
Qualifications:
Barrister and Part-time Judge
Link to website profile: Claire Heppenstall, MCIArb | 1GC|Family Law
Qualifications
Barrister, Part-time JudgeRegions
Channel Islands, East Midlands, East of England, London, North East, North West, Northern Ireland, South East, South West, Wales, West Midlands, Yorkshire and The Humber
