FRANCES HEATON

Call 1985     Gray’s Inn


Family and private client


LLB (Sheffield)

heaton@deanscourt.co.uk


Areas of Practice

Family – Children (private and public law),

International Movement of Children

Judicial Review


What the Directories say

‘Extraordinarily busy in difficult child work’
– Legal 500, 2005
‘Marvellous’
– Chambers UK, 2006
‘An insightful advocate’
– Chambers UK, 2007
‘A sensitive advocate’
– Chambers UK, 2008
‘Recommended consistently for her sensitive approach in care cases’
– Legal 500, 2008
‘Committed and sensible….Really knows her stuff.'
– Chambers UK, 2009
'has a sensitive approach in care cases.'
- Legal 500, 2009
'recommended for [her] sensitivity in care cases.'
- Legal 500, 2010
"a clear thinker and a persuasive advocate." 
- Chambers UK, 2011
'recommended for childcare matters'
- Legal 500, 2011
'the doyenne of the junior Bar in care work.'
- Chambers UK, 2012

   

Legal 500

Individual

Education

Inns of Court School of Law

Sheffield University (LLB)

Bolton School [Girls Division]


Profile

Frances’s career began in London in 1985 where, after completing her pupillage in the Temple she became a tenant at Cloisters, 1 Pump Court [the chambers of Christian Bevington] and then moved to 4 Brick Court where she joined a specialist family team. By 1989 she specialised entirely in family law, and was regularly undertaking public law work [wardship] in the Royal Courts of Justice. She was recognised as a feisty opponent who advocated well for whichever party she was instructed by. Her preparation and finger-tip knowledge of the material was commended by her tribunals. 

In 1992 she accepted a tenancy in Manchester House Chambers and joined Deans Court Chambers in 1996. Once here her reputation and experience became evident and her busy practice continued and spread over the Pennines to Yorkshire.

Frances is instructed in very complex public law children proceedings in which the central issues include exceptionally serious injuries, non-accidental death / murder (child or parent), serious sexual abuse, very serious neglect, torture, learning and mental health difficulties and factitious illness. In these she is instructed by Local Authorities, parents, children, grandparents, and interveners. As a result of her expertise she is instructed in high profile cases.  

In addition to this work she accepts instructions in complex private law children cases with a particular interest in international movement of children and child abduction.

By her colleagues and tribunal she is noted for her grasp of the issues, her sensitivity in the manner in which she handles these difficult cases and for her sensible, straight-forward advice and approach.

Frances provides seminars and lectures to family solicitor, social workers and expert witnesses.


Reported Cases

X Council -v- B (Emergency Protection Orders) [2004] EWCH 2015[2005] 1 FLR 341

Re A (Custody Decision after Maltese non-return order) 2006 EWHC 3397(Fam), [2007] 1 FLR 1923

Re P (Care Proceedings: Disclosure) 2008 EWHC (Fam) 2197; [2209] 2FLR 1039

Re S (A Child acting by the Official Solicitor) v Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council & Independent Reviewing Officer [2008] EWHC 3283 (fam), [2009] 1 FLR 1090 

  

Appointment

2002 Recorder (Northern Circuit) – Crime & Family (Public and Private Law)   

 

Professional Associations

Northern Circuit

Family Law Bar Association (Committee Member)

Child Concern