Catherine Heyworth KC

Call: 1991 | Silk: 2022

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Catherine Heyworth KC is a highly respected family Silk with a strong reputation across Wales, and a growing profile in England. She is known for her calm, authoritative presence in court and her ability to guide clients and professionals through the most complex and sensitive cases.

Her practice focuses on serious and high-risk care proceedings, including cases involving rape,sexual abuse, serious non-accidental injury, fabricated induced illness, child cruelty, and murder. Catherine has particular expertise in cases involving complex medical evidence.

She is recognised for her skill in identifying genetic or underlying medical conditions such as osteogenesis imperfecta, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and Prader-Willi syndrome, where inflicted injury has been wrongly suspected.

She is also instructed in cases with international elements,including removal from and return to the jurisdiction, human trafficking and forced marriage protection. She also undertakes instruction in Dol cases and private law cases.

Catherine has considerable experience acting in proceedings involving vulnerable children and adults, including those with significant mental health needs, and is skilled in cross-examining young and vulnerable witnesses.

Catherine is consistently ranked in Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500, where she is praised for her attention to detail, sensitive handling of difficult issues, and her ability to deliver clear, practical advice.

Expertise

Family & Childcare

Catherine specialises in complex care proceedings, including serious allegations of abuse, non-accidental injury, FII and forced marriage. She is recognised for identifying medical explanations where inflicted harm is alleged and for representing vulnerable clients with skill and sensitivity. She acts regularly in cases involving international issues and secure accommodation.

Additional Information

Appointments

King’s Counsel
Bencher of The Inner Temple
Pupil Supervisor

Education

LLB (Hons)

Memberships

Association of Lawyers for Children
Family Law Bar Association

Notable & Reported Cases

A Local Authority v T (No. 1) [2018] EWHC 576 High Court proceedings considering the issue of authentic consent by a young person in a deprivation of liberty context.
Re G (A Child) [2014] EWCA Civ 432 Application by a non-parent for leave to oppose adoption, following care and placement orders. The case addressed legal routes available for non-parents to participate in adoption proceedings.
Re EN (A Child) (Special Guardianship Order) [2008] 2 FCR 229 Special guardianship order concerning a child injured non-accidentally by her mother. The paternal grandmother’s application for care was refused at first instance; the case proceeded to the Court of Appeal to consider judicial error.
Re W [2001] 1 FCR 139 Case involving threshold criteria and whether a fact-finding hearing was necessary to address allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour between a mother and child during contact.
Re S [1996] 2 FLR 773 Case concerning early hearings in contested care proceedings to clarify issues and encourage expert consensus in order to prevent delay.

Recent & Notable Work

Represented local authorities in care proceedings involving allegations of sexual abuse by foster carers.
Acted in non-accidental injury cases requiring analysis of historical injuries previously thought accidental.
Instructed in care proceedings revisiting historic child deaths within families.
Acted in High Court care cases involving alleged drug poisoning of children.
Appeared in media-access care cases before the High Court.
Represented Health Boards in complex, disputed medical treatment cases involving children.
Acted in care cases concerning international sexual abuse and cross-border evidence.
Instructed in serious non-accidental head injury cases resulting in death or life-altering injury.
Appeared in cases involving interfamilial and step-parent sexual abuse, including allegations of rape.

For more information
Contact our clerks for assistance with choosing the right barrister for your matter.

clerks@30parkplace.co.uk
+44 (0)2920 398421

"She is calm, considered and clearly knowledgeable beyond her brief. She is a kind and considerate colleague and a pleasure to instruct and work alongside."

Chambers UK 2026

"Catherine combines technical brilliance with genuine empathy, making her an exceptional silk and a pleasure to work with."

Chambers UK 2026

‘persuasive and powerful’

Legal 500 2026

'her clients love her and she is a joy to work with.'

Legal 500 2026

"Catherine Heyworth's approach is empathetic but tough when she needs to be. Her advocacy is incomparable."

Chambers UK 2025

"Catherine excels as an advocate, demonstrating superb communication skills paired with unwavering empathy. She maintains thorough knowledge of the law, ensuring her advice is consistently clear and reliable."

Legal 500 2025

"Catherine Heyworth KC is a fantastic leading barrister. She's personable, approachable and her advocacy is outstanding."

Chambers UK 2024

"Catherine is very personable and an expert in her field."

Chambers UK 2024

"She's a real fighter for her client and she's got an excellent knowledge of the law."

Chambers UK 2024

"Her preparation of cases is meticulous, which shows in her expert cross-examination and flawless advocacy. She is calm and confident in her approach and extremely patient."

Legal 500 2024

"Catherine is an excellent advocate with thorough preparation of cases."

Chambers UK 2023

"Catherine is an exceptional advocate. An excellent communicator with unquestionable empathy, she is always up to date with the law and gives clear advice."

Legal 500 2023

"Catherine is one of the most knowledgeable and hard-working barristers I have had the pleasure of working alongside. The effort and time that she puts into cases is above and beyond her brief."

Chambers UK 2022

"Catherine is extremely thorough in her approach and picks out details that are perhaps missed by others. She is sympathetic with clients but firm when required making her the perfect counsel for care and family clients."

Legal 500 2022

"She is a fantastic advocate, very knowledgeable and a pillar of support in difficult cases."

Chambers UK 2021

"An incredibly accomplished advocate with the gift of the common touch."

Legal 500 2021

"She's very good, makes herself available out of hours if necessary and is a very strong advocate."

Chambers UK 2020

"Specialises in care proceedings involving abuse allegations."

Legal 500 2020