Heather Arlidge

Call 2009
Telephone 020 7831 0222 | Email [email protected]

Heather Arlidge

Call 2009
Telephone 020 7831 0222 | Email [email protected]

Heather is a specialist public inquiry and medical law practitioner, practising in personal injury, clinical negligence, and inquests & inquiries. She also practices in broader public & administrative law, particularly in matters regarding prisons and the secure estate.

Heather’s practice is currently dominated by the Eljamel Inquiry, a Scottish public Inquiry investigating the professional practice of Mr Eljamel, a consultant neurosurgeon, and the governance systems, or lack thereof, that were in place to protect patients. Heather is First Junior Counsel to the Inquiry. She continues to accept instructions across her practice areas.

Prior to joining Chambers, Heather worked for two well-known insurance law firms in London, where she was instructed in almost every conceivable type of claim that might be expected in a defendant insurance practice. Although the focus of her practice is now medical, her broad common-law experience means she continues to receive instructions in matters such as construction claims and contractual disputes.

Personal Injury Law

Heather is the head of the Personal Injury Team at 42BR Barristers. She has considerable experience in acting for both Claimants and Defendants across a broad range of road traffic, public liability, and employers’ liability claims. She has a busy multi-track court and paperwork practice, and regularly advises in conference in complex personal injury matters. Heather is regularly instructed in claims for serious or catastrophic injuries, including those involving brain injuries resulting in a lack of capacity, and in claims raising novel or complex points of law.

Heather has developed particular experience in dealing with matters where fundamental dishonesty and/or fraud is in issue, and is regularly instructed to advise in these matters in addition to her court work.

Away from the court room, Heather is frequently instructed to advise in conference and on paper in respect of quantum and liability in high-value claims, and particularly enjoys the forensic analysis of high volumes of information. She is instructed in joint settlement meetings and has acted, without a leader, in several cases valued at more than £1m.

Heather is instructed by both Claimants and Defendants. Where appropriate, she will consider accepting instructions on a CFA basis.

Recent cases

Acting for the Defendant local authority in a number of linked claims brought by two Claimants. Heather was also instructed in respect of the imposition of Extended and General Civil Restraint Orders arising in connection with the dismissal of the linked claims (2025).
Acting for the Claimant in a stress at work claim arising from her work in the secure estate. The matter settled at JSM for over £100,000
Acting for the partner of deceased in a fatal accident claim arising from an accident at work. The claim settled at JSM for £750,000 and involved novel issues of apportionment for the family (concluded 2022)
Acting for the family of a city worker who died in a road traffic accident (concluded 2021)

Inquiries

Heather has extensive experience of acting as Counsel to the Inquiry, and Counsel for Core Participants in a number of high profile public inquiries.

She is currently First Junior Counsel to the Inquiry in the Eljamel Inquiry, chaired by Lord Weir.

Heather was junior counsel representing Haemophilia Scotland, the Scottish Infected Blood Forum, and approximately 200 individual core participants from 2020-2026.

Heather was senior junior to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry in Module 2A from 2023 to 2025.

In 2025-2026, Heather was junior counsel to the Inquiry in the Undercover Policing Inquiry.

Direct Access

Heather is authorised to accept instructions direct from members of the public. She encourages clients who are considering this route to contact Chambers and discuss their problem.

In suitable cases, Heather can provide client conferences, written advices and representation at court. Heather accepts public access work across Chambers’ areas of expertise.