Matrix Chambers

Claire Darwin KC is a leading expert in employment and equality rights. Her discrimination work spans the fields of employment, goods and services, pensions, premises, education, and public law.

Claire has been recognised by the legal directories as a leading barrister for employment, education, and public law for many years. According to the directories ‘on complex disability discrimination cases there is no one better', and Claire is said to be ‘well known for her strength in discrimination cases’.

Called to the Bar 2005.  Appointed King’s Counsel 2023.  Appointed a Recorder (part-time Circuit Judge), 2023.  Appointed to the Attorney General’s A Panel in 2017 and reappointed for a further term in 2021. Also appointed to the B and C Panels. In 2018 she was appointed to the Attorney General’s Panel of Special Advocates, and she is a member of the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s current Panel of Preferred Counsel.

Shortlisted for the 2023 Public Services and Charities Silk of the Year.  One of eight barristers shortlisted for The Lawyer’s Barrister of the Year Award 2020, for which she received a Commendation. Named as one of the UK’s “Hot 100 Lawyers” by The Lawyer magazine in January 2020.

German, Spanish, basic French.

Employment Lawyers Association (ELA); Employment Law Bar Association (ELBA) (elected member of ELBA Committee since 2019); Industrial Law Society; Association of Partnership Practitioners, Education Law Association, European Employment Lawyers Association, the UK Association for European Law (UKAEL) and the Bar European Group.

St Catharine’s College, Cambridge (2002, MA History);

University of Heidelberg, Germany (2000 – 2001);

City University (2004, CPE/GDL).