Cloisters

Adam Ohringer

Adam is an employment specialist who still maintains a broader civil law practice. He represents claimants, respondents and Union clients at all levels. In addition to his work in the employment tribunals, Adam is regularly involved in employment-related litigation in the High Court representing Claimants and Defendants in high value claims for breach of contract or restrictive covenants. He also advises and represents professionals who are involved in disciplinary proceedings with their employer and/or professional regulatory body. This includes appeals to the High Court against decisions of professional bodies. Cases of note include: Brown v Veolia ES (UK) Ltd (UKEAT/0041/20) – Appeal against conclusion that dismissal was fair despite ET describing the dismissal process as a ‘catalogue of ineptitude and misjudgment.’ Phelan v Richardson Rogers Ltd [2021] ICR 1164 – Whether the ET applied the correct legal principles when refusing to postpone a hearing when the claimant was unwell. Crew Employment Services Camelot v Gould (UKEAT/0330/19) – Consideration of territorial jurisdiction over employment claims brought by the captain of ‘super yacht’. Flatman v Essex County Council (UKEAT/009/20) – Correct analysis to be conducted in determining whether there had been a constructive dismissal where it was alleged that the employer had breach the implied term to provide a safe working environment. Jones v BT Facility Services Ltd (UKEAT/0237/19) – On the approach a tribunal must take when determining whether a dismissal was by reason of redundancy. Angard Staffing Solutions Ltd v Kocur [2020] ICR 1541 – On the application of the Agency Worker Regulations 2010. Dewhurst v Revisecatch t/a Ecourier (UKET/2201909/2018) – Landmark judgment confirming that ‘limb (b) workers’ are protected under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006. General Medical Council v Michalak [2017] ICR 49 - Led in the Supreme Court by William Edis QC of 1 Crown Office Row. The case concerns the correct jurisdiction for complaints of discrimination against qualification bodies. Wittenberg v Sunset Personnel Services Ltd [2017] ICR 1012 - Territorial scope of the Employment Act 1996 and the Equality Act 2010. Focus Care Agency Ltd v Roberts [2017] ICR 1186 - On the application of the minimum wage to workers who are 'on call'. United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust v Farren [2017] ICR 513 - Re-engagement of an unfairly dismissed employee where the employer claims to have lost trust in her. Adorn Spa Ltd v Amjad [2017] EWHC 1313 (QB) - Application for interim injunction to enforce restrictive covenants in an employment contract Education and Workforce Council v Oakley - Represent a lecturer who had a sexual relationship with a student. Suspended for teaching for 3 months. (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3779668/Lecturer-38-secret-affair-pupil-18-banned-teaching-just-three-months-tribunal-heard-led-sex.html) Mohamud v WM Morrison Supermarkets [2016] AC 677- Supreme Court - Vicarious liability for assault of a customer. Butterworth v Police and Crime Commissioner's Office of Greater Manchester [2016] ICR 456 - Considered when the prohibition on post-employment discrimination covers conduct by the employer's successor. Robinson v Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (UKEAT/0311/15) Olsen v Gearbulk Service Ltd [2015] IRLR 818 - On whether the tribunal had jurisdiction over a claim against an employer in Bermuda. Brown v Secretary of State for Education [2015] EWHC 643 (Admin) - Appeal against Prohibition Order imposed on a teacher. The Court gave guidance on the approach to be taken in such appeals. Begraj v Secretary of State for Justice [2015] EWHC 250 (QB) - Claim under the Human Rights Act 1998 for compensation after lengthy employment tribunal proceedings were derailed by private meeting between the Employment Judge an police investigating one of the parties. Davies v LB Haringey [2014] EWHC 3393 (QBD) - Whether a school teacher can be disciplined by the local authority as well as the school. Ojikutu v LB Camden [2014] EWCA civ 978 - Whether the EAT should have exercised its discretion to receive an appeal out of time. The Manchester College v Hazel & Huggins [2014] IRLR 392 - On ETO defences under the Transfer of Undertaking (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006. This followed the Successful application for 'costs protection' for employees being forced to defend an appeal against the decision of the Employment Tribunal and Employment Appeal Tribunal [2013] IRLR 563 and an allegation of bias against the Employment Judge. [2013] EWCA civ 511. Lockwood v Department of Work & Pensions [2014] ICR 1257 - Challenge to the Civil Service redundancy pay scheme on the grounds of age discrimination. White & Todd v Troutbeck [2013] IRLR 286 - Whether a farm caretaker was an employee. Francois v Castle Rock Properties Ltd (t/a Electric Ballroom) (EAT, 05.04.11) – Successful appeal against order of costs on account of conduct of lay representative. Mehta v Child Support Agency [2011] IRLR 305 – Consideration of when witnesses should read their witness statements out aloud. Enable Care & Home Support Ltd v. Pearson (EAT, 26.05.10) - Successful appeal against the judgment of the tribunal on the grounds that it had entered the 'substitution mindset' in an unfair dismissal case. Ahunanya v. Scottish & Southern Energy (Court of Appeal, 16.02.10) - Permission to appeal granted by Maurice Kay LJ. Concerned the correct method for calculating the minimum wage as it applies to overtime worked by a salaried employee. McDougall v Richmond Adult Education College [2008] ICR 431, Court of Appeal

Akua Reindorf KC

Akua Reindorf specialises in employment, discrimination and human rights law. She is instructed across all sectors of employment in high profile trials involving significant reputational risk, polarising and contested equality issues or serious harassment. She conducts major internal investigations. She is a leading specialist in the higher education sector, in which she works at the interface between university governance and regulation, duties in equality law, public sector duties, academic freedom and fundamental rights. She is valued for her meticulous approach to fact-handling, incisive cross-examination, commercial sensitivity and pragmatism and calm and approachable manner. Akua's recent work includes: - The University of Essex “Reindorf Report”: hailed as a “turning point” in the debate on sex and gender, trans rights and cancel culture in universities. - Representing LGB Alliance (led by Karon Monaghan KC) in the First Tier Tribunal, defending the challenge to its charitable status brought by Mermaids. - Acting for James Esses, a trainee psychotherapist who was summarily dismissed from his MSc course after he publicly raised concerns about the treatment of children with gender dysphoria. He complains of belief discrimination and victimisation. - Representing Julie Bindel (led by Karon Monaghan KC) in her anticipated judicial review proceedings against Nottinghamshire County Council following its cancellation of a talk she was due to give on male sexual and domestic violence. - Representing a prospective parliamentary candidate in internal Party disciplinary proceedings successfully defending charges of transphobia in relation to his Twitter activity. - Investigating and advising on complaints of antisemitism relating to the Twitter activity of academic staff at two universities, and conducting a major review of a university’s approach to the IHRA definition of antisemitism. - Representing Aysha Khanom, founder of The Race Trust, in her claim against Leeds Beckett University in which she argued that Critical Race Theory was a protected belief. - Representing a politician who makes far-reaching allegations of institutional Islamophobia against a national political party. - Obtaining a landmark judgment setting aside the “family worker exemption” in the national minimum wage legislation on the basis that it indirectly discriminates against women. As a result of the case the government has announced the repeal of the legislation. - Reviewing the sexual harassment policies, procedures and practices of an Oxford University college. - Advising the University of Cambridge on numerous aspects of its internal employment policies, including its Employer Justified Retirement Age policy. Akua was named in The Lawyer’s Hot 100 2022. She is described in the directories as “very robust”, “sensitive with clients”, noted for “gravitas”, and having “outstanding skills all round, including brilliant, highly effective advocacy and incredibly clear, understandable written advice – makes the most complex points seem straightforward”.

Andrew Buchan

Barrister who has been specialising in personal injury since 1984. He has successfully taken the two leading cases on bullying and stress (respectively) to the House of Lords: Waters v Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis [House of Lords] 2000 bullying at work; Barber v Somerset CC (stress at work); in the employment sphere he has been instructed to intervene on behalf of the NUT (on questions of European Law) in the case of Eastwood v Magnox (House of Lords, jurisdiction of the Employment Tribunal to deal with personal injury claims). He took Sheriff v Klyne Tugs (Lowestoft) Ltd to the Court of Appeal in 1999, jurisdiction of employment tribunal for personal injury cases. CEDR-accredited mediator.

Anna Beale KC

Barrister specialising in employment and discrimination, clinical negligence and personal injury law. Employment and discrimination: has particular expertise in equal pay and sex discrimination; acted as junior counsel in Igen Ltd v Wong (CA, leading case on the burden of proof in discrimination claims) and in several high profile equal pay multiples in the public and private sectors. Reported and high profile cases include Cowie v Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (EAT, August 2022; meaning of "unfavourable treatment" and "disadvantage" in s. 15 and s. 19 Equality Act claims); DPP Law Ltd v Greenberg (CA, May 2021; provided guidance on the ambit of the EAT's discretion in dealing with appeals from the ET); Ajayi v Abu & Abu (HC, July and December 2017; high value breach of contract/PHA 1997 claim on behalf of trafficked worker); JP Morgan (Europe) Ltd v Chweidan (CA, May 2011; concerning the distinction between direct and disability-related discrimination); Elstone v BP (EAT March 2010; established that a worker who makes a protected disclosure in one employment is protected against detriment in a subsequent employment). Clinical negligence: has acted as sole and junior counsel in a wide range of medically complex and high value claims involving spinal injury, cauda equina, birth injury, delayed cancer diagnosis; delayed treatment of brain injury and negligent spinal and hip surgery. Has a particular interest in complex causation issues. Reported cases include Crossman v St George's Healthcare NHS Trust (HC, November 2016). Personal injury: acts across the range of personal injury claims, including road traffic and highway claims, employer's liability, occupier's liability, fatal accidents and Protection from Harassment Act claims. Has particular expertise in crossover employment/personal injury claims involving stress or harassment in the workplace.

Brian Napier KC

Practises employment and discrimination law in England and Scotland (Faculty of Advocates). Cases of note include: Powdrill and Atkinson v Watson [1995] IRLR 269 HL; Wilson v Associated Newspapers [1995] IRLR 258 HL; Meade and Baxendale v British Fuels Ltd [1998] IRLR 706 HL; Archibald v Fife Council [2004] IRLR 651 HL; Percy v Church of Scotland Board of National Mission [2006] IRLR 195 HL; Jackson v Computershare Investor Services plc [2008] IRLR 70, CA; Hewage v Grampian Health Board[2012] IRLR 870, SC; Doogan and Wood v Greater Glasgow Health Board [2014] UKSC 68; Bear Scotland Ltd. & Ors. v Fulton [2015] ICR 221, EAT and University and College Union v The University of Stirling (Scotland) [2015] UKSC 26.

Caroline Musgrave-Cohen

Caroline specialises in employment and equality law. She advises and represents clients across the full range of employment disputes, with particular expertise in discrimination, whistleblowing and equal pay. She acts for both claimants and respondents, advising and representing multi-national companies, NHS Trusts and financial institutions, as well as individuals, law centres and trade unions. Widely acknowledged as an excellent, persuasive and skillful advocate, Caroline’s strong courtroom presence and impressive client-handling skills are evident in the complex legal and factual cases she has managed. Notable cases include Islam v HSBC (UKEAT/0264/16) concerning the duties on the Tribunal to ensure a fair hearing for a litigant with a disability and Wendy v MOD [2013] EqLR 856, in which Caroline represented the most senior serving nurse in the RAF in her successful claim of sex discrimination. The tribunal awarded substantial financial compensation and made far-reaching recommendations to seek to avoid future discrimination in the MOD. Caroline excels in both in-person and remote video hearings. She has trained solicitors and barristers in how to adapt their preparation and advocacy for remote forums.

Carolyn D'Souza

Arbitration & Mediation, Discrimination & Equality, Employment

Caspar Glyn KC

Caspar is an expert in the employment relationship, contractual (including injunctive relief) and regulatory sports’ disputes and other linked contractual / commercial claims including civil fraud and fiduciaries. He advises on contentious disputes and is a trial lawyer with a national reputation - representing employers when facing mass claims, those of legal principle or those affecting reputation and bringing mass claims for employees. He has a busy and flourishing appellate practice, with judgments from the Supreme Court in 2022 on the accrual of holiday pay (Harpur), in 2021 to his challenges to the calculation of the national minimum wage for workers required either to work at home and or to sleep at work (Mencap) and in 2018 the Supreme Court implied a new term into all contracts of employment as to notice (Haywood) as well as, in an earlier case, accepting his arguments as to consultation obligations (UCU). In 2022 the Court of Appeal Appeal accepted his arguments allowing gig economy workers to carry over both untaken and unpaid leave until the end of their employment (Pimlico No2) and in 2019 he appeared before the Court of Appeal as lead counsel in three leading cases: constructive dismissal and suspension (Lambeth v Agoreyo), Agency workers (Kocur v Royal Mail) and part-time / zero hours holiday pay (Harpur). He is a trained mediator, carries out investigations for organisations, prosecutes and defends in disciplinary hearings, is experienced in sports’ arbitrations in all roles as an advocate, Arbitrator and Chairman. Caspar remains a trial lawyer in cases of importance and or high value. Caspar has become an acknowledged expert on the impact of Covid on the employment relationship including vaccination. Full details at www.cloisters.com

Catherine Casserley

Practises employment, discrimination and human rights law. Previously employed by the Disability Rights Commission, and has worked as a trade union legal officer. Has particular expertise in strategic litigation, and is regularly instructed by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (recently re-appointed to their panel). Cases include: Akerkman – Livingstone v Aster Communities [2015] UKSC 15; Preddy and Hall v Bull and Bull, Supreme Court [2013] UKSC 73; Firstgroup PLC v Paulley [2014] EWCA Civ, 1573 Foster v Cardiff University [2013] UKEAT/0422; R (on the application of MM and DM) and Secretary for Work and Pensions & ors [2013] UKUT 0206, Court of Appeal [2013] EWCA Civ 1565; Hook and Stott v British Airways [2012] EWCA Civ 66; Aylott v Stocton on Tees Borough Council [2010] EWCA Civ 910; SCA Packaging Ltd v Boyle [2009] UKHL.

Catriona Stirling

Catriona has specialised in clinical negligence and personal injury for a number of years and has substantial experience across the whole range of liability and quantum issues arising in these areas. She has been instructed in a number of noteworthy and high value personal injury and clinical negligence cases. She is currently acting in a very high profile and complex matter for a large number of police officers in multiple claims for psychiatric injuries and has recently acted for two claimants who were very seriously injured in the Alton Towers rollercoaster disaster. She has an academic and practical interest in the interface of medical law and ethics and sits as a volunteer member of an NHS Research Ethics Committee.

Chesca Lord

Barrister specialising in employment and discrimination, personal injury, and clinical negligence. Chesca regularly advises and acts in all areas of employment and equality law, including unfair dismissal, redundancy, contractual issues, whistleblowing and TUPE. She has particular experience in complex multi-day discrimination Employment Tribunal hearings across the full range of protected characteristics, and is developing her appellate practice. She is also noted for her expertise in holiday pay, having provided training and/or advice on this rapidly developing area of law to solicitors, individuals and companies (ranging from SMEs to public bodies and major retailers). In her personal injury and clinical negligence practice, Chesca has a particular interest in contested quantum-only cases of the utmost severity. She is regularly instructed to draft complex multi-million pound schedules of loss involving large numbers of expert disciplines. Recent cases in which she has acted as a junior include: a two-week quantum trial resulting in one of the largest reported settlements for an above-knee amputee; numerous birth negligence cases, including obtaining a £1.2m interim payment to enable a property purchase; and a stress at work claim pleaded in excess of £30m. The crossover between Chesca’s areas of expertise is especially valuable in personal injury claims arising in the workplace, in particular her alertness to potential disability discrimination and stress at work issues.

Christopher Milsom

Chris operates at the forefront of employment and equality law having appeared at every level including the Supreme Court. He is described by courts and clients alike as 'a tour de force' with an 'encyclopedic knowledge of employment law.' Clients vary from FTSE 100 companies, the Church of England and universities to directors, doctors and victims of trafficking. Chris is known for his sensitive client-handling skills which have proved invaluable in a number of high-profile sexual harassment claims including actions against Oxfam and Weinstein. He is also regarded as a foremost expert in whistle-blowing (having acted in Osipov, Kilraine, Bamieh and Gilham) and worker status claims. He has particular expertise in issues relating to freedom of expression within the workplace including the education and university sectors.In the last year Chris has acted in litigation which generates national and international scrutiny including Casimatjana Costa v League against Cruel Sports (the first successful claim of discrimination on the grounds of veganism) and Gue and Zulu v MoD (a successful complaint of racial harassment in the army which led to a wide-ranging review). Chris' ground-breaking appellate work has led to a total of 40 appearances in the Industrial Relations Law Reports on matters ranging from shared parental leave rights, territoriality and covert recordings to caste discrimination and employment protection for the Windrush Generation. As such he is an all-time top 50 advocate for IRLR appearances, recognised for appearing in cases "at the frontier of discrimination law."Chris has been appointed as Panel Counsel for both the Government Legal Department and the EHRC.

Claire McCann

Claire McCann specialises in employment, equality and public law as well as regulatory and human rights law. She is widely recognised for her incisive cross-examination skills, meticulous preparation, speed of response, and her ability to put clients at ease. Highly regarded for her tenacity in court and commercial acumen, Claire is regularly instructed on behalf of companies, charities, public authorities and central government, trade unions and individuals. She is accredited to be instructed under Direct Access. In 2021/22, she was appointed as a Recorder and as a Fee-paid Employment Judge. She has a particularly strong reputation for her equality work, including non-employment discrimination cases and judicial reviews. She is also instructed in High Court employment-related litigation concerning restraint of trade and director’s duties. Claire has a strong advisory practice and is a sought-after junior in complex and high-profile litigation. Notable appellate cases include: Semenya v Switzerland (application to European Court of Human Rights on Switzerland's duties to secure protection for Caster Semenya's Convention rights in the context of sports arbitration); C v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (about transgender rights and informational privacy); Surtees v Middlesbrough Council (a seminal equal pay case about pay protection); and Elias v Secretary of State for Defence (one of the first cases in which the Court of Appeal considered the ambit of the race equality duty). Claire contributes to legal textbooks and articles to legal journals and lectures widely on employment law.

Daniel Lawson

Dan specialises in personal injury, clinical negligence and insurance law.

Daphne Romney KC

Daphne Romney QC is an expert in high-value, very complex litigation and is well known as a highly skilled advocate. She specialises in employment law, most notably discrimination, equal pay, protected disclosures, and victimisation, representing both claimants and respondents. A survey in The Lawyer showed that she was the most used female employment silk both in the EAT and the Court of Appeal in the last five years.Over the past eighteen years Daphne has acted for thousands of women in mass equal pay claims against local authorities incluing Birmingham, Glasgow, North Lanarkshire, Redcar & Cleveland and Middlesbrough and for NHS staff in the test case on whether Agenda for Change complied with equal pay law. She is currently acting for Co-Op employees in their equal pay claim and for BNP Paribas in a claim for equal pay and discrimination brought by an employee on long term sick leave. She also advised the Equality Commission Northern Ireland on the effect of the forthcoming Pay Transprency Directive in the light of Brexit. She is the author of Equal Pay - Law and Practice (OUP 2018).Her cases in the Court of Appeal include NHS Manchester v Fecitt (whistleblowing and detriment) Adesokan v Sainbury's Stores (wrongful dismissal) and Walker v Co-Operative Group (equal pay and sex discrimination).Daphne conducted an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination at the BMA, and her widely-publicised report was published in October 2019. She also investigated a grievance brought against the CEO of a local authority.Daphne is a member of the EHRC A List Panel

Declan O"Dempsey

Declan O’Dempsey is a member of the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s A panel. He specialises in sensitive and difficult employment, discrimination, public and regulatory law. He practises in all areas of employment work, including trades union, injunction, data protection and confidentiality and human rights law. He has been involved in the major age discrimination cases: Heyday (challenge to the default retirement age); Seldon v Clarkson Jakes & Wright (retirement and partners); Homer v West Yorks Chief Constable (indirect discrimination and age); Lockwood v DWP. In disability discrimination: Coleman v Attridge Law (associative discrimination); X v Mid-Sussex CAB (volunteers and discrimination); Goodwin v Patent Office (definition of disability). Other discrimination cases include: Azmi v Kirklees (niqab); Ashton v Chief Constable of Mercia (gender reassignment); Begraj & Anor v Heer Manak Solicitors & Ors (caste discrimination, bias). He acted in many redundancy and TUPE cases, including: Manchester College v Hazel (TUPE ETO reasons); Mugford v Midland Bank (fair selection procedures); Shawkat v Nottingham City Hospital NHS Trust; High Table v Horst (redundancy definition cases). In administrative law he acts for councils and individuals, particularly in relation to the Public Sector Equality Duties now under the Equality Act 2010. He acted in R (Kaur v Shah) v Ealing BC. He co-drafted the EHRC’s statutory codes on Parts 3 and 7 of the Equality Act 2010 and its guidance on the Public Sector Equality Duties for public authorities. He acted for the Brigade of Gurkhas Welfare Society in its human rights challenge to the pension rights of Gurkha veterans. He advises on policy formulation and law reform issues and is a founder member of the Halsbury Law Exchange think tank. He has an international reputation as an expert on EU anti-discrimination law. He has trained NGOs, trade unions, judges and practitioners in several EU states. He is on the Executive Committee of the Industrial Law Society, and is on LNTV’s expert panel for employment law.

Declan O'Dempsey

Barrister at Cloisters Chambers, part time fee paid employment judge in North East Region (Newcastle) and part time fee paid employment judge in Scotland.

Dee Masters

Dee Masters has been ranked in the legal directories since 2010 as a leading employment barrister. According to an article in The Lawyer magazine in 2019, Dee Masters was one of the "top 10" female juniors appearing in the EAT. Dee Masters is an employment, discrimination, artificial intelligence and whistleblowing specialist. As a recognised expert in her field, her practice primarily consists of multi-week trials involving multiple and complex allegations. She is instructed by employers, employees and unions in high value or important claims. Due to her expertise, she regularly advises NGOs and government agencies on the development of discrimination law and she has delivered judicial training on discrimination law at ERA in Trier funded by the European Commission. She is also Head of Employment within Cloisters. Dee is a leading practitioner in the technology space in relation to the interplay between artificial intelligence, equality law, human rights and data protection. She advises companies on auditing AI systems to ensure compliance with equality law as well as policy makers, NGOs and unions. Along with Robin Allen QC, she hosts www.ai-lawhub.com which contains information on how service providers can ensure that technology complies with the Equality Act 2010 as well as recent examples of her advisory work in this area. She was the CogX 2021 finalist for the Global Leadership Award.

Ed Williams KC

Ed is named by the Legal 500, Chambers and Partners and Legal Experts as a leading employment and discrimination junior, and is regularly leading other junior barristers.Five of Ed's current appellate cases were named as part of Micky Rubenstein's cases to watch for 2015. Ed receives instructions from a wide range of clients, including individuals, large national and multinational companies including investment and high street banks, trade unions, national and local broadcasters, local and police authorities, housing associations, universities, schools and FE colleges, charities and nation states. Recently, Ed has been instructed in a number of high profile and significant cases in the Court of Appeal, High Court, EAT and Employment Tribunal. These include the scope of the EU Directive for Temporary Agency workers, whether the elective theory of termination should apply to calculating the date an employee’s contract is terminated for unfair dismissal cases; a share options case worth over £60 million to an individual, whether 250 former IBM employees were discriminated on grounds of age/constructively dismissed arising out of changes made to their pensions "Project Waltz", acting for one of the schools in Birmingham named in Operation Trojan Horse as being subject to an Islamist takeover, whether a Banker working and living in Singapore for a UK Bank is protected by EU and Human Rights law when making a protected disclosure, breaches of Home Office Animal Testing guidelines by a senior academic at a Russell Group University, whether a Trade Union lay branch secretary has employment protection and whether Marxist or Left Wing Democratic Socialist views are a protected characteristic, whether there is a TUPE transfer from sole employment to joint employment, what redress a teacher has against damaging CRB references against a former employer and what Academy schools liabilities are for the torts of their predecessor schools. Ed also has an expanding Education, Public and Regulatory law practice as well as in employment related injunctions. Ed is also an Accredited Mediator and co-founder and Director of witness familiarisation company Assurety (www.assuretytraining.com)

Hannah Godfrey

Barrister (called 2002) at Cloisters Chambers specialising in personal injury and clinical negligence work. Predominantly instructed by claimants, in whole range of personal injury and clinical negligence work including fatal accidents and inquests.

Jacques Algazy KC

Jacques Algazy practices in employment, commercial, European, and public law. His robust advocacy wins praise in the directories. He regularly appears for major institutions, NHS Trusts and local authorities, as well as appearing for individuals and trade union clients. He has experience of multi-party actions involving large numbers of litigants. Jacques’ employment practice embraces tribunal, High Court and appellate work and covers all areas of employment law, especially discrimination and whistleblowing. Jacques successfully defended a national newspaper against claims of sexual orientation discrimination. He specialises in multi-jurisdictional (e.g. tribunal and High Court) and cross-border litigation. High Court cases include restrictive covenants, confidentiality, database rights and fiduciary duty. Known for his expertise in the international aspects of employment law, statutory and contractual. Jacques has appeared in a number of significant cases in the area of territorial jurisdiction including the seminal Lawson v Serco. Jacques also acts in cases in Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands. Jacques has appeared in a number of substantial claims in the medical field acting both for doctors and NHS Trusts, including successfully defending a 26-day race claim. Jacques also practices discrimination law in the field of goods and services. Jacques is a fee-paid Employment Tribunal judge. His commercial litigation practice covers a broad range of commercial matters, especially cases with an international/EC dimension, including commercial agency and sale of goods and services. Jacques also acts in international arbitrations. Jacques acted in a partnership arbitration (injunction applications in England) arising out of a team move in Russia. He successfully acted in a groundbreaking case in which the minority shareholders of a company sued the majority, who had bought them out and then sold the business on three weeks later at a substantially higher price. In a company dispute, Jacques succeeded in setting aside a transfer of shares on grounds of duress. Jacques’ public law and regulatory work includes judicial review.

Jason Galbraith-Marten KC

Jason is one of the UK’s leading employment and equality lawyers. In a career at the Bar spanning 30 years, he has established himself as one of the very best and most respected practitioners in employment and equality law, consistently being ranked whilst a junior and, since his appointment in 2014, as a QC. He is particulary regarded for his intellectual strength, balancing sound commercial judgement with a real understanding of, and dedication to, his client’s needs. Over the past few years he has appeared in many of the leading employment status cases including most recently acting for Uber drivers in the Supreme Court, and for Yodel Delivery Network before the CJEU.

Jennifer Danvers

Main areas of practice: Clinical Negligence, Discrimination and Equality Law, Employment Jen was called to the Bar in 2012. She was appointed to the EHRC’s Panel of Preferred Counsel in 2019. Employment Jen has particular expertise in the Higher Education sector acting for both HE providers, such as Oxford University, and on behalf of unions and individual academics. She was instructed on behalf of c.10,000 claimants as junior counsel in a gig-economy case. She regularly acts as sole counsel in high profile and complex multi-day discrimination and whistleblowing litigation. She is highly sought after by both claimant and respondent solicitors for her clear-sighted, strategic approach to litigation. Jen also regularly undertakes complex internal investigations into employee disputes and disciplinary matters, including in the most sensitive cases of serious sexual harassment. She sits as a fee-paid Employment Judge in the South West Region. Clinical negligence Jen has acted for claimants with complex claims where both liability and quantum is in issue. She has an active practice as sole counsel and is frequently junior to leaders in the field of high value clinical negligence litigation, in particular, wrongful birth cases. Discrimination Jen represents clients in discrimination in goods and services and education litigation. She recently acted for Emily Bendell in her widely-reported claim against the Garrick Club.

Joel Donovan KC

Barrister practising mainly in complex high-value clinical negligence and PI, including grave birth injury and brain/spinal cord lesions. Accepts public access. Commended in Chambers UK 2016 for both clinical negligence and personal injury: “..phenomenally intelligent and a real pleasure to work with.” “.. incredible in terms of his ability to absorb folders of information and drill down to the key issues. He makes the instructing solicitor's job so much easier. He combines being calm, sensible and unflappable with a determined desire to win.” "…a fantastic strategist, with an ability to see all the complexities of a case before they actually play out in court." Recent cases include key Supreme Court decision of Mohamud v Morrisons [2016] AC 677 (‘close connection’ test for vicarious liability); M v A Highway Authority (liability settlement arising from catastrophic motorcycle vs. pothole collision); Z v K (six-figure approved settlement of challenging catastrophic injury claim arising from drunken joyriding); D v P NHS Trust (seven-figure lump sum/PP approved settlement arising from delayed spinal immobilisation, leading to quadriplegia); Y v L NHS Trust (ongoing high-value claim arising from alleged contamination of spinal anaesthetic causing arachnoiditis); W v K (seven-figure lump sum/PP approved settlement in GP claim arising from devastating subarachnoid haemorrhage); X v Y (high-value wrongful birth case for mother of child with severe global developmental delay); Z v A Trust (cerebral palsy: seven-figure lump sum/PP approved settlement); and several ongoing high-value claims involving delayed recognition/treatment of cauda equina syndrome.

John Horan

Barrister in discrimination and equality and employment. On the day before the millennium John Horan had a stroke – it changed his life and made him a better discrimination lawyer. His extensive experience in battling for the rights of disabled people has led to expertise in employment, goods and services, education and public authorities. He also has a particular interest in other kinds of anti-discrimination work and employment law generally. He is a passionate supporter of direct access working, helping claimants understand the options open to them and, most often, doing this work for free. His views have led to him being interviewed by the BBC’s Ouch and being the subject of stories by ‘Guardian’ and ‘The Times’. He champions the rights of the disability community and was awarded the Bar Council’s ‘Pro Bono Lawyer for the Year’ in 2003. The European Commission asks him to host a work forum on the complaisance with the UN Conversation of Rights of People with Disabilities. John appears frequently for law centres, the FRU, ELAAS, Bar Pro Bono Unit and the Disability Law Association, as well as well-known solicitors firms. Cases include: Ganga v Bishop of Chelmsford (2015) Williamson v (1) Chief Constable Of Greater Manchester (2) Greater Manchester Police Authority (2010); G Saunders v Birmingham City Council (2008); Caroline Elizabeth Bone v Newham London Borough Council (2008); Hampton v Lord Chancellor (2008); Hart v Chief Constable Of Derbyshire (2007); Hackney London Borough Council & Ors v S Sagnia (2005); Robert Ross v (1) Ryanair Ltd (2) Stansted Airport Ltd (2004).

Jonathan Cook

Employment, Discrimination & Equality, Clinical Negligence, Commercial Law, Personal Injury, Requlatory

Linda Jacobs

Linda Jacobs is a barrister at Cloisters (2000 call, Middle Temple, Harmsworth Scholar). She specialises in clinical negligence, personal injury, and healthcare law; inquest and professional regulatory law; and Criminal Injury Compensation Authority Appeal Panel claims. Linda has extensive advisory and advocacy experience in a broad range of clinical negligence, personal injury, occupational illness and disease, fatal accident, product liability, and dangerous animal claims. She is regularly instructed in cases of catastrophic injury as sole counsel or as a junior, including spinal/neurological injury and birth-related injury. Linda regularly represents families at inquests, often proceeding litigation. In addition, Linda represents healthcare professionals at disciplinary and regulatory proceedings before various regulatory bodies, including the General Medical Council and Nursing and Midwifery Council. Linda has attended the Standing Conference of Mediation Advocates workshops on Mediation Advocacy.

Martin V Seaward

Barrister specialising in personal and fatal injuries, occupational pensions, coroner’s inquests, administrative and public law. Coroner’s inquests: firefighter deaths in Oldham (2013); the Shirley Towers High-Rise Block (2010); the Harrow Court High-Rise Block (2007); and the Bethnal Green Basement (2006); plus sailors’ deaths aboard HMS Trident (2009) and soldier’s deaths in Afghanistan (2010). Personal injury–claimant: caseload specialising in fire and military services; also, road traffic and railways. Recent significant reported cases include: Wembridge v Winter [2013] EWHC 2331 (QB) – tortious liability of fire and rescue services for injuries caused by explosion at Marlie Farm; Gravil v Carroll & Redruth Rugby Football Club [2008] EWCA CIV 689; [2008] 1CR 1222 – determined that employing clubs of fully and semi-professional rugby players should be vicariously liable for their players’ deliberate assaults. Administrative and public law: R (oao LFEPA) v Board of Medical Referees (Coogan) [2012] EWHC 3828 (Admin) –composition of Board; Marrion, Scott & Burke v Boards of Medical Referees [2009] EWCA Civ 450–ill-health pension and appeal rights of firefighters and police officers; Ex parte Callaghan [2008] All ER (D) 58 (Dec) – acceleration injuries qualify for an award; Walker v Inner London Crown Court [2008] AllER (D) 241(Jan) – meaning of ‘in the execution of duty’. Pensions: Matthews v Kent & Medway Towns Fire Authority (part-time workers) [2006] 1CR 365 (HL) – victory for retained firefighters and landmark authority for part-time workers; Hopper [2001] OPLR 357; [2001] All ER (D) 11(Oct) + OPLR- Chancery Division – nature of pensionable pay; Jordan (Cambridge Crown Court, 25/01/02) – jurisdiction of Boards of Medical Referees.

Martyn McLeish

Martyn McLeish is an experienced personal injury and clinical negligence junior, recommended in both The Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners. He has extensive experience of representing claimants who have suffered catastrophic injury, including brain and spinal injury. He is a contributor to chapters in Buchan & Lewis Clinical Negligence, and to the injuries of maximum severity section of Butterworths Personal Injury Litigation Service.

Nathaniel Caiden

Barrister specialising in in employment, discrimination and equality. Also a trained mediator and appears on behalf of participants in mediations. Appeared in several reported areas including: Tabidi v BBC [2020] EWCA Civ; [2020] IRLR 702 ; Kocur v Royal Mail (no.2) [2020] IRLR 732; Bessong v Pennine Care NHS Foundations Trust [2020] IRLR 4; Kocur v Royal Mail [2018] IRLR 388, [2018] ICR 1126; and [2019] EWCA Civ 1185, [2019] IRLR 933, [2020] ICR 170; Lancaster & Duke Ltd v Wileman [2019] ICR 125, [2019] IRLR 112; Luton Borough Council v Haque [2018] ICR 1388; Pickwell and another v Pro Cam CP Ltd [2016] EWHC 1304 (QB); [2016] IRLR 761; ICTS UK Ltd v Mahdi [2016] ICR 274; [2016] IRLR 113; Salmon v Castlebeck Care [2015] ICR 735; [2015] IRLR 189; Ladak v DRC Locums [2014] IRLR 851; Williams v Ministry of Defence [2013] EqLR 27; Birmingham City Council v Abdulla [2012] UKSC 47; [2012] ICR 1419; [2013] IRLR 38; [2012] EqLR 1147; Commission for Equality and Human Rights v Griffin [2010] EWHC 3343 (Admin); [2011] EqLR 290.

Olivia-Faith Dobbie

Olivia is a courageous advocate with a strong court presence. She is thorough in her preparation, sharp in cross-examination and has a reassuring but no-nonsense approach with clients. Olivia takes on complex and novel cases as lead advocate, often against KC opponents or teams. Olivia recently represented the Respondent in the highly-publicised case of Forstater v Center for Global Development. She is also part of the barrister team acting for hundreds of Claimants in equal pay litigation against well-known supermarkets. Olivia has been a part-time judge in the Employment Tribunals since 2000. Olivia regularly appears in Employment Tribunals, the High Court and the Employment Appeal Tribunal. She has also appeared as junior counsel in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court in cases of great significance, including: Williams v Swansea University [2019] 1 W.L.R. 93; X v Mid Sussex CAB and Ors [2013] 2 C.M.L.R. 16; and British Gurkha Welfare Society & Others v Ministry of Defence [2010] All ER (D) 131 (Oct) – which went to the ECtHR). Olivia is acclaimed for her "client-focused and commercial outlook, and has a broad employment practice that has seen her handling work at the appellate level" and "a popular choice for discrimination claims of all type. Commended for her ability to pair the fields of commercial and employment law, she provides clients with a vigorous and incisive style of representation." Olivia has also been asked to appear live on BBC radio and BBC News television numerous times discussing employment law developments and breaking judgments.

Patricia Hitchcock KC

Queen’s Counsel. Specialising in complex high-value claims, especially brain and spinal injury, and cases involving children and adolescents. Patricia also works as a mediator, accredited by CEDR since 2003. Recent cases include: P v Central & NW London MHNHS Trust [2014] (clinical negligence/psychiatric management of schizophrenic patient, murder of close family member by patient); Davies v Surrey & Sussex NHS Trust [2013] (clinical negligence/delayed diagnosis of spinal abscess, partial tetraplegia); Re McCormick [2013] (Inquest/clinical mismanagement of liver abscesses with multiple co-morbidities); PFD letter sent to Trust; Russell v West Sussex County Council [2013] (personal injury/complex brain injury with personality change following RTA); McConville v Pancyprian & Anr [2013] (personal injury/seven-figure settlement for RTA in Cyprus/complex brain injury/multiple injuries); Papworth v Bedford Hospitals NHS Trust [2012] (clinical negligence/liability and quantum in issue/fatal leaving infant and husband with pre-existing spinal injury/rare blood disorder (thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura) (mediation); RWRO v 2 GPs [2012] (clinical negligence/ misdiagnosis of subarachnoid haemorrhage/ paraplegia and cognitive damage/ all parties anonymised); U v Dr Sarker & St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust [2011] (clinical negligence/ misdiagnosis of infant bronchiolitis/catastrophic brain damage); Davis v. Epsom & St. Helier NHS Trust [2011] (clinical negligence/birth brain damage, C now 18; breach of duty admitted but major causation and quantum issues); AXL v. Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust [2010] (clinical negligence/very severely brain damaged infant, crucial birth records missing, disputes of fact, major causation issues); Chapman v. Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2010] (clinical negligence/misdiagnosis of breast cancer); Bridges v Keogh [2010] (personal injury/severe adult brain damage and paraplegia/complex quantum and structuring issues); Rand v Redhead [2010] (personal injury/tetraplegia/lump sum and PPO); Chapman v Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2010] (clinical negligence/delayed diagnosis of breast cancer resulting in severely reduced life expectancy; C v Dixon [2009] Lawtel Case Code ACO121429 (personal injury/severe brain damage and organic personality change/complex care issues); Curry v Charteris [2009] (personal injury/RTA with 2/3 contributory negligence/severe brain damage and knee injury); Cadman v Clark [2009] (personal injury/disputed liability RTA/catastrophic brain damage to teenager); Burch v Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2009] (clinical negligence/premature mobilisation post-RTA causing C7 paralysis); Quenum v University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust [2009] (clinical negligence/wrongful birth/sickle cell anaemia testing); Houghton v Houghton [2009] (personal injury/severe infant brain damage; complex periodical payments dispute); Sehman v Thorpe [2009] (personal injury/catastrophic adult brain damage); Yefet v Central & NW London Mental Health NHS Trust [2008] (clinical negligence/serious assault on psychiatric ward by fellow patient); Weighman v Robinson [2008] (personal injury/infant RTA brain damage; hemiparesis; complex financial issues); Willis v County Durham & Tees Valley Health Authority [2008] (clinical negligence/cerebral palsy); Watkins v Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust [2008] (clinical negligence/fatal claim following mismanagement of non-negligent brain injury); Sowter v Cardiff & Vale NHS Trust [2008] (clinical negligence/isolated limb perfusion for melanoma); Dei-Ceci v Armstrong [2008], catastrophic brain injury, settlement included indexation premium.

Paul Epstein KC

Paul is an employment and discrimination law specialist. He has appeared in many high-profile cases. He appeared in Abdulla v Birmingham CC in the Supreme Court [2013] IRLR 38, a case on jurisdiction of the courts over equal pay claims. He has particular expertise in equal pay work. He continues to appear in litigation involving Birmingham CC. In 2009 he appeared in Amnesty International v Ahmed [2009] IRLR 8847, a leading case on direct discrimination. He also appeared in the defamation case of Joseph v Spiller [2010] 3 WLR 1719, dealing with the employment issues (the case was heard by the Supreme Court on fair comment). As well as continuing to act for unions he also regularly acts for employees and employers in City cases, which concern bonus negotiations, team moves, whistleblowing, discrimination, restrictive covenants and springboard injunctions. In his media work, Paul has advised a number of globally known stars on employment disputes and negotiations, including privacy agreements. In his commercial work, he has acted in claims for breach of contract, injunction applications, professional negligence matters, partnership disputes, and has acted for Puff Daddy (rapper Sean Combs) in passing off proceedings. He has appeared in information law cases and acts in commercial arbitrations. Other cases: Spencer v. Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2008] ICR 1359, the leading case on time limits in Francovich claims; Basildon v McCarthy [2009] 4 EG 117 (CS), equality duties and the decision by Basildon to carry out evictions at Europe’s largest traveller encampment; Dearlove v Combs (Puff Daddy) [2007] EWHC 375 (Ch), [2007] All ER (D) 367; Copland v UK [2007], a claim before ECHR concerning the extent to which, prior to the introduction of the Regulation of Investigatory Power Act 2000, it is permissible for an employer to carry out surveillance of an employee; Adebayo v Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein [2005] IRLR 514 (EAT), a leading case on the approach to be taken to the reversal of the burden of proof in discrimination cases; Hewett v Motorola [2004] IRLR 545 (EAT), autism is a disability; Saggar v MoD [2005] IRLR 618, [2005] ICR 1073 (CA), a leading case on jurisdiction in discrimination claims; Walton v Independent Living Organisation [2003] ICR 688 (CA), minimum wage; British Nursing Association v Inland Revenue [2002] IRLR 480 (CA), [2001] IRLR 659 (EAT), minimum wage; Triesman v Ali [2002] EWCA Vic 93 (CA), [2001] AER (D) 112 EAT, Labour Party race discrimination claim; Edmonds v Lawson [2000] QB 501 (CA), minimum wage for pupil barristers.

Paul Michell

Paul is an employment law specialist. He regularly acts in equal pay, whistleblowing, discrimination, TULRA and TUPE cases, as well as high-profile claims for wrongful/unfair dismissal. He often receives instructions in claims where breach of fiduciary duty/commercial wrongdoing is alleged, and injunctive relief is sought. In addition to his employment work, Paul receives instructions in commercial disputes, many relating to sports and the media. In particular, he deals with claims involving confidentiality, intellectual property and database rights, and director/partnership disputes. Paul also acts in regulatory matters, such as sports/NHS disciplinary tribunals. He has acted as a Designated Independent Person under s1 2001/3384 investigating allegations of impropriety by senior local authority personnel. He has adjudicated over several internal grievances and disciplinary hearings. Recent clients include: the BBC, BMW, the British Red Cross, BUPA, the EHRC, the Elders Foundation, the Football Association, the Football Association Premier League, Trevor Horn CBE, the LSE, the RNIB, the Royal Ballet School, Toshiba, the TUC, UCL, the University of Durham, and several major financial institutions and unions. Recent cases include: Abraham v Football Association Premier League (2015 ET) – whistleblowing claim concerning Richard Scudamore’s alleged ‘sexist emails’; Hainsworth v MoD (Court of Appeal) [2014] IRLR 728 – duty to make adjustments for carers; X v Mid Sussex CAB (Supreme Court) [2013] IRLR 146 – ambit of Directive 2000/78 EC in the context of volunteers; Kulikauskas v MacDuff Shellfish (Scotland) Ltd (2012 CJEU) – ambit of Directive 2006/54 in context of pregnancy; EBR Attridge Law v Coleman (No2) [2010] IRLR 10 (EAT) – ambit of protection afforded under DDA 1995; GMB v Northumberland County Council (ET) – multimillion-pound claim involving allegations of breach of Reg 13 of TUPE; Masih v Awaz FM (EAT/ECJ) – protection under the Religion and Belief Regs; Danielle Lloyd v Carphone Warehouse (Ch) – alleged breach of confidentiality; Arthur J Gallagher v RFIB (Ch) – multimillion-pound claim involving team moves and alleged breaches of fiduciary duty; Coleman v Attridge Law (ECJ/EAT) [2008] IRLR 722 – ambit of Directive 2000/78 EC in the context of associative discrimination. Paul is recommended as a leading employment junior in ‘Chambers Directory’, where he is described as ‘feisty, tough and creative’, ‘praised for the commercial and practical manner he adopts’, ‘exceptionally knowledgeable on discrimination issues’ and ‘one of the barristers out there that clients return to most’.

Rachel Barrett

Barrister specialising in employment, discrimination, inquests and inquiries, clinical negligence, human rights and public law.

Rachel Crasnow KC

Leading QC specialising in employment law, with emphasis on discrimination and human rights. Practices in all areas of workplace and equality law. Frequently instructed in regulatory and disciplinary cases. Notable recent cases include High Court decisions on natural justice and political parties: Neslen v Evans QBD [2021] EWHC 1909, Jeremy Corbyn v Evans [2021] EWHC 130 (QB), human rights abuses and the scope of workers rights: National Union of Professional Foster Carers v Certification Officer, CA [2021] IRLR 588, Gilham v MOJ [2018] ICR 827 CA, restrictive covenants and confidential information: Rentrak Ltd v Green [2020] EWHC 3693 (QB), equal pay litigation in the media: Samira Ahmed v BBC [2020] 1 WLUK 16 ET and ongoing supermarket equal pay litigation, pension rights for part-time judges: Miller v Ministry of Justice [2020] ICR 1143 SC, O'Brien v MOJ (C-432/17) ECJ [2019] ICR 505, the first Supreme Court case concerning disability discrimination under s15 EqA: Williams v Trustees of Swansea University Pension and Assurance Scheme [2019] ICR 230 SC.Older highlights include Abertawe University Local Health Board v Morgan [2018] ICR 1194 CA, Birmingham City Council v Bagshaw [2017] ICR 263 EAT, Aziz v CPS EAT [03 February 2015] (race discrimination) Osei-Adjei v RM Education EAT [24 September 2013) (disability discrimination and causation of loss); Dziedziak v Future Electronics Ltd (2012) EqLR 543 (race discrimination and nationality); Miles v lnsitu Cleaning Co Ltd EAT [2 October 2012] (TUPE dismissals and ETO reasons); O’Brien v DCA [2013] UKSC 6; Blackburn & Anor v West Midlands Police [2009] IRLR 135; Cadman v HSE [2006] ICR 1623 ECJ (justifying equal pay); Secretary of State for Trade and Industry v Rutherford & Bentley [2006] ICR 785 HL (sex and age discrimination and European law); Vince-Cain v Orthet [2005] ICR 374, EAT (sex discrimination and taxation of damages); University of Huddersfield v Wolff [2004] ICR 828 (inferences and burden of proof); and acting for Liberty in ECHR cases including trans rights challenge Goodwin v UK. Recorder and Part-time judge in Police Appeals Tribunal. Legal Advisor to the United Kingdom Board for Health Care Chaplaincy (UKBHC). Frequently instructed in complex investigations and mediations. Instructed in the Climbie Inquiry and Counsel to the Turner Inquiry (discrimination in trade union funding).

Robin Allen KC

Acts for a very wide range of clients, from individuals to organisations, senior bank employees and directors to the low paid, political figures to government, FTSE companies to major trade unions, major football clubs to small sports clubs, charities and accountancy firms, universities, local authorities, and other public bodies. He is frequently involved in test case litigation.Works across the UK and in Europe. He also undertakes cross - border and international employment and equality issues: for instance, in recent years he has advised on a major Bermuda public sector labour dispute, acted in a cross-Atlantic labour arbitration, advised a pan-European NGO on developing European law, worked up proposals for amendments to the Montreal Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules for International Carriage by Air and advised on the regulatory control of Artificial Intelligence across Europe.Has appeared in over 154 reported cases in the Industrial Relations Law Reports (more than any other barrister). These include many path-finding appellate cases at the highest level in the UK and Europe. He has been instructed in over 40 cases in the House of Lords/Supreme Court (including four cases in 2013, three in 2016, two in 2017 and 2018).For a list of notable cases see full CV at https://www.cloisters.com/barristers/robin-allen-qc/

Ruaraidh Fitzpatrick

Clinical Negligence, Discrimination & Equality, Employment, Human Rights, Personal Injury, Regulatory

Sally Robertson

All areas of equality, discrimination and employment law, including whistleblowing and TUPE, with related regulatory and public law work. Also carries out investigations and mediation; advises disciplinary panels; and undertakes social security and non-employment discrimination work. Represents claimants and respondents. Cases include Santander UK plc v Bharaj [2021] ICR 580, Home Secretary v Parr [2020] IRLR 422, Grange v Abellio London Ltd (No 2) [2019] ICR D2, Wade v N Yorks Police Authority [2011] IRLR 393, Saini v All Saints Hacque Centre [2009] IRLR 74Co-author of 6th to 10th editions of Cloisters' Toolkit: returning to work in the time of coronavirus; of LAG's Discrimination in Employment: a claims handbook (2013); and of Legal Action's six-monthly series on recent developments in social security law.

Sally Cowen

All areas of employment law equality and discrimination law and TUPE. Independent internal investigation and advisory work on procedures and inquiries for businesses, Higher and Further Education organisations and public institutions. Personal injury and clinical negligence for claimants.

Sarah Fraser Butlin KC

Specialising in employment, clinical negligence, personal injury.

Schona Jolly KC

Schona Jolly QC has a high profile domestic and international practice, with her principal areas of specialism in equality, employment, civil liberties/human rights law, EU and public international law. Her practice intersects widely with other areas of law, including public, sports and housing law. She works on AI intersecting with equality/human rights, business and human rights matters and advises frequently on positive action. She acts for a wide range of Claimants and Defendants/Respondents (including in group litigation) and is longstanding Panel Counsel to the EHRC. She has several matters currently before the European Court of Human Rights. Widely sought-after for her strategic advice on litigation and policy in the UK and internationally, especially on equality/human rights issues, she acts and advises for many high profile individuals/organisations, including international NGOS, national bodies across governance, politics, media and entertainment. Schona is available for mediations and investigations. She is Chair of the Bar Human Rights Committee and Head of Cloisters Human Rights Group.

Sheryn Omeri KC

Barrister specialising in employment and discrimination, clinical negligence, human rights, public law and international criminal law.

Simon Taylor KC

Simon is a medical doctor as well as a barrister and specialises in medico-legal, personal injury and related work. He has a strong track record for winning multimillion-pound awards and settlements for clients and has particular expertise in cases of cerebral palsy and meningitis and other brain injuries, spinal injuries and multiple amputations. Simon is a recorder and has chaired NHS disciplinary inquiries.

Simon Dyer KC

Simon Dyer QC specialises in clinical negligence and personal injury claims. Simon acts mostly for claimants and is instructed by specialist clinical negligence and personal injury firms. He has been instructed in many high value cases and is regarded highly by solicitors from recognised firms. He is currently recommended in both Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500 for Clinical Negligence. Simon is commended by the legal directories as "a strong and reliable silk who works through complex issues very well. He has a very good attention to detail and is very sympathetic when dealing with seriously injured clients." "He is calm and client-focused, and that makes a massive difference." "An exceptionally good advocate and one of the sharpest cross-examiners at the bar.” "His disarming style in joint settlement meetings and negotiations elicits praise from clients, and he is regularly instructed in multimillion-pound claims." "He puts clients at ease and is a phenomenal performer on his feet." “He frequently acts in challenging cases concerning child cerebral palsy and delayed diagnosis of cancer.” "is highly skilled on the full range of medical law and has a particular focus on cases involving complex cerebral palsy and spinal injuries." "Renowned for his knowledge of spinal injury, obstetrics and cerebral palsy cases". Simon studied Law at the University of Kent. He was called to the bar in 1987 and took silk 2017. He was appointed a Recorder in 2020

Tamar Burton

Tamar specialises in clinical negligence, personal injury, inquests, employment and discrimination work. She exclusively acts for claimants in her clinical negligence, inquests and personal injury work. Tamar was appointed as junior counsel to the Infected Blood Inquiry, chaired by Sir Brian Langstaff. Within the Inquiry, she has a particular focus on the impact of blood-borne viruses on infected people and their families. Tamar specialises in the assessment of damages and is currently the Assistant Secretary to the Ogden Working Party. In clinical negligence and personal injury claims, she is regularly instructed to draft complex, multi-million pound schedules of loss. She has experience of contested High Court liability and quantum trials, both on a led and unled basis. She is also a co-author of chapter on personal injury in Bullen & Leake. She has an interest in informed consent and co-authored the chapter on consent in Lewis & Buchan A Practical Guide. She is regularly instructed to draft pleadings, for conferences with experts and for procedural applications in front of the QBD Masters, in addition to RTMs and trials.

Tom Brown

Barrister specialising in employment, equality, EU, commercial, public, immigration and human rights law. Recent significant cases include: University and College Union v University of Stirling (Supreme Court); Khan v Royal Mail (Court of Appeal); RR Donnelley v Besagni (EAT); Olenloa v North West London Hospital NHS Trust (EAT); Buckland v University of Bournemouth (CA); and Thaine v London School of Economics (EAT).

Tom Coghlin KC

Tom Coghlin QC has a wealth of experience of first instance and appellate litigation. He specialises in employment and discrimination law and related fields including claims for injunctions to enforce restrictive covenants, trade union law, regulatory and disciplinary work and general common law, and claims in international arbitral tribunals. He is experienced in conducting investigations at the highest level within organisations.

William Latimer-Sayer KC

William specialises in catastrophic personal injury and clinical negligence. He has a special interest in quantum and the majority of his work is related to contested assessment of damages hearings. William is the Chairman of the Ogden Working party, the General Editor of Schedules of Loss: Calculating Damages (Bloomsbury Publishing, 3rd edition 2010), the leading practitioner textbook on schedules of loss and the General Editor of Facts & Figures published by Swett & Maxwell. Although he accepts work on behalf of claimants and defendants, his practice is predominantly claimant based. William has been instructed in some of the most significant and high-profile quantum cases to come before the courts including the five highest awards ever made following a contested trial (William being the only common link between the cases): Robshaw v United Lincolnshire NHS Trust [2015] EWHC 923 (£14.5m); A v Powys Health Board 2007 (£10.7m); Totham v King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust [2015] EWHC 97 (QB) (£10.1m); Farrugia v Burtenshaw & others [2014] EWHC 1036 (QB) (£9.7m); and XXX v Strategic Health Authority [2008] EWHC 2727 (QB) (£9.4m). Other notable cases include: Majrowski v Guy’s & St Thomas’s NHS Trust [2006] UKHL 34; Sarwar v (1) Ali (2) MIB [2007] LS Law Medical 375; Iqbal v Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS Trust [2008] EWCA Civ 1190; [2008] PIQR P9; [2008] LS Law Medical 22; Noble v Owens [2010] 1 WLR 2491; and JXMX v Dartford & Gravesham NHS Trust [2015] Med LR 103.

Yvette Genn

Yvette Genn is a specialist employment lawyer with in-depth expertise in complex equal pay claims, and all aspects of discrimination law and equality issues. She is also an acknowledged expert in personal injury and clinical negligence claims of the utmost severity, with over 15 years’ experience in serious traumatic brain and spinal injury cases acting on behalf of claimants. Known for her practical and assertive approach and her ability to master detail, whilst keeping sight of the bigger picture, she acts for both claimants and respondents in employment matters and is sought by a diverse range of companies, local authorities, senior employees and charitable organisations. She is regularly instructed to act on behalf of healthcare institutions, particularly in relation to disability discrimination claims – most recently on the meaning of disability (Saad v University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust, Health Education England UKEAT/0184/14) – and in relation to what constitutes a recurring condition (Wolfe v North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust UKEAT/0065/14/MC. Yvette also acted for the former deputy director of Haringey’s Childrens’ Service in her successful claim (Hitchen v LB Haringey (2014) (and see Baby P: The Untold Story – BBC 1, transmitted 27th October 2014). Her expertise is recognised by the Academy of European Law, inviting her to conduct workshops in equal pay and sex discrimination for European judges in Trier. Yvette has had major successes in high-value complex personal injury and clinical negligence claims, most often as sole counsel, but notably as junior in BXAX v University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust case no. HQ 09X03952 (2014) in which the child claimant received substantial damages, and also achieved successful settlement in a complex spinal surgical injury case where breach and causation were denied (Hilder v Kings College Hospital London (2015)). She is known for her commitment to claimants in taking on difficult cases, particularly cases concerning failure to diagnose (Kolker v Queen Elizabeth Hospitals). Yvette’s extensive judicial experience, as a recorder in civil and private family law matters and as a deputy district judge and a former part-time judge in the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal (SEND), gives her an unrivalled understanding of the way in which judges make decisions, and provides a valuable extra dimension to her advice and advocacy.

Carolyn D'Souza

Caspar Glyn KC

Simon Taylor KC

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