Cloisters

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.

Called 1991; publications: ‘Equal Treatment Bench Book’ 2007, updated guidance on religious dress in court; Case management and litigation (Brain Injury Social Workers Group 2010); Equality Act overview and impact (Association of Colleges Feb 2010); Race Discrimination update (CLT seminars 2011); updates on Equal Pay for IDS 2007, 2008 (annual lecture series); Equal Pay Nuts and Bolts (Cloisters Seminars 2010), TUPE – specific issues facing the NHS (RCN, May 2010); Impact of Sowden (APIL and Spinal Injuries Association, 2005) ‘Equal Treatment Bench Book’ 2004 to 2007 – authored chapters on unrepresented parties, initiated inclusion of and produced early draft chapter on social exclusion, and made significant contributions to the overall text; case notes for Kemp & Kemp, ‘Legal Action Bulletin’, ‘Current Law’ and ‘Solicitors Journal’ on employment, personal injury and inquest law; and co-author with Professor Dame Hazel Genn ‘The Effectiveness of Representation at Tribunals’ report to the Lord Chancellor 1989, which remains one of the most extensive survey into tribunal practice, procedure and representation.

Recorder in civil and private law family (Midland Circuit) Deputy District Judge (South Eastern Circuit) ; Former part-time judge Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal (SENDIST) 2004-10; Equal Treatment Advisory Committee of the Judicial Studies Board 1999-2007; chair Equal Treatment Bench Book editorial committee 2004-07; former member Council on Tribunals 2003-04.

BA Hons; Dip Law.