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Barristers

Kathleen Donnelly KC

Kathleen Donnelly KC

Work Department

Kathleen specialises in group actions, product liability, commercial, environment and employment law

Position

Kathleen specialises in group actions, product liability, commercial, environment and employment law.

Kathleen has acted in some of the largest and most significant class actions in the English Courts.  She acted for the 555 subpostmasters against the Post Office in civil litigation concerning the operation of the Horizon IT system, resulting in the unravelling of the largest miscarriage of justice in UK history.  She also acted for VW in the first vehicle emissions group action, and continues to act in the ongoing wider emissions litigation.   Kathleen also acts for NEXT in the equal pay litigation concerning the effect of market forces on pay.

Kathleen has broad commercial litigation experience, including in the high profile aviation dispute between Qatar Airways v Airbus, and has experience of large scale environmental claims including the OCENSA pipeline litigation.   She also continues her longstanding employment practice, with a focus on employee competition cases, both in the courts and by international arbitration.

Career

KC 2023. BA Jurisprudence (Oxon), LLM Commercial and International Law (Cantab). Hardwicke Award (Lincoln's Inn), Buchanan Scholar (Lincoln’s Inn). Called to the Bar 2005.

Education

Oriel College, Oxford University (BA Hons Jurisprudence); Queens College, Cambridge University (LLM International and Commercial Law).

Mentions

London Bar

Employment

Other key lawyer1
Kathleen Donnelly KC – Henderson Chambers ‘Tenacious, tactically astute and great with witnesses.’
London Bar

Group litigation

Other key lawyer1
Kathleen Donnelly KC – Henderson Chambers ‘Kathleen is great to work with. She has a down-to-earth, practical and commercial approach which is invaluable in an area of practice that requires careful strategic planning in negotiating large claimant groups and their legal teams. Her advice is sound and provided in an extremely accessible and efficient way – she cuts to the chase. Her advocacy is robust and targeted to the points that really matter.’
London Bar

Health and safety

Other key lawyer1
Kathleen Donnelly KC – Henderson Chambers ‘Thorough, tenacious and highly regarded by all. A joy to work with.’
London Bar

Product liability

Other key lawyer1
Kathleen Donnelly KC – Henderson Chambers ‘Kathleen is a stand-out barrister. She is very bright and knowledgeable, inspires confidence in those around her and is a fantastic role model for junior lawyers. She goes out of her way to be supportive and encouraging to her team. An all-round star and a pleasure to work with.’