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Adam Samuel

Adam Samuel

Old Square Chambers

Adam has a common law and civil practice, with a particular emphasis on personal injury and employment litigation. He drafts, advises and appears in court and tribunals on behalf of claimants and defendants/respondents and has conducted interlocutory advocacy in cases worth in excess of £1M. The general scope of cases in which he is involved runs up to and includes those of ‘six figure’ value. He has lectured firms of solicitors on numerous subjects within the field. Interesting recent cases concern the widely-reported civil action brought by a victim of Ian Huntley in respect of a serious sexual assault prior to the commission of the Soham murders; the relationship between the principles laid down in Parry v Cleaver and the provision of benefits in kind by insurance companies; the recovery of charges from hire purchase companies refusing to consent to disposal of damaged vehicles; the applicability of fixed cost regimes and the construction of ‘costs only proceedings’ prior to clarification of the rules in April 2005. He retains an academic interest in comparative law, French law, history and politics.

Adam Ross

Adam Ross

Old Square Chambers

Adam practises in all areas of employment law, including unfair dismissal, whistleblowing, discrimination and contractual disputes. He has extensive experience of multi-week Tribunal cases, remedy hearings and costs hearings. In 2021, he was led by Eleena Misra in injunctive relief proceedings in the High Court.

Alex  Shellum

Alex Shellum

Old Square Chambers

Alex is a specialist in all areas of statutory and contractual employment law. He is frequently instructed in complex and high value employment litigation – Alex often acts in multi-day matters involving allegations of discrimination and whistleblowing with success, including against senior juniors and silks. He also has experience of litigating complex preliminary issues, such as collateral waiver of privilege. Alex has successfully appeared before the EAT as sole counsel, in addition to being led before the EAT and the High Court. Alex’s client base spans the private, public and third sectors, including professional services firms, museums, trade unions, West End production companies, newspapers, schools, universities, charities, NHS trusts, central government departments, and individuals ranging from vulnerable workers to senior professionals. Alex also has experience of major public inquiries, having acted for core participants in the Grenfell Tower and Infected Blood Inquiries; healthcare disputes – from MHPS processes to applications for injunctive relief before the High Court; goods and services discrimination proceedings before the county court; and, as an independent investigator as part of internal processes.

Andrew Midgley

Old Square Chambers

Andrew is an employment law specialist with 18 years’ experience, and 12 years’ specialism. He was appointed to the Attorney General’s Panel of Treasury Counsel (South west) in 2010 and promoted to the A Panel in April 2018. He is instructed in complex cases, often where there is an issue of policy construction or where an issue of the enforceability of restrictive covenants and/or breach of fiduciary duty arises. Consequently, he has 1 reported cases in the Court of Appeal and 12 in the EAT. A significant portion of his work consists of discrimination, victimisation and whistleblowing claims, particularly sex and disability discrimination His broad experience includes all forms of discrimination, Including the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal (SENDIST), employment status, working time, holiday pay and national minimum wage claims, illegality and immigration status, business reorganisations, redundancies and TUPE, He is instructed by Government departments, NHS trusts, local authorities, the Metropolitan Police, Unions and insurance companies to appear in the Employment Tribunal, the Employment Appeals Tribunal, the county court and High Court and Court of Appeal. He delivers seminars in relation to new legislation and case law for the ELA and professional clients.

Anna Dannreuther

Anna Dannreuther

Old Square Chambers

Anna Dannreuther has a cross-disciplinary practice in employment and equality, commercial and public law. She appears in complex cross-border group litigation disputes and is well-versed in challenges to jurisdiction and the procedural issues these cases raise. Anna’s recent instructions include acting in the ‘Dieselgate’ litigation against a number of diesel vehicle manufacturers and the Uber Drivers litigation. Anna is particularly adept at advising in cases raising public law and human rights issues. Anna is on the Attorney General’s C Panel of Counsel. As part of this role, Anna represents and advises a range of Government Departments and public sector bodies in judicial reviews, employment law, and other fields. Alongside cases where she works as part of a counsel team, Anna regularly acts as sole counsel for public bodies and private clients in her own right. She has appeared in complex discrimination, whistleblowing, human rights and unfair dismissal claims in the Employment Tribunal and EAT, as well as appearing in the High Court and Court of Protection.

Anya Palmer

Old Square Chambers

Anya acts for both claimants and respondents, but recently she has developed a particular following with firms who act mainly for respondents including Bevan Brittan, Beachcroft, Field Fisher Waterhouse, Halliwells and Osborne Clarke. In the last 12 months, Anya has been in the Court of Appeal twice, in London Ambulance Service NHS Trust v Small (unfair dismissal) acting for the NHS Trust, and in Gibson v Sheffield (equal pay) acting for the claimants. She has also appeared in the EAT on numerous occasions, with a notable case involving agency workers and sham contracts (Tilsom v Alstom). Cases for Bevan Brittan included successfully defending NHS Trusts and a number of cases for Zurich; when the Zurich contract moved to Beachcroft recently, Zurich specifically cited Anya as an example of counsel whom they would like to continue acting for them. For Field Fisher Waterhouse, Anya has successfully represented the Dept of Work and Pensions in a number of cases. For Osborne Clarke she has successfully represented a variety of private sector clients in unfair dismissal/discrimination and equal pay claims. She also frequently acts for public sector clients (DWP, local authorities, NHS, police) for example this year she successfully defended the Metropolitan Police in a high profile case involving allegations of ‘apartheid’ practices among PCSOs in Belgravia (Saeed v Met). Anya has had several reported cases in recent years in both the IRLRs and the ICRs. Recent example of feedback from lay clients (DWP): ��I am emailing you on behalf of everyone you represented at the ET. We are very grateful for your continuous support and encouragement. We appreciated you sharing your wisdom and knowledge with us. I am sure nobody could have done it any better than you. Despite you being very busy you kept us all sane, especially when our nerves were getting the better of us’. Significant work/case highlights over the past 12 months include: London Ambulance Service NHS Trust v Small; Gibson and others v Sheffield; Saeed v Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.

Bella Webb

Bella Webb

Old Square Chambers

Bella specialises in all aspects of clinical negligence and personal injury law. She represents both Claimants and Defendants (through the medical defence unions) and has a practice spanning the county courts, high court and appeal courts.  In the clinical negligence field, she has a particular interest in and reputation for delayed cancer diagnosis claims as well as  cauda equina/spinal compression litigation, plastic surgery claims and birth defects. Her personal injury practise spans all areas, and includes catastrophic injuries, road traffic accidents, workplace and public liability claims, industrial/occupational disease, fatal accidents and CICA applications. Bella also undertakes medical regulatory work and represents practitioners and professional bodies in conduct and capability proceedings before the GMC, HCPC and NMC, in respect of which her early background in employment law has proved valuable.

Ben Collins

Ben Collins

Hall of fameOld Square Chambers

High-profile practice in an unusually wide range of fields: major cases in employment, clinical negligence, regulatory, PI, public law and human rights. Particular expertise in the health sector, with huge experience of representing healthcare professionals and employers in employment, regulatory, disciplinary and civil proceedings. Appears regularly in High Court and tribunals in public sector and large commercial employment disputes. Major practice in very high value clinical negligence, personal injury, inquests and associated public law and human rights challenges. Leading expert in criminal injuries compensation. Extensive experience in military claims. Notable cases (over 25 reported in last 5 years) include: R (DSD) v Parole Board [2018] HRLR 12 (challenge to John Worboys release); Gilham v MOJ [2018] ICR 827 (employment status of judges); Y v FTT [2017] 4 WLR 60 (status of unborn child); Wasteney v ELFT [2016] ICR 643 (religious discrimination); Child Soldiers v MOD [2016] 1 WLR 1062 (age discrimination in Army); CP v FTT [2015] QB 459 (criminalisation of drinking in pregnancy); a series of claims arising from injuries of utmost severity.

Ben Cooper

Ben Cooper

Hall of fameOld Square Chambers

Employment and discrimination, labour law and professional discipline, in particular disciplinary and industrial action injunctions, high court contractual claims, equal pay, complex discrimination, whistleblowing, TUPE. Recent cases of note: Brierley & others v Asda Stores Ltd (equal pay, ongoing); City of York Council v Grosset [2018] EWCA Civ 1105 (disability-related discrimination); McNeil & others v HMRC [2018] IRLR 398, EAT (equal pay, CA application pending); Argos Ltd v Unite the Union [2017] EWHC 1959 (QB) (strike injunction in TUPE context); Hartley & ors v King Edward VI College [2017] UKSC 39 (pay deductions for strike days); BALPA v Jet2.com [2017] ICR 475, CA (scope of statutory collective bargaining); Adeshina v St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust & others [2017] EWCA Civ 257 (discrimination and unfair dismissal).

Benjamin Jones

Benjamin Jones

Old Square Chambers

Ben Jones is an employment specialist who is regularly instructed in complex and high value litigation before the Employment Tribunal and the Civil Courts. He also enjoys a thriving investigatory practice and regularly acts as an independent decision maker in various forms of internal process. Ben receives instructions from employers spanning the range of public, private, and third sectors. He also advises and appears for employees ranging from low paid workers to senior professionals and executives. Ben has particular expertise in the healthcare sector and acts for numerous trusts as well as individual consultants and other healthcare professionals. He is regularly instructed at all stages of such disputes – in MHPS processes, High Court injunctive relief applications, post-dismissal Tribunal claims, and in the handling of related referrals to professional regulators and/or the DBS). Ben also has a regular appellate practice and has had reported cases at both the EAT and Court of Appeal levels.

Betsan Criddle KC

Betsan Criddle KC

Old Square Chambers

All areas of employment and discrimination law and professional discipline, including High Court contractual and disciplinary disputes, industrial action injunctions and judicial review proceedings. Recent highlights include: R (FBU) v SYFRA [2018] EWHC 1229 (Admin) (successful judicial review of working pattern in breach of WTR 1998); Coletta v Bath Hill Court (Bournemouth) Property Management Ltd UKEAT/0200/17/RN (whether recoverability of deductions from wages is subject to the Limitation Act 1980 and a six year back stop); Galilee v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [2018] ICR 634 (no requirement to resolve if claim in time in deciding whether to grant permission to amend); Wandsworth LBC v Vining [2018] ICR 499 (exclusion of those in police service from trade union employment rights incompatible with Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights).

Brian Cummins

Brian Cummins

Old Square Chambers

Brian is a Personal Injury barrister, who also specialises in inquest work. He practises in fields of: serious injury; head injury; catastrophic and amputation Claims. Brian has considerable experience litigating in the established categories of: Employer’s liability; Asbestos related illnesses; COSHH; Fraud and Road Traffic Accident claims; as well as in niche fields of Group Litigation and Rail accidents. Coronial inquest work has included: deaths in custody; construction site fatalities, factory accidents, medical fatalities, and failings in social care and support, on behalf of both bereaved families and employees. Concluded litigation includes: rail crash litigation; severe brain damage awards following RTAs (including High Court approvals); Fatal Accident claims; Mesothelioma and other asbestos claims; and Group Litigation claims for respiratory and other illnesses. His current caseload involves: severe head injuries following pedestrian RTAs; blood contamination claims; amputation claims; and other severe, multiple orthopaedic injury claims.

Bruno Gil

Bruno Gil

Old Square Chambers

Bruno specialises in personal injury, clinical negligence and costs. Within personal injury, he acts for both claimants and defendants in serious and high-value claims. Bruno’s caseload includes fatal injuries, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and severe orthopaedic injuries, as well as complex organic/psychological injuries such as chronic pain and FND. Bruno has particular experience with military claims and sports claims. He also represents parties in inquests, CICA claims, AFCS claims, First-Tier Tribunal appeals and Army Service Complaints.

Charles Woodhouse KC

Charles Woodhouse KC

Old Square Chambers

Charlie specialises in Personal Injury, Clinical Negligence and Inquests. He has enormous experience acting for Claimants and Defendants predominantly in high value and serious or fatal injury cases arising from road traffic, industrial and other accidents. His caseload includes accidents resulting in brain injury, spinal cord injury, amputation and cases involving contested mental capacity. Charlie has a particularly strong reputation acting in claims by members of the armed forces and for acting for insurers in cases involving Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Chronic Pain and associated disorders, including Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Functional Neurological Disorder.  He has considerable experience of claims that arise out of accidents, often fatal, involving industrial machinery including cranes, trains and other engineering equipment in which Charlie is regularly instructed to act at inquest and in civil proceedings.  He has considerable experience in clinical negligence acting at inquest and in civil proceedings in a wide range of clinical accident claims including fatal accident claims, obstetric negligence claims and claims arising from delayed diagnoses.  

Charlie Sparling

Charlie Sparling

Old Square Chambers

Charlie has practised at Old Square since 2006, focusing on personal injury, clinical negligence, product liability and industrial disease cases. He has a particular specialism in costs budgeting and costs assessment matters. Charlie has extensive trial experience and also regularly represents clients in joint settlement negotiations. He has a reputation for his ability to understand his clients’ personal and commercial priorities when at Court or in conference. He presents his written and oral advice in a clear and straightforward manner, especially in cases which involve complex technical or medical evidence. Clients frequently praise his informal and unstuffy approach, and his ability to handle difficult and sensitive subject matter with both witnesses and Judges.

Christopher Edwards

Christopher Edwards

Old Square Chambers

Christopher’s main areas of practice are employment, personal injury (including travel law and industrial disease), clinical negligence, and costs. He also represents interested parties at inquests. About half his practice is court work: he is frequently instructed in high value and lengthy trials, as well as injunctions, interlocutory matters/case management hearings, and detailed assessments. He appears in the High Court, County Court, Employment Tribunal, EAT, and SCCO. When out of court he has a busy paperwork and advisor practice, and frequently represents his clients in settlement meetings/mediations. He has a mixed practice acting for individuals, public and private sector employers, unions, and insurers.

Christopher Walker

Old Square Chambers

Christopher is a catastrophic personal injury specialist, instructed on behalf of both Claimants and Defendants. His work is predominantly conducted against silks, whether led or instructed alone. Christopher has considerable experience in litigating the established categories of employer liability, road traffic accident and public liability claims and has a reputation as a skilled negotiator. His practice encompasses clinical negligence claims, health and safety prosecutions, coroners' inquests and litigation with a focus on human rights. Recently concluded litigation acting alone includes a £4.9 million capitalised severe brain damage award approved by the High Court, and a £3.35 million fatal accident award.  His current caseload includes claims for severe brain injury (rtas, accident at work), paraplegia (public liability & rta), brachial plexus and other severe, multiple orthopaedic injuries, including traumatic amputation.

Corinna Ferguson

Old Square Chambers

Barrister specialising in employment, discrimination, human rights and public law. Regularly appears in the Employment Tribunal, county court and High Court for both claimants and respondents/ defendants, including complex and high value discrimination cases. Recently appeared in the Court of Appeal in Adeshina v St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and another [2017] EWCA Civ 257 (reasonableness of dismissal; burden of proof in direct discrimination). Instructed by the British Medical Association in the judicial review concerning the junior doctors’ contract, based on the Public Sector Equality Duty (2016). Instructed in the second round of litigation following the Construction Industry Vetting Information Group Litigation, acting for a large number of claimants. While at Liberty, acted in a number of ground-breaking cases including Walker v Innospec Ltd & S/S for DWP (at Employment Tribunal stage; case subsequently taken to Supreme Court [2017] UKSC 47) - civil partners’ pension rights, RMT v UK, ECtHR, 2013 - ban on secondary industrial action (intervening on behalf of Liberty), Roberts v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis & S/S for Home Department [2012] EWHC 1977 (Admin) - stop and search under s.60 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 (intervening on behalf of Liberty), Asuquo v UK, ECtHR, 2012 - duty to criminalise and prosecute forced domestic labour, Alder v UK, ECtHR, November 2011 - death in police custody, Eweida v British Airways, CA [2010] EWCA Civ 80 - religious dress in the workplace, Gillan v UK, ECtHR, 12 January 2010 - stop and search under s.44 Terrorism Act 2000, T v Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police & S/S for Home Department [2013] EWCA Civ 25 - blanket disclosure of convictions and cautions on enhanced CRB certificates (intervening on behalf of Liberty), Binyam Mohamed v S/S for FCO [2010] EWCA Civ 65 - PII/open justice (intervening on behalf of Liberty). Appointed as Fee-paid Employment Judge (London East) in 2013, Fee-paid Judge of the First Tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) (Taylor House) in 2014 and a Chair of the Police Appeals Tribunal in 2014.

Daniel Neill

Daniel Neill

Old Square Chambers

Daniel Neill specialises in personal injury, clinical negligence and regulatory work (healthcare). He has a busy personal injury practice, acting for claimants and defendants in a broad spectrum of claims. He has recently settled a chronic pain claim for a former member of the armed forces for £800,000 and a claim on behalf of several vulnerable dependants following a fatal road traffic accident for £1million. He is regularly instructed by defendants in employers’ liability claims and where fundamental dishonesty is alleged. He undertakes work in all the usual practice areas. His clinical negligence practice ranges from surgical and obstetrics claims to more niche areas such as ophthalmology and dentistry. He has a loyal following of solicitors with whom he enjoys working closely from the very outset of cases, providing a strategic overview from pre-action correspondence to settlement or trial. His regulatory cases have covered a panoply of performance, conduct, competence and health issues. Daniel also sits as a Recorder on the Western Circuit, dealing with criminal matters.

Darshan Patel

Darshan Patel

Old Square Chambers

Darshan is regularly instructed in all areas of employment and discrimination law, including cases involving issues of employee/worker status, whistleblowing, unfair dismissal, discrimination, holiday pay and TUPE. He advises and acts for employees, trade unions, and employers from private and public sectors. Darshan has substantial experience of employment tribunal proceedings and of proceedings in the civil courts, and regularly attends multi-day employment tribunal hearings. He also has appellate experience, having appeared in the EAT, and in the Court of Appeal (led and unled). In addition to this advocacy experience, Darshan is developing a practice as an independent investigator, having acted in multiple forms of internal process. Darshan also practises in personal injury and professional discipline.

David Cunnington

David Cunnington

Old Square Chambers

David has a wide experience in employment disputes, personal injury claims; environmental disputes; health and safety proceedings; inquests and professional liability actions including clinical negligence claims. He regularly advises and acts in disputes in both the county courts and the High Court.

David Rivers

David Rivers

Old Square Chambers

Specialises in high value liability and quantum claims with recent trial successes including a three day trial in Southend with an award in excess of £400,000, a two day employers liability trial after which damages were agreed in a six figure sum and a history of acting for a well known TV actor, Senior Police officer and a Deputy High Court Judge. Reported cases include Wright v First Group [2018] EWHC 297 (QB); Shaw v Merthyr Tydfil County Council [2015] CA PIQR P8; Prison Officers Association v Iqbal [2009] EWCA Civ 1310, Court of Appeal (Civ Div); Bates v Maylon [2008] EWHC 2386(QB); Hau v Jim [2007] EWHC 3358 (QB).

Deshpal Panesar

Deshpal Panesar

Hall of fameOld Square Chambers

Deshpal is a specialist in Employment law.. Described as "the barrister of choice for a complex and lengthy case," he is widely praised for his formidable grasp of the issues in employment cases. Sources emphasise his mastery of discrimination legislation and that he is an excellent cross-examiner. Deshpal regularly acts in complex, high value claims and has a heavy successful appellate practice. Described in Chambers and Partners as ‘razor sharp and willing to assist at all times.’, ‘a cracking cross examiner ’, ‘a fantastic team worker’, ‘highly eloquent’ and ‘utterly reliable’, and in Legal 500 as ‘exceptionally well prepared’, he has been at the forefront of employment and discrimination litigation.

Eleena Misra KC

Eleena Misra KC

Old Square Chambers

While equally experienced adept in all areas of Employment and Equalities law, Eleena specialises in complex and high value employment / regulatory cases in the healthcare and education sectors, in particular. She regularly appears in Tribunals, Appeal Courts and the High Court including in respect of short notice injunctive relief. She has significant experience in whistleblowing litigation especially in the NHS and in City institutions and in internal investigations and appeals. Eleena founded and headed up the Littleton Chambers’ Professional Discipline Practice Group as a specialist in work straddling Employment and Disciplinary / Regulatory law. After sixteen years there, she moved to Old Square in 2017. Eleena is also trained in Forensic Medicine and accepts instructions in medico-legal cases and inquests. Eleena is extremely client-friendly, responsive and calm in even the most stressful litigation.

Elizabeth Melville

Elizabeth Melville

Old Square Chambers

All areas of employment law, predominantly within the healthcare, education (particularly universities) and financial sectors. Undertakes both adversarial work in the employment tribunals and other courts and non-contentious work including conducting investigations, chairing internal disciplinary hearings and representing parties in internal proceedings or before external disciplinary bodies. Qualified mediator.

Frederic Reynold

Old Square Chambers

Barrister specialising in employment, trade union law, public law and commercial litigation. Frederic specialises in employment law and related areas, commercial/contract law and public law. He has appeared in several landmark House of Lords cases concerning employment and labour law issues and contracts of employment. In the course of his career he has advised the Equal Opportunity Commission, the BMA (on contractual and disciplinary issues concerning consultants and doctors) and the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (in respect of professional standards and practice). In the recent landmark case in the Court of Appeal in English v Thomas Sanderson Limited on the interpretation of the Equality (Employment) Sexual Orientation Regulations 2003, he successfully represented the Appellant with Marcus Pilgerstorfer. He also recently successfully represented the appellant (with Anya Palmer, Old Square Chambers) in the Court of Appeal in the important case of London Ambulance Service NHS Trust v Small on impermissible substitution. Notable House of Lords cases include: Polkey v Dayton Services; Scally v Southern Health Services; Cheall v APEX; Rhys-Harper v Relaxion Group; Botham v Ministry of Defence/Serco v Lawson. Most recently he appeared in the Supreme Court in the two appeals of Edwards v Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Trust and Ministry of Defence v Botham.

Giles Powell

Old Square Chambers

Giles practices in Administrative and Public Law, Employment, Partnership, Professional Discipline and Sports Law. He also undertakes Commercial and Company law cases where they are interrelated with Employment or Partnership issues. He has been involved in a number of high profile Employment and Professional Discipline cases including Thames Cleaning & Support Services Ltd v (1) United Voices of the World (2) Petros Elia [2016] (QB), L Small v Shrewsbury & Telford Hospitals NHS Trust (2015) EAT, R (on the application of Sagar) v NHS Health Education England [2014] Admin, Chakrabarty v Ipswich Hospitals NHS Trust [2014] QB, and Mattu v University Hospitals of Coventry and Warwickshire [2012] CA. ’  

Hannah Freeman

Hannah Freeman

Old Square Chambers

Hannah specialises in employment and discrimination law and in professional discipline. She has considerable experience of acting and advising across a wide range of work within those areas of law. Hannah read Classics at Merton College, Oxford where she took a double First. She then completed the Diploma in Law at City University and the Bar Vocational Course at ICSL where she was classed Outstanding. She was also awarded Hardwicke and Lady MacMurray Scholarships by Lincoln’s Inn. Hannah joined Old Square on completion of her pupillage in October 2006.

Helen Gower

Helen Gower

Old Square Chambers

Helen’s main area of practice is discrimination law and equal pay. She advises and represents claimants and respondents in the Employment Tribunal and on appeals to the Employment Appeal Tribunal. Her practice is approximately divided between acting for employees (mainly supported by their trade unions) and for a range of public sector and private sector employers. She is involved in a number of significant equal pay claims, most notably a multi-claimant claim against the Audit Commission as detailed below. During the last 12 months she has presented a number of talks on topics relating to her practice. For example, she was a speaker at a LexisNexis webinar on discrimination law. Significant work/case highlights over the past 12 months include: Harrison v Opportunity Housing Association; Haq and others v Audit Commission in the Court of Appeal; a trade union blackmailing case and defending a local authority in a 12 day race discrimination claim.

Hilary Winstone

Hilary Winstone

Old Square Chambers

Hilary Winstone is a talented and knowledgeable junior specialising in employment and discrimination law. She has extensive experience acting successfully for large corporate clients, as well as local authorities, police forces and the NHS, dealing with internal and external disputes as well as mediation. She is known for being very client friendly and an enormously effective advocate, able to deal with difficult and highly charged cases. Her recent cases include Angela Bailey v Central and Northwest London NHS FT (successfully represented defendant in complex case involving claims of whistleblowing, disability discrimination and victimisation); Kitaka v Commissioner of the Police of the Metropolis (successfully represented defendant in case involving regulation breaches and subsequent claims of unfair dismissal); Boam v South Staffs & Shropshire Healthcare NHS FT (pending appeal following successful defence on behalf of defendant against claims of whistleblowing); R v W (complex claim of disability discrimination based on claimants unwillingness to disclose information to their employer to allow for reasonable adjustments).

Ian Scott

Old Square Chambers

Specialist in complex high value discrimination claims involving multiple causes of action including whistleblowing. He has specialist knowledge of National Health Service employment issues and regularly appears in employment cases concerning senior consultants. He also has specialist knowledge of trade union and labour law including advising on industrial relations and trade union recognition. He is experienced in appearing before the Central Arbitration Committee. Recent Cases include the whistleblowing case of Dr K Beatt v. Croydon Health Services NHS Trust [2017] EWCA 401; the sex discrimination case of the Commissioner of the Police of the Metropolis v. Mr Adrian Denby UKEAT/0314/16/RN; the age discrimination case of Elliott v Ford UKEAT/0327/14/MC and the race discrimination case of Paulene George v Croydon Trust UKEATPA/0227/15/JOJ.

Ian Truscott

Old Square Chambers

Barrister specialising in employment law; has appeared in the European Court of Justice, House of Lords, Inner and Outer Houses of the Court of Session, Employment Appeal Tribunal in Scotland and England, Employment Tribunals throughout Scotland and England and the Central Arbitration Committee; appeared in Piper Alpha Inquiry, the Ocean Odyssey Inquiry, the Orkney Inquiry and the Scotland/Northern Ireland Electricity Interconnector Inquiry.

Ijeoma Omambala

Ijeoma Omambala

Hall of fameOld Square Chambers

Ijeoma provides strategic advice in connection with all aspects of the management, litigation and resolution of complex employment, discrimination and trade union claims. Ijeoma advises and represents Claimants, Respondents/Defendants and Trades Unions. Ijeoma has significant experience of complex TUPE, wages and whistle-blowing matters, industrial action and High Court litigation in relation to bonus claims, restrictive covenants, alleged breaches of duty and wrongful dismissal. Her discrimination expertise covers the whole range of protected characteristics and causes of action at first instance and appellate levels. She is an experienced litigator of individual and multi-Claimant public and private sector equal pay claims. Her recent work has included acting for both Claimants and Respondents in High Court restrictive covenant proceedings; a number of  high profile whistle-blowing claims; advising and acting for senior professionals in race, disability, age, sex, pregnancy and maternity discrimination complaints. She is currently instructed in the first Shared Parental Leave case to be considered by the Court of Appeal. Ijeoma is also an experienced and accredited mediator.

Jack Mitchell

Jack Mitchell

Old Square Chambers

Jack undertakes all employment/discrimination cases including injunctive relief, sport including internal investigations. Recent highlights include: Royal Mail v Jhuti [2017] EWCA Civ 1632 (scheduled for Appeal to the Supreme Court) an important whistleblowing case; Ali v New College Manchester Ltd UKEAT/0154/15/DM, 27 February 2017 concerning causation and constructive knowledge in disability discrimination; Sheredes School Governing Body v Davies UKEAT/0196/16/JOJ, 13 September 2016 considering time limits when a firm is intervened. Agbenowossi-Koffi v Donvand Ltd (t/a Gullivers Travel Associates) [2014] EWCA Civ 855, CA, Jack represented the Respondant from the Tribunal through to the CA, succeeding at each stage.  

James Chegwidden

James Chegwidden

Old Square Chambers

James’s practice encompasses civil and commercial work, employment law, and regulatory and public law. He brings to his practice a wide range of domestic and international experience, having worked as a lawyer in London, Strasbourg and also the Commonwealth (Australia) and in delegations to the United Nations. He has been involved in numerous defining cases under the Human Rights Act 1998 and he acts for a range of corporate clients, charities and individuals. James acts for a number of banks, insurance firms, corporate and government clients and individuals in a range of employment law disputes in the High Court and County Court. Parties for whom James has appeared regularly include the Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds TSB and Zurich Insurance. He also represents a wide variety of claimants and respondents in the Employment Tribunal, the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) and the High Court. James has acted both for defendants and for government agencies in financial crime, fraud claims, proceeds of crime and customs actions and has advised in relation to civil actions for the recovery of unlawful gains. James maintains a strong practice and background in public and human rights law. He has been involved in numerous cases in the High Court, Court of Appeal and House of Lords/Supreme Court concerning the Human Rights Act 1998 and the European Convention of Human Rights.

John Bates

John Bates

Old Square Chambers

Practice Areas: Over the last 20 years John has acquired considerable experience in criminal and civil cases involving environmental work - although it is in the civil courts that John has been appearing in more recently. Barr v. Biffa [2011] EWHC 1003 (TCC) was a Group Litigation case of odour nuisance from a landfill with 152 Claimants. John did the legal advocacy for the Claimant which involved a detailed examination of the regulatory scheme in both English and EC legislation as the Defendant raised the defence of statutory authority. They also argued that compliance with the regulatory scheme was a 'reasonable use' of land for the law of nuisance. D's statutory authority argument was rejected but they succeeded on 'reasonable use.' The Court of Appeal overturned this decision and the case is being retried. Dobson v. Thames Water [2011] EWHC 3253 (TCC) was a Group Litigation nuisance case concerning odour and mosquitoes with over 1300 Claimants. John dealt with the mosquito case, cross examining expert witnesses and doing the opening and closing speeches on them. He was also involved in the detailed negligence claim in respect of the design and operation of the sewage treatment works and drafted the particulars of negligence. John also acts in many water and drainage cases such as abstraction, flood defence or fishing rights. In Robert Lindley Ltd v East Riding of Yorkshire Council [2016] UKUT 0006 he obtained compensation for a farmer whose fields were flooded following flood relief work.

Jonathan Clarke

Old Square Chambers

Barrister specialising in all aspects of personal injury claims (including accidents at work, industrial disease, road traffic accidents, highway claims, criminal injuries and CRU) with a mostly claimant-based practice. Significant cases include: Buck v Notts Healthcare NHST [2006] EWCA Civ 1597 (duty of psychiatric hospital to protect staff against assaults); Hilton v Smith [2001] PIQR P197 (effect of reduction of CRU certificate on Pt 36 payment) and Goldscheider v Royal Opera House Covent Garden Foundation [2018] EWHC 687 (QB) (Acoustic shock injury, professional musician, Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005).

Kara Loraine

Kara Loraine

Old Square Chambers

and collective employment tribunal work, including equal pay, unfair and constructive dismissals, whistle-blowing, redundancy, TUPE and all areas of discrimination law. Kara undertakes work for employers, individuals and trade unions and regularly appears in Employment Tribunals representing both claimants and respondents. She is frequently instructed in complex and multi-day discrimination cases including cases involving multiple types of discrimination. Kara recently acted as an independent investigator in an internal grievance procedure on behalf of a charitable organisation and regularly provides advice both in conference and in writing on all aspects of employment law. She also undertakes work in professional disciplinary proceedings and has recently appeared before the NMC. Kara acts for both claimants and defendants in personal injury cases including drafting pleadings and advice. She represents clients at trial in a variety of fast track and small claims matters including road traffic accidents, employer’s liability, occupiers liability, credit hire and highways cases as well as at applications and disposal hearings in fast track and multi-track cases.

Katharine Newton

Katharine Newton

Hall of fameOld Square Chambers

Katharine practices almost exclusively in the field of employment law, and appears regularly in the employment tribunal, the High Court and the appellate courts, including the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. Katharine acts for both employers and employees in every area of employment law including discrimination of all types, whistleblowing, victimisation, unfair and wrongful dismissal, TUPE, breach of contract, restrictive covenants, wages and trade union and industrial disputes. Katharine also has considerable experience of conducting lengthy, complex and high value discrimination claims, including many lasting in excess of 20 days. Katharine's experience encompasses a wide range of sectors, but she has particular expertise in acting for Banking and Financial Institutions, Unions, Media Organisations, NHS Trusts, Higher Education Institutions as well as Claimants holding both senior and junior roles. In addition, Katharine has particular expertise in conducting claims in the civil courts arising out of discrimination in the provision of goods and services.

Katherine Howells

Katherine Howells

Old Square Chambers

Katherine Howells specialises in personal injury, clinical negligence, travel, aviation and associated commercial proceedings. She has extensive experience acting for both Claimants and Defendants. Katherine’s domestic practice has a focus on high-value fatal and traumatic injuries sustained in road traffic accidents and workplace accidents or assaults, particularly brain injuries and psychiatric and pain conditions, together with cases involving occupiers’ and public liability issues and hospital acquired injuries. She also has a significant travel practice with a particular specialist knowledge of and interest in aviation matters. Katherine deals frequently with claims involving accidents overseas or foreign nationals injured or killed in the UK, questions of jurisdiction and applicable law, the right to cross border recovery of benefits under EC Regulation 883/2004, claims under the Package Travel Regulations and Athens Convention, Montreal Convention passenger injury, delay and lost or damaged baggage claims, delayed and denied boarding and downgrading claims under EC Regulation 261/2004 and accidents on board aircraft (including hot air balloons and microlights) or at airports or airfields. She is also experienced in dealing with contractual and other recovery proceedings made by tour operators against foreign suppliers, aviation maintenance disputes and claims concerning IATA Ground Handling Agreements. Katherine’s recent reported cases include Bianco v Bennett [2015], Yapp v Foreign and Commonwealth Office [2014] and Donkers & BGV v Storm Aviation v Lufthansa [2014]. In 2017 Katherine advised and represented the Defendant airline Germanwings in relation to the claims in England arising out of a crash in the Alps in 2015 thought to have been caused by the deliberate actions of the co-pilot which lead to the death of all 146 passengers and 6 crew on board the aircraft.

Katherine Fudakowski

Old Square Chambers

Katherine specialises in the areas of employment and discrimination, personal and criminal injury and professional discipline. Katherine acts for both claimants and respondents in a wide variety of employment tribunal work including unfair and constructive dismissal, breach of contract, unlawful deduction of wages and all forms of discrimination claims. She has appeared regularly at case management discussions, pre-hearing reviews on jurisdiction issues and has experience of participating in judicial mediation. Katharine recently appeared in the Employment Appeal Tribunal in Walker v Church Mission Society, a case concerning the application of Lawson v Serco to an expatriate mission worker. Katherine has appeared in multi-day discrimination cases and has a particular interest in disability and pregnancy discrimination. Katherine undertakes both claimant and defendant work in personal injury cases. As an advocate she has quickly gained considerable experience of trials and applications in fast track and small claims matters in the County Court and regularly appears in interim applications on the multi-track. Katherine has good experience in the field of credit hire litigation, appearing regularly for both claimants and defendants. She has provided training to solicitors on the latest litigation tactics in this area. Katherine appears regularly in appeals against the decisions of the Criminal Injury Compensation Authority and has been successful in appealing CICA decisions on both eligibility and level of tariff award. Katherine attended internal disciplinary hearings and assisted in preparing for the case of R (on the application of Puri) v Bradford Teaching Hospital [2011] EWHC 970 (Admin), an application for judicial review of the decision to dismiss Mr Puri using a disciplinary panel consisting mainly of employees of the trust and to permit his appeal panel to be similarly constituted. Since then Katherine has acted as junior to Giles Powell in an application for an interim injunction to restrain an NHS Trust from proceeding with disciplinary proceedings in breach of contract and Article 6 ECHR.

Laith Dilaimi

Old Square Chambers

Laith Dilaimi was called to the Bar in 2011. In his employment practice, Laith undertakes all areas of employment law and frequently appears in the employment tribunals and in the High Court, as well as in appellate tribunals and courts. Laith has particular experience in cases involving the healthcare sector and education sector. In his education practice, Laith accepts instructions across all areas of education law. He represents parents, university students, local authorities, and educational institutions such as schools and universities. He appears in the First-tier Tribunal (SEND), Upper Tribunal, County Court and High Court. He has particular expertise in disability discrimination cases. Laith is on the Attorney General’s Panel of Counsel (C Panel) and on the EHRC Panel of Counsel. Laith also practises as a mediator (accredited by ADR Group) and sits as a lay chair for the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine and for Independent Appeal Panels and Independent Review Panels dealing with school admission appeals and school exclusion reviews.

Lance Harris

Lance Harris

Old Square Chambers

Lance practices across the full range of Chambers’ work including employment, discrimination and commercial law, clinical negligence and personal injury litigation and health, safety and environmental law. He also has experience of Public Inquiries and was instructed as junior counsel for the National Union of Journalists at the Leveson Inquiry into Press Ethics (led by John Hendy QC). Lance commenced practice at Old Square Chambers following successful completion of his pupillage. He has a first class degree in Environmental Sciences. He completed the Graduate Diploma in Law where he received the essay prize for tort law, and undertook the Bar Vocational Couse where he was graded outstanding. Lance has been awarded the Hardwicke, Lord Denning, and Buchanan Scholarships from Lincoln's Inn and was a finalist in the Sir Louis Gluckstein Advocacy competition.

Louise Chudleigh

Louise Chudleigh

Old Square Chambers

Louise is an experienced senior junior whose practice encompasses all aspects of employment, discrimination and regulatory work. She frequently appears in complex cases including: discrimination; whistle-blowing; and large equal pay claims, often against Leading Counsel. Louise appears in the Employment Tribunals, the High Court and in the appellate courts and has particular expertise in disputes involving dental and medical practitioners and police officers. Notable Supreme Court cases include: BCC v Abdulla, an equal pay case and Chhabra v West London Mental Health NHS Trust, an appeal about the proposed disciplining of a doctor. More recent cases include Farmah, Asda, Sainsbury’s & others [2017] I.R.L.R. 785 - concerned multiple claim forms in equal pay, Taylor v Birmingham City Council [2017] EWHC 2576 - an application for an injunction; Sefton v Wainwright [2015] I.C.R. 652 - maternity discrimination and Serco v Dahou [2015] I.R.L.R. 30 - trade union dismissal and detriment. Louise is known to be a reliable and effective barrister as well as a strong advocate and good tactician. She is an experienced mediator.

Madeline Stanley

Madeline Stanley

Old Square Chambers

Madeline advises and represents employees, trade unions and public and private sector employers in all areas of employment law. Her work includes disputes in the Employment Tribunal (and on appeal), collective work, commercial employment work (and other employment and discrimination work in the High Court and County Courts) and public law challenges in the employment and discrimination context. Madeline is a vice-chair of the Industrial Law Society. Madeline also practices in the areas of personal injury, general public law and professional discipline.

Mark Sutton

Mark Sutton

Hall of fameOld Square Chambers

Mark Sutton QC's practice spans employment disputes, professional regulatory cases and hearings before disciplinary panels. He routinely appears before civil courts, employment tribunals, professional disciplinary panels and internal inquiries. He is regarded as the Bar’s foremost expert on disciplinary procedures in the healthcare sector, providing advice and representation to practitioners, NHS Trusts and government agencies. He represents practitioners in substantial fitness to practise hearings before the MPTS and other regulatory bodies. He routinely undertakes judicial reviews and statutory appeals. Mark has acted as leading counsel in two successful Supreme Court appeals determining the scope of pre-emptive and financial remedies in disciplinary proceedings, and has appeared in most of the recent cases before the High Court and appellate courts which have developed the law in this area. Mark has extensive experience of all aspects of employment law. He advises clients, both corporate and individual, in disputes involving healthcare, education, financial services, local authorities and the police. Mark has appeared before the higher appellate courts in several landmark employment cases. He is described as ‘one of the few excellent lawyers to have equal footing in employment law and regulatory law. He is profoundly knowledgeable and the sort of person who would inspire confidence in any judge." Mark is Head of Chambers at Old Square Chambers and a Bencher of the Middle Temple.

Melanie Tether

Melanie Tether

Old Square Chambers

All aspects of employment law, both individual and collective. Melanie is a tenacious advocate and is known for her ability to master challenging briefs. She is regularly instructed in heavyweight equal pay and discrimination claims and has appeared in a number of landmark cases, including several references to the Court of Justice of the European Union. She is a leading expert on the Transfer of Undertaking Regulations. Melanie has appeared in many reported cases. Recent examples include: Mustafa v Trek Highways Ltd [2016] IRLR 326; Griffiths v. Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2014] EqLR 545; Earle v Equality and Human Rights Commission [2014] IRLR 845; Kelly v The Hesley Group Ltd [2013] IRLR 514 EAT and British Airways plc v Mak and others [2011] ICR 735 CA.

Michael Ford

Michael Ford

Hall of fameOld Square Chambers

Main areas of practice are employment law (including equal pay, working time, pensions, industrial action, and trade union law), public law, human rights. Many appearances in ECJ, European Court of Human Rights, Supreme Court, House of Lords, public inquiries. Recent cases include: R (UNISON) v Lord Chancellor, SC (tribunal fees); Lock v British Gas, ECJ, CA (holiday pay); Griffiths v DWP, CA (disability discrimination); ISS v Mediclean (strike injunction); Bear Scotland v Fulton, EAT (working time); Chandhok v Tirkey, EAT (caste discrimination); RMT v United Kingdom, ECtHR (right to strike); British Airways v. Williams, SC, ECJ. On Equality and Human Rights Commission ‘A’ Panel of Counsel; advisor to BEIS inquiry into workers’ rights.

Michael Nicholson

Old Square Chambers

Michael specialises in personal injury cases, acts for both claimants and defendants, has extensive experience of all workplace claims, including victimisation, bullying and stress cases. His practice includes occupational disease cases, product liability and regulatory compliance. He has specific experience in complex highway and tramway cases and was instructed by the Highway Authority in the Sheffield Supertram litigation. Michael frequently represents families at Coroner’s Inquests

Nadia Motraghi KC

Nadia Motraghi KC

Old Square Chambers

Nadia specialises in employment law, professional regulation and public law including public procurement. Her practice spans the Tribunals, High Court and all levels of appeal. She acts for employees and employers in all areas of employment law especially discrimination of all types, whistleblowing, TUPE, breach of contract, trade union cases and injunctions (industrial action, restrictive covenants, MHPS).  In professional discipline, she represents individuals before their regulators and at all levels of appeal. Her clients are in the public sector (NHS, local government), private sector (especially banking and technology) and trade unions. Nadia's public law and public procurement work is mainly in the healthcare sector.

Nicola Newbegin

Nicola Newbegin

Old Square Chambers

Nicola specialises in employment, discrimination, industrial relations and professional discipline, as well as undertaking related work in the fields of judicial review, human rights and data protection. Nicola practises in all sectors but has particular expertise in the healthcare sector having appeared before all the major healthcare regulators and in a number of the leading high court doctor and dentist cases, including: GMC v Chandra (CA), McMillan v Airedale NHS Foundation Trust (CA); Chakrabarty v Ipswich Hospitals NHS Trust (QBD); and Dusza & Sobhani v Powys Teaching Local Health Board (CA), as well as a number of judicial reviews relating to doctors in training.  Nicola regularly appears before the Employment Tribunal, Employment Appeal Tribunal  and Court of Appeal, including recently representing the teacher in Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy v Parry before both the Employment Appeal Tribunal and the Court of Appeal  Nicola also has extensive experience of complex discrimination claims (both employment tribunal and county court) and of multi-claimant and collective disputes.

Oliver Segal

Oliver Segal

Hall of fameOld Square Chambers

Oliver is regarded as a leading Silk in employment law and acts regularly for large commercial clients and for most of the major trade unions. Within employment law he has particular specialist experience in: industrial action (appearing for the successful trade unions in the Court of Appeal cases of RMT v Serco Ltd and GTR Southern v ASLEF); collective disputes (recently appeared for the successful appellants in the Supreme Court in Hartley & Ors v King Edward VI College, a case which concerned the amount of money which could be lawfully withheld from the pay of teachers on strike; for the successful claimants in Court of Appeal in Anderson & ors v London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority; and for successful claimants in the recent Court of Appeal case of Abrahall v Nottingham City Council); breach of contract claims (including claims involving restrictive covenants, PHI and negligent references (appearing for the successful claimant in the Court of Appeal case of Gibb v Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust); discrimination claims (appeared for Respondent in Court of Appeal in recent case of Unite v Nailard); Working Time and TUPE claims. Oliver is also the leading barrister within the field of Commercial Agency claims; he acts for both agents and principals and has appeared in several of the most important reported cases, including the House of Lords case of Lonsdale v Howard and Hallam Ltd, the recent Court of Appeal case Software Incubator Ltd v Computer Associates Ltd and the recent High Court cases of ARSM v Typhoo Tea Ltd, and Nagel v Pluczenik. Recent work: Instructed in appeal from Nagel v Pluczenik – listed in CA October 2018.

Paul Rose

Paul Rose

Hall of fameOld Square Chambers

Personal injury and employment law. In employment law has acted in leading cases in discrimination, unfair dismissal and Transfer of Undertakings Regulations. In personal injury acted on behalf of the plaintiffs in Opren litigation, Benzodiazepine litigation, British Midland air crash, Camelford Water Pollution, Mull of Kyntyre helicopter crash. Acted in a substantial number of catastrophic injury claims particularly involving servicemen in claims against Ministry of Defence. Recent cases include: Mehmetemin v Farrell [2017] EWHC 103 (QB),  Harman v Boyles [2015], Quantum: TBI, settled for lump sum of £1.5m, PP. £125,000 pa; ST v VB [2015] (Quantum Tetraplegia, settled for lump sum of £3m, PP. £175,000 - lump sum equivalent £8m); GC v RD [2015] (Quantum: Below knee amputation and head injury, lump sum of £2.5m); SH v ML and JH v ML [2015] (Contested IP application to purchase property for two children with TBI); Lightfoot v Go Ahead Group PLC [2011] RTR 11 (RTA contributory negligence); Johnson Controls Ltd v Campbell [UKEAT 0042/12] (Service Provision Change); Caston v Chief Constable Lincolnshire Police [2010] IRLR 327 (Time limits, Discrimination); IB v CB [2010] EWHC 3815(QB) (Content of periodical payments order); James v Redcats (Brands) Ltd [2007] IRLR 296 (meaning of 'worker' ; Sowerby v Charlton [2006] 1 WLR 568 (Court of Appeal - pre action admissions); Scott v Commissioners of Inland Revenue [2004] IRLR 713 (Court of Appeal: compensation under Sex Discrimination Act 1975); Mattis v Pollock [2003] IRLR 603 (Court of Appeal: scope of vicarious liability); Franks v Reuters [2003] IRLR 423 (meaning of 'employee' in Employment Rights Act 1996); Croft v Royal Mail [2003] IRLR 592 (Court of Appeal discrimination, transsexual) Liversidge v Chief Constable of Bedfordshire Police [2002] IRLR 15 (vicarious liability under Race Relations Act 1976); Bici v Ministry of Defence Times [2004] EWCH 786 (QB).(Scope of combat immunity). Paul Rose speaks regularly at professional conferences on topical issues in the areas he specialises in.

Rebecca Tuck

Rebecca Tuck

Hall of fameOld Square Chambers

Rebecca practices all areas of employment law, including unfair dismissal, discrimination, equal pay, TUPE, redundancy and collective disputes. She is in the ET and EAT regularly as well as frequently appearing before the CAC, CO, in the county court and in the High Court. She also carries out non-litigation work including conducting investigations, advising disciplinary or appeal panels, or sitting as a decision maker. Rebecca is a qualified mediator and sits as a fee paid employment judge and as a Legal Advisor to the Nursing and Midwifery Council.  

Robert Moretto

Robert Moretto

Old Square Chambers

Robert has a thriving employment, public law and human rights appellate practice, having appeared in the Court of Appeal on five occasions in the last year. He also regularly represents clients in the Employment Appeal Tribunal and Upper Tribunal, in judicial review proceedings, and in complex multi-day discrimination and whistleblowing claims. He has particular expertise in discrimination and human rights law, and has been involved in leading high value equal pay claims for over 15 years. Robert has been on the Attorney General’s A Panel of Counsel since 2015. In his role on the panel, Robert represents and advises an extensive range of Government Departments and Agencies. Robert also appears regularly on behalf of Trade Unions and Trade Union funded clients, as well as NHS Trusts.

Robin White

Robin White

Old Square Chambers

Barrister specialising in employment and discrimination law (all aspects). Acts for employers and employees. Appears in Tribunals and Higher Courts in whole of UK including Scotland and Northern Ireland. Cases include Post Office v Foley; Beedell v West Ferry Printers (both test for unfair dismissal); Martyres v Connex (collective agreements); W v HMG (disability/national security - MI6 employee); Bentwood v Shepherd (Calculation of Quantum in discrimination), G v H (Disability Discrimination - Quantum over £1m), Symes v Eaton-Williams (Discrimination - lifetime loss), Rule v University of Arts (technicalities of uplift for failure to follow procedures), Short v Land Rover (interaction of DDA responsibilities and union collective agreements), Beavan v Cabinet Office (whether pay progression in Civil Service contractual), Pietzka v Price Waterhouse (Reverse discrimination: sex, flexible and part-time working request discrimination by male employee), Hartley v Foreign and Commonwealth Office (discriminatory dismissal of an Engineer with Aspergers), Adams v Dudley NHS Trust (failure to make adequate provision for wheelchair bound employee), A V Telford NHS Trust (transgender patient, DPA and discrimination rights). B v N (access to sports changing facilities by transgender user).

Rosalie Snocken

Rosalie Snocken

Old Square Chambers

Roz’s practice is comprised of all of Old Square Chambers’ core areas, with a particular focus on Clinical Negligence, Discrimination, Employment, Personal Injury, and Professional Discipline. Roz regularly undertakes a wide variety of Employment Tribunal hearings ranging from preliminary hearings to multi-day final hearings. She has experience of dealing with many different cases including those concerning discrimination, unfair and wrongful dismissal, breach of contract, unlawful deductions, equal pay, Working Time Regulations, TUPE, whistleblowing, industrial action, Health & Safety and maternity and paternity rights. Roz has represented both Claimants and Defendants in a range of trials and hearings, including applications and CMCs on both the fast and multi tracks, costs budgeting hearings, Stage 3 hearings and fast track trials, together with inquests in the Coroner’s Court and CICA claims before the First Tier Tribunal.  She also regularly advises on both liability and quantum in personal injury and clinical negligence claims, together with drafting pleadings where appropriate. Roz also has experience of negotiations and JSMs. In addition, Roz has often represented Registrants in Fitness to Practise proceedings.  She has experience of both interim and final hearings and before a number of different regulators including the NMC, HCPC and the Education Workforce Council. As well as regularly undertaking hearings in Tribunals and County Courts, Roz has also appeared in the EAT, undertaken various High Court matters including Judicial Review, been involved in injunction application hearings and assisted in a case before the Supreme Court (Jones v FTT [2013] UKSC 19; [2013] 2 AC 48).

Simon Cheetham

Simon Cheetham

Hall of fameOld Square Chambers

Simon is an employment and discrimination law specialist, with a wide-ranging practice in the employment tribunal, High Court and appellate courts. He has extensive experience of employment law and has frequently been instructed in complex and high-value claims. He has particular expertise in discrimination law, but his practice covers the full range of employment cases, including industrial relations, TUPE, whistle blowing and contractual disputes. Simon also undertakes disciplinary and regulatory work and conducts investigations, particularly in the health care and higher education sectors, and has a growing pensions and data protection practice. Recent reported cases include: Lock v British Gas (ECJ, EAT and CA) and Fulton v Bear Scotland No. 2 (EAT) - leading cases on holiday pay; R ex p. Boots Management Services Ltd v CAC (HC  and CA) - trade union recognition; Dronsfield v Reading University (EAT) – conduct dismissals for academic staff.  

Simon Gorton

Simon Gorton

Old Square Chambers

Simon Gorton QC is a barrister specialising in all aspects of employment law. Simon’s expertise is in Employment Tribunals, the High Court and at all appellate levels. Simon regularly appears for and advises clients as diverse as Banks, Police Forces, PLC's, Trade Unions, Hospital Trusts, Universities, individual claimants and direct access clients. He has appeared in numerous reported cases that are wide ranging including equal pay and victimisation (Derbyshire v St Helens MBC, Fox Cross Claimants v Glasgow City Council), the lead authority in respect of contractual rights conferred by custom and practice (Shumba v Park Cakes Ltd), TUPE (Wilson v St Helens MBC, Housing Maintenance Solutions v McAteer, Arch Initiatives v Greater Manchester West Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust), whistleblowing (Noon Jhutti v Royal Mail Group), worker status (Hospital Medical Group Ltd v Woodward) the legality of strike ballots (Metrobus v Unite the Union), working time issues (South Manchester Abbeyfield Society v Hopkins) and unfair dismissal and wrongful dismissal (Nugent Care Society v Boardman and Nunn v Royal Mail Group). He is recommended as a leader in employment law both in ‘Chambers & Partners’ and the ‘Legal 500’. Endorsements attributed to Simon include that he has ‘the right touch with clients’ and is a ‘very practical and shrewd operator’ who earns top marks for his expertise on equal pay and TUPE litigation; ‘incisive, determined’. Simon lectures regularly on a variety of employment law issues.

Simon O"Dwyer

Old Square Chambers

Simon is a specialist personal injury practitioner of over 5 years experience. He is frequently instructed by the country’s largest legal expense insurers and leading trade unions to represent claimants who have suffered serious and catastrophic injury. He is regularly instructed in claims valued up to and in excess of half a million pounds. Prior to coming to the Bar in 2010, Simon worked in house for a national firm of personal injury solicitors. As a result he has an in depth understanding of day to day litigation and has the advantage of being able to use this experience to provide invaluable tactical advice at all stages of a claim. He has quickly developed a reputation as a hard working and determined barrister who fights hard to ensure the best result possible for his clients. He is known for being easily approachable and for his ability to quickly engage with clients in conference.

Sophie Beesley

Sophie Beesley

Old Square Chambers

Sophie practises exclusively in clinical negligence, personal injury and coronial law. Her special interests are mental health, particularly in acute clinical settings, inquests expanding Article 2 following Rabone and the law of consent following Montgomery. Her cases have developed these areas and she lectures extensively on them. Her recent inquests have included suicides alleging inadequate mental health risk assessment and inappropriate discharge. Her civil claims include delayed cancer diagnoses, substandard surgery, childbirth and stillbirths, gynaecological injuries and inadequate nursing. Sophie is being led in high value claims concerning complex birth injuries, cerebral palsy and cauda equina syndrome.

Spencer Keen

Spencer Keen

Old Square Chambers

Spencer specialises in employment, human rights, EU and commercial law.  He has extensive experience acting for both corporate clients and individuals at first instance and appellate levels.  He is particularly well known for injunction proceedings in the High Court (concerning employee competition, restraints of trade and confidentiality) and also for acting in complex disability discrimination cases.  Examples of recent cases include: Bamieh v European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo [2017] EAT which considered whether an international organisation had personality for the purposes of domestic law and the effect of Article 10 ECHR on the territorial jurisdiction of an English Employment Tribunal; Unison v Lord Chancellor [2017] where Spencer appeared for the Equality and Human Rights Commission in the judicial review of the government’s decision to impose fees in the employment tribunal (with Mark Whitcombe and led by Michael Ford QC).

Stephen Grime

Stephen Grime

Old Square Chambers

Stephen Grime has vast experience of complex litigation particularly in personal injury and clinical negligence.  He has acted in a range of high value claims both for claimants and defendants.  He regularly advises upon technical insurance points.  He also undertakes cases involving negligent professionals particularly in the insurance and construction fields. Recently he has been engaged in cases involving the scope of the ex turpi causa defence in road traffic claims (McCracken v Smith [2015] EWCA Civ 380) and the impact of European law upon claims by passenger victims Churchill Insurance v Fitzgerald [2012] EWCA Civ 1166; [2013] 1 W.L.R. 1776 & (C-442/10) European Court of Justice. Having sat as a Recorder in the Technology & Construction Court and acted as arbitrator and mediator, he has a deep knowledge of ADR and achieves beneficial settlements in many  difficult cases.

Stuart Brittenden KC

Stuart Brittenden KC

Old Square Chambers

Stuart is an employment law specialist with experience in the full spectrum of individual and collective employment law, appearing at first instance and at appellate levels. He regularly acts in complex/high value claims, discrimination claims, test litigation, as well as industrial relations disputes. He was shortlisted by Chambers & Partners as Employment Junior of the Year (2017), and has been named as Employment Junior of the year (2018) by Legal 500. Recent cases include: Kostal UK Ltd v Dunkley [2018] IRLR 428 (seminal decision on s.145B inducements); Reading BC v James UKEAT/0222/17/JOJ (equality clause/comparators); London Care Ltd v Henry & Ors UKEAT/0219/17/DA (TUPE; largest NMW group litigation in care sector); Blakely v On-Site Recruitment Solutions Ltd UKEAT/ 0134/17/DA (test litigation – worker status/service company); Fleming v East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust UKEAT/0054/17/BA (privilege; admissibility of covert recordings); Other: BAPLA v Jet2.com [2017] ICR 457 CA (recognition). Industrial Action: MoJ v POA [2018] ICR 181; GTR  v ASLEF [2017] ICR 497 CA (Viking, Laval); Merseyrail v RMT (2017); SofS v NUT [2016] IRLR 512; GTR v ASLEF (No. 2) [2016] IRLR 686.  

Tom Gent

Old Square Chambers

Tom is a leading junior in regulatory and motor defence law. He is a specialist in the field of regulatory crime, with an emphasis on health and safety. He represents and advises companies as corporate entities, directors and individuals at all stages in criminal proceedings. He has been involved in numerous high profile serious injury and fatality cases and has developed a reputation for his attention to detail and an ability to quickly identify the crucial issues in a case. He frequently defends in the Crown Court in fatal road traffic accident cases, but has a detailed and wide knowledge of all aspects of road traffic legislation. He enjoys a reputation as a skilled trial advocate but also recognises the importance of presenting a powerful mitigation. He is frequently invited to speak at training days for both insurance companies and solicitors. Linked to his criminal practice, he acts for interested parties in inquests conducted at the Coroner’s Court. He is known for his ability to handle particularly sensitive and emotionally charged cases.

Tom  Kirk

Tom Kirk

Old Square Chambers

Tom is an employment and discrimination specialist with particular expertise in disability discrimination. He is frequently instructed by both Claimants and Respondents in difficult long-term sickness absence and reasonable adjustments claims. Tom has a strong appellate court practice and has been instructed in several cases before the Employment Appeal Tribunal and Court of Appeal which have developed the law of disability discrimination. He has extensive experience of complex discrimination and whistleblowing claims in the Employment Tribunal, including multiple claims and applications for interim relief. He also undertakes restraint of trade work in the High Court and has acted for clients in non-employment discrimination / provision of services cases in the County Court. Tom practices in all sectors but has particular knowledge in dealing with politically sensitive employment disputes for his clients in the public, healthcare and education sectors. Through his appointment to the Attorney General’s A Panel he is regularly instructed by government departments, often in high profile cases and cases heard under the national security rules. Tom is frequently involved in NHS litigation across a wide range of claims, acting for both British Medical Association members and various NHS Trusts. He also regularly advises and acts for a range of trade unions and union members on matters such as worker status, contractual disputes and equal pay.

Turan Hursit

Turan Hursit

Old Square Chambers

Barrister specialising in Clinical Negligence, Personal Injury, Court of Protection, Inquests and Inquiries, Public Law, and Human Rights

Victoria Webb

Victoria Webb

Old Square Chambers

Victoria specialises in employment, discrimination and personal injury, with an additional interest in inquests. Her employment works, for both claimants and respondents, includes unfair dismissal, breach of contract, unlawful deduction of wages and discrimination. In particular, she has appeared in a number of multi-day sex, race, age and disability discrimination hearings. She recently appeared at the Employment Appeals Tribunal in a matter concerning the refusal of an application for review of a strike out judgement. She also has experience of judicial mediation. She has also been involved in drafting submissions in complex discrimination matters, cost applications and appeals to the EAT. Victoria acts for claimants and defendants in fast track and small claims personal injury trials, as well as in case management discussions for multi-track matters. She drafts pleadings, including schedules or loss, and advice on liability and quantum, including in multi-track matters. She represents claimants and defendants in credit hire litigation. She is also developing a specialism in inquests, having recently appeared on behalf of a bereaved family at a pre-inquest review, and at an inquest representing a former employer of the deceased. Victoria has successfully appealed against decisions of the Criminal Injury and Compensation Authority relating to the eligibility of applicants for awards under the scheme. She accepts instructions on a conditional fee basis.