Barrister Profile

Profile

Anna is a specialist employment practitioner with experience of litigation and advice in all areas of employment law. 

Anna is considered by clients to be a real team player, adept at getting straight to the heart of a case and working in a client-friendly and responsive way.

Clients range from private individuals, trade unions and their clients to global law firms, PLCs and City banks. Current or recent clients include the Lloyds Bank, HSBC, Bank of America, British Airways, London School of Economics, Communications Workers Union, Vodaphone, The Body Shop, several Primary Care Trusts, senior executives, police officers and a number of other individuals. Advocacy experience extends beyond employment tribunals throughout the UK to the EAT, High Court, county court (including a civil jury trial), corporate and individual disciplinary hearings.

Anna was appointed to the Counsel Panel for Eurpoean & Human Rights Commission 2011-13. She writes for legal publications and is currently contributing to the 2011 edition of Butterworths Discrimination Law.

Significant cases:

• J v M (2011): instructed to advise and represent a former senior executive of national group of newspapers in high value claim for age discrimination and unfair dismissal (settled)
• X v Y (2011): currently representing firm of solicitors defending equal pay claims
• R v X (2011): representing high street bank defending complex disability discrimination claims (settled)
• X v Chief Constable (2011): currently representing police officer alleging criminal offences by senior officers in whistleblowing and constructive dismissal claims
• Rajapakse v Commonwealth Foundation (2011): currently representing the claimant in this high profile whistleblowing claim
• Morgan v Westminster Primary Care Trust and others (2011): currently representing Westminster and 2 other PCTs defending claim under Transfer of Undertakings Regulations 2006, s189 TULRCA 1992 and for unfair dismissal
• Lindsay v LSE (2011): currently representing respondent university defending claim for race discrimination, disability discrimination, victimisation and whistleblowing; disability discrimination claim struck out at PHR, whistleblowing claim withdrawn after cross-examination
• T v S Ltd (2010): successfully representing respondent global company defending whistleblowing claim by group financial controller alleging fraud; no compensatory award on unfair dismissal
• Shaw v NHS (2010): successfuly representing respondent defending indirect sex discrimination claim; negotiated compensation for unfair dismissal
• Aspland v Merrill Lynch International (2010): successfully representing respondent striking out sex discrimination claim
• A v B (2010): successfully defending application for an injunction for alleged breach of Protection from Harassment Act 1997
• A v C, G and S (2006): successfully representing international law firm in 10 day sex discrimination and whistleblowing claim. Costs award made
• P v Royal Sun Alliance (2006): successfully represented senior employee claimant in pregnancy discrimination claim
• Watson v National Union of Teachers (2006) successfully represented claimant employee in both direct and indirect discrimination claims during maternity leave
• Dr Singh v (1) Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (2) Babraham Institute (3) Professor Goodfellow and (4) Dr Dyer (2005): successfully defended race complex discrimination and victimisation claim, representing all respondents
• Nakatani v The Japanese School (2005): struck out claim under Equal Pay Act and Occupational Pension Schemes (Equal Access) Regulations for respondent
• Perli v St Mungo Ltd (2005): represented claimant in successful sex discrimination /automatic unfair dismissal (maternity) claim
• Povey v Kelly Services (2005): disability and redundancy, unfair dismissal, breach of contract, representing respondent
• Kanadia v Royal Bank of Scotland (2004): 3 week race and disability discrimination and breach of contract case, representing respondent
• Brown v (1) The Musician's Union and (2) Trustees of the Musician's Union Pension Fund (2004) : relationship between Pensions Act 1995 and Equal Pay Act 1975, Occupational Pensions Schemes (Equal Treatment) Regulations 1995 (2004), representing second respondent
• Mullins v Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis (2003 EAT): sex discrimination: a test case brought by the Police Federation on breastfeeding at work, representing applicant
• Garlick v MW Group Ltd (2003): territorial jurisdiction of tribunal to determine unfair dismissal claim brought by General anager of Channel Islands following repeal of s196 ERA 1996; applicable law, representing applicant
• Obasa v Northamptonshire County Council (2003 EAT): 10 day race and disability discrimination, breach of contract and whistleblowing claims, representing respondent
• Kochhar v Commissioner of the Police of Metropolis (2003): jurisdiction of tribunals to determine claims of race discrimination brought by individual officers against the Commissioner post Liversidge v Chief Constable of Bedfordshire Police (2002) IRLR 15 pre Race Relations Amendment Act 2000, representing applicant

• Connelly v RTZ Corp plc [1998] AC 854 (HL)

Additional Information

Other cases of interest include Joint Disciplinary Scheme re Coopers & Lybrand: accountants' disciplinary proceedings involving the Maxwell companies, representing Coopers led by Brian Leveson QC (as he then was)

Practised general civil litigation from 22 Old Buildings (Chambers of Benet Hytner QC) until April 2001

Professional Memberships

Member of ELBA, ELA, ILS, ELAAS, Bar Pro Bono Unit and FRU

Publications

In Shoesmith's shadow, New Law Journal

Contributor to Butterworths Discrimination Law

The Future of Equal Pay Claims, New Law Journal

Winning Hearts and Minds, New Law Journal

Education

St Peter's College, Oxford University.  Modern History (MA) Oxon.  Exhibitioner

Graduate Diploma in Law , City University

Bar Vocational Course, Inns of Court School of Law