Barrister Profile

Kate Balmer

Year of Call 2009

Profile

Kate has been a tenant in Chambers since the successful completion of her pupillage on 1 October 2010.  She is available to accept instructions in all areas of Chambers’ practice.

Kate prides herself on having a client focussed and friendly approach. She is happy to be contacted by email or telephone at any time and is willing to provide advice or assistance on an informal basis.  Kate is also happy to attend conferences at solicitors’ or clients’ offices.

“Kate achieved an excellent result and did a fantastic job presenting the case.  The client was over the moon with the result and went out of her way to tell me how impressed she had been with Kate” - Partner at Clyde & Co.

“Kate’s work was excellent.  The standard of her preparation, advocacy and client care has undoubtedly helped us re-enforce our relationship with an important client” - Baites Wells and Braithwaite.

Employment

Kate has wide-ranging experience of employment law and frequently appears in multi-day Employment Tribunal hearings involving issues such as discrimination, whistleblowing and unfair dismissal.  Kate's submissions have recently been described as being "very effective and professional" and "very persuasive" in Employment Tribunal judgments.

Kate is a contributing author to Tottel’s Discrimination Law (Bloomsbury Professional) and has been published in the Employment Lawyers Association briefing.

Kate’s recent cases include:

  • U v TH - acted as junior to Ingrid Simler QC in a three week race discrimination claim;
  • M v N - acted as junior to Suzanne McKie in a two week sex discrimination and equal pay case;
  • Reed Employment Group v HMRC - acted as junior in a £158m month-long employment status case;
  • G & Ors v V – represented the Respondent in a widely reported unfair dismissal case;
  • F v B – represented the Respondent in a multi-day disability discrimination and unfair dismissal case;
  • E v L – represented the Respondent in a multi-day religious belief discrimination and unfair dismissal case.

Kate has given seminars and lectures on many aspects of employment law, including:

  • The Equality Act 2010: Key Points and Practical Implications;
  • The Removal of the Default Retirement Age;
  • Quantification of Personal Injury Damages in the Employment Tribunal.

Prior to becoming a tenant, Kate also worked on a number of complex and high profile employment matters with Akash Nawbatt and Andrew Burns. These included, for example, the British Airways Cabin Crew Litigation, Malone & Ors v British Airways Plc [2010] EWHC 302 (QB) and proposed industrial action at British Telecommunications in June/July 2010.

Personal Injury

Kate has experience of a wide range of personal injury work, including RTAs, employer's liability, occupier's liability and international travel litigation. Kate is a member of APIL and PIBA.

Kate’s recent personal injury cases include, for example:

  • CEVA Logistics Limited v Mark Anthony Lynch & Others [2011] EWCA Civ 188 – as junior to Bruce Silvester;
  • L v B – acting on behalf of the claimant in a fast track employer’s liability claim;
  • T v KP – advising on quantum in an international travel matter involving multiple claimants;
  • E v J & Ors - acting on behalf of the claimant motorcyclist injured in a complex RTA, involving multiple defendants;
  • P v T - drafted a High Court Schedule of Loss, including complex loss of earnings, for a professional claimant.
  • S v MoD – instructed, pre-trial, as junior to Robert Weir QC in high profile claims against the MoD.

Commercial and Tax

Kate has experience of a broad range of commercial work including tax litigation. She is instructed by the Treasury Solicitor on the "Baby Barrister" scheme for non-panel members.

Kate’s recent commercial and tax cases include:

  • Reed Employment Group v HMRC, 2012 - successfully acted as junior in a £158m month-long employment status case;
  • Talentcore v HMRC [2011] UKUT 423 - instructed as junior by HMRC in an Upper-Tier Tribunal employment status case;
  • Mander v HMRC [2010] UKFTT 313 (TC)- instructed as junior to Akash Nawbatt by HMRC in a high value pensions case (First-tier Tax Tribunal);
  • M v HMRC - instructed without a leader by the taxpayer (pro-bono) in an employment status case (First-tier Tax Tribunal).
  • IR - instructed as junior to Timothy Brennan QC, advising on employment status issues.

As a pupil to Akash Nawbatt, Kate also worked on a series of high profile tax cases being led by Ingrid Simler QC. These included Davies & James v HMRC; Gaines-Cooper v HMRC [2010] EWCA Civ 83 (Court of Appeal), Hankinson v HMRC (2010) (Tax Tribunal) and Nomura v HMRC (2009) (Tax Tribunal).

Publications and Seminars

Kate is  a contributing author of Tottel’s Discrimination Law (Bloomsbury Professional 2010 to date) and has had the following articles published:

Kate has recently given seminars on the following topics:

  • The Equality Act 2010: Key Points and Practical Implications;
  • The Removal of the Default Retirement Age;
  • Quantification of Personal Injury Damages in the Employment Tribunal with Peter Edwards;
  • Damages for Psychological/Psychiatric Injuries with Chris Stone;
  • HMRC Litigation Strategy and ADR with Johnathan Fisher QC.

Scholarships and Awards

  • 2009 - Highest Mark in the Year in Advanced Civil Litigation
  • 2008 - The Clyde & Co Prize for the Highest Mark in Tort
  • 2008 - Harmsworth Scholarship, The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple (£10,000)
  • 2007 - Scholarship for 'outstanding' performance in undergraduate studies (£5,000)
  • Numerous other scholarships and awards throughout educational career

Education

  • Bar Vocational Course (Very Competent)
  • Graduate Diploma in Law (Distinction)
  • LLB Hons (Upper Second Class)
  • BA Advanced in Politics and History (First)

Professional memberships

  • ELA, FRU, PIBA and APIL.

Other skills and interests

Kate has a wide range of experience in competitive mooting, public speaking and debating. She was a finalist in The College of Law Open Mooting Competition 2008 and a quarter-finalist in the Rosamund Smith Mooting Competition 2009 at Middle Temple.

Kate is a keen amateur actress and a member of the Middle Temple Revels.  She enjoys sailing and martial arts, holding a black belt in Karate.