Barrister Profile

Bruce Carr QC

Appointed QC 2009
Year of Call 1986

Profile

Bruce practises predominantly in the field of employment law. His practice spans the breadth of this area and he is particularly sought for his expertise in relation to industrial action, restrictive covenants, company re-organisations, union recognition and de-recognition and discrimination. In 2010 he has been shortlisted by The Lawyer Awards as ‘Barrister of the Year’, nominated for the Chambers UK 'Employment Silk of the Year' and named Lawyer of the week by The Times newspaper in  January following his success in the BA 'Christmas' injunction. Prior to taking silk, he was twice nominated as 'Employment Junior of the Year' in the Chambers UK Bar Awards.

Recommendations

Since taking silk:

Bruce Carr is a standout barrister who provides clients with the full package and presents opponents with a tough fight. An absolute superstar who "rises to any challenge," he has made waves in his first couple of years as silk, not least appearing in the recent BA litigation. "Cool as a cucumber," his flair and charm reassure clients and woo courts. Solicitors hail him for being "witty, diplomatic and blessed with faultless judgment."
- Chambers UK 2011

 

Prior to taking silk:

A favourite senior junior of many instructing solicitors, Bruce Carr is often compared to silks in terms of the skills he offers. "Sensible, great with clients and good on his feet,"
- Chambers UK 2009

Solicitors and Silks want Bruce Carr on their side for his "combination of an incisive mind and superb knowledge of employment law"
-  Chambers & Partners

was recommended for his "ability to summarise issues quickly". With a "Brain the size of a planet"
- Chambers & Partners

Appointments

2009 - Appointed Queen's Counsel

2002 - Appointed to the DRC and EOC Panel

2002 - Member of Bar Pro Bono Unit case reviewing panel

2001 - Appointed Junior Counsel to the Crown (A Panel)

2000 - Appointed Recorder

1999 - Appointed Assistant Recorder

1998 - Appointed member of Bar Council Professional Conduct Committee

1995 - Appointed Junior Counsel to the Crown (B Panel)

Significant Reported Cases

 

  • Malone & Ors v British Airways Plc [2010] EWCA Civ 1225 - incorporation of collectively agreed terms 
  • Whitney v Monster Worldwide [2010] EWCA 1312 - novation of pension promise by former employer
  • British Airways v Unite the Union [2009] EWHC 3541 - injunction to restrain Christmas strike action by cabin crew
  • Duncome & Fletcher v DCFS [2009] - territorial jurisdiction and EU derived rights
  • Angus Monro v Revenue & Customs Commissioners [2008/9] EWCA Civ 306 - entitlement to recovery of overpaid tax
  • Ministry of Justice v Prison Officers' Association [2008] EWCA 239 - Injunction to restrain industrial action by prison officers
  • Agassi v Robinson [2006] 1 WLR 1380 HL - taxation of foreign based sportsman
  • Agassi v. Robinson (No.2) [2006] 1 WLR 2126 CA - Recovery of accountants' costs under Bar Direct Scheme
  • Cross v. British Airways [2006] IRLR 804 CA -  Effect of TUPE transfer on normal retiring age
  • Smith v. A.J. Morrisroe [2005] IRLR 72 - rolled up holiday pay and the Working Time Regulations
  • Robertson v. DEFRA [2005] IRLR 363. Cross-departmental comparisons in equal pay cases
  • Marshalls Clay v. Caulfield [2003] IRLR 552 - rolled up holiday pay and the Working Time Regulations
  • Thompson v. DWP [2003] EAT - Sex discrimination and dress codes
    • Lowe v Dudley Bower [2003] EAT - TUPE - identification of "economic entity"
    • (1) Bloomsbury Group Newspaper Publishing (2) J K Rowling v Newsgroup Newspapers & Others [2003]  1 WLR 1633  - injunctive relief against persons unknown. "Harry Potter" stolen manuscript
  • Whitely v. Marton [2003] EAT - status of apprenticeship contracts
    • Deutsche Morgan Grenfell v. Inland Revenue [2003] (HC) - limitation periods and claims based on mistake of law
    • X v. Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis [2003] EAT - Anonymity of transsexuals in sex discrimination claims
    • Kigass Aero Components v. Brown [2002] IRLR 312 - Working Time Regulations - entitlement to annual leave whilst off sick
    • Manchester City Council v. Thurston [2002] IRLR 319 - contractual sick pay and deductions from wages
    • Jaffrey v. DETR [2002] IRLR 688 - Interaction of claims of direct and indirect race discrimination
    • Jowitt v. Pioneer Technology [2002] IRLR 790 - construction of long-term disability provisions and PHI
    • Emerging Markets Partnership (Europe) Ltd v. Bachnak (CA) [2003] 
    • Howlett Marine v. Bowlam [2001] IRLR 201 - Protective awards in redundancy cases
    • Edwards v. Mid-Suffolk County Council - [2001] IRLR 190 - Disability discrimination
    • Thompson v. SCS Consulting [2001] IRLR 501 - TUPE - Regulation 8 dismissals
    • Richardson (HMIT) v. Delaney [2001] IRLR 163 - Taxation of termination payments Howlett Marine v. Bowlam [2001] IRLR 201 - Protective awards in redundancy cases
    • Edwards v. Mid-Suffolk County Council - [2001] IRLR 190 - Disability discrimination
    • Thompson v. SCS Consulting [2001] IRLR 501 - TUPE - Regulation 8 dismissals
    • Curling v. Securicor (CA) [2001]
    • Richardson (HMIT) v. Delaney [2001] IRLR 163 - Taxation of termination payments
    • Secretary of State v. Lassman [2000] IRLR 411 (CA) - Redundancy payments; effect of a change in the law
    • Wilson v. Post Office [2000] IRLR 834 (CA) - Employment Procedure
    • Facey v. Midas Retail Security and Whitgift Centre Management [2000] IRLR 812 - Civil Procedure - Bias in Employment Tribunals
    • Deutsche Morgan Grenfell Group PLC v. (1) Inland Revenue Commissioners (2) HM Attorney General (HC) [2000]
    • Wilson v. Post Office (CA) [2000]
    • Lassman & ors v. Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (CA) [2000]
    • ASI Glass Prossing Ltd v. Davies and Birmingham Employment Tribunal (CA) [1999]
    • Taylor (HMIT) v. Hurley [1999] STC 1
    • ASI Glass Processing Ltd. v. Davies and Birmingham Employment Tribunal [1999] (CA) - Bias in Employment Tribunals
    • Cast v. Croydon College [1998] IRLR 318 (CA) - Sex discrimination
    • Buchan v. Secretary of State [1997] IRLR 80 - Contracts of service
    • Senior Heat Treatment v. Bell [1997] IRLR 614 - Redundancy payments; TUPE
    • Bratko v. Beloit Walmsley [1996] ICR 76 - Normal retiring age
    • Tyldesley v. TML Plastics [1996] ICR 356 - Equal pay
    • Mobbs v. Nuclear Electric [1996] IRLR 536 - Tribunal jurisdiction
    • Green v. British Aerospace [1995] ICR 1006 (CA) - Redundancy; discovery in Tribunal proceedings
    • Robb v. London Borough of Hammersmith [1991] ICR 514 - Injunctions by employees to restrain dismissal

    Seminars & Lectures

    Frequent lecturer on employment subjects including restrictive covenants and confidential information, discrimination, trade disputes, employment related injunctions, data protection, TUPE, Public Interest Disclosures.

    Education

    Inns of Court School of Law - Bar Final. Grade: Upper Second.

    Ede & Ravenscroft Prize

    Treasurer Prize for highest mark in Bar Finals by a
    member of Inner Temple

    Queen Mother Scholarship, Inner Temple

    University of Westminster - Post Graduate Diploma in Law.

    London School of Economics - B.Sc(Econ) - International Relations. Grade: Upper Second.

    Hills Road Sixth Form College, Cambridge.

    Cambridgeshire High School for Boys.