Kate has a substantial practice and is regularly instructed in both tribunals and higher courts. Kate handles all manner of employment cases and her clients include banks, high street retailers, FTSE 100 companies, government bodies and high profile individuals.
Her experience is recognised by the Legal 500 2021, in which she is ranked as a leading junior for both Employment and Tax and described as: “A great advocate who is diligent, sharp and hard-working” and “robust and impressive in cross-examination”. Kate is also ranked as a leading junior for Employment and Tax by Chambers UK 2021: " a great advocate”, “extremely bright and hard-working” and “extremely client-friendly”.
Kate is on the Attorney General's B Panel of Civil Counsel to the Crown.
Kate is a contributing author to ‘Discrimination Law’, published by Bloomsbury Professional. She is also a member of ELA’s Race Equality Committee.
An established junior accomplished at representing the Revenue in a variety of corporate tax cases. Her expertise includes matters involving tax schemes, income tax, corporation tax and employment taxes. "She is good - clear and persuasive." - Tax, Chambers UK Bar 2022.
Represents high-profile employers, including government departments and large banking institutions, in all manner of employment matters. Her cases concern a variety of issues including alleged discrimination and whistle-blowing. "She's incredibly thorough; and she is very good at putting clients at ease, particularly nervous witnesses. She has a good feel for the shape of a case and is a very thorough and clear cross-examiner." "She is a responsive and practical barrister, who is quick to understand difficult legal points from a client's perspective and very decisive." - Employment, Chambers UK Bar 2022.
"A first-choice junior for whistleblowing claims with great worklevels – a solid person to have on the team." - Employment, Legal 500 2022.
Ranked as a Leading Junior - Tax: Corporate and VAT, Legal 500 2022.
"Very clever and extremely client-friendly." "She is a great advocate." Acted in Atherton v HMRC, appearing for the Revenue in a group of related appeals concerning a marketed tax avoidance scheme. - Tax, Chambers UK Bar 2021
"Always fully prepared and her cross-examination is excellent." "She's very client-friendly and extremely bright and hard-working." Acted on behalf of the House of Commons in defending a race discrimination claim in the Employment Tribunal. The respondent was successful in defending all claims. - Employment, Chambers UK Bar 2021
"Robust and impressive in cross-examination. Diligent, sharp and good with clients; it is also evident just how much she cares." - Employment, Legal 500 2021
‘A great advocate who is diligent, sharp and hard-working.’ - Tax: Corporate, Legal 500 2021
"A very clear-sighted barrister who is able to see through to the crux of really complex matters." Acted for HMRC in the first case to test the new Managed Service Company legislation, which was designed to prevent employees from falsely operating as self-employed contractors. - Employment, Chambers UK Bar 2020
'Extremely diligent and all over the detail as well as really good and patient in cross-examination.’ - Employment, Legal 500 2020
"A pleasant and approachable barrister who can be quite ferocious in court when it's justified." Acted for the Revenue in Esprit & Others v HMRC, the first case to consider the income tax and corporation tax treatment of directors' loan account waivers. - Tax, Chambers UK Bar 2020
'Once she enters the room, she is a ferocious advocate.’ - Tax: Corporate, Legal 500 2020
"Responsive, conscientious and well prepared. She is good with clients, approachable and good on her feet" - Chambers UK Bar 2019
"She is an effective barrister" and "always well prepared" - Legal 500 2019
"She is endlessly knowledgeable, always on top of the documents and a barrister who engages well with solicitors and clients" - Chambers UK 2018
"Her advocacy compares favourably even to more senior practitioners" - Legal 500 2017
"She is an excellent junior counsel who keeps on growing in her practice" "she is exceptionally good with clients - she puts them at ease and is responsive" - Chambers UK 2017
"Her forensic analysis and eye for detail are excellent" - Legal 500 2016
"Diligent, clever, good with clients and great at cross-examination, she's everything you want in a junior barrister" - Chambers UK 2016
"Absolutely fantastic and very tenacious in cross-examination", "has a very nice style with witnesses and judges, and always delivers." - Employment, Chambers UK 2015
Kate is ranked as a leading Employment practitioner in both Legal 500 2021 and Chambers & Partners 2021. Kate regularly represents clients in high value and multi-day tribunal claims, as well as hearings in the EAT and High Court. Her work covers the full spectrum of employment related issues including, but not limited to, the following.
High value/complex unfair dismissals
Kate regularly acts in high value and complex unfair and wrongful dismissal claims in the Employment Tribunal, as well as related bonus claims in the High Court. Kate’s recent unfair and wrongful dismissal claims have included:
Discrimination
Kate is highly experienced at dealing with all manner of discrimination cases, including complex and high value claims. She is also a contributing author to ‘Discrimination Law’ published by Bloomsbury Professional. Kate’s recent discrimination cases have included:
Whistleblowing
Kate has acted in a large number of whistleblowing claims, both in the Employment Tribunal and Employment Appeal Tribunal. Her notable cases in this area include:
Interim Relief and Injunctions
Kate has advised and represented clients in a large number of interim relief proceedings, including claims related to breaches of restrictive covenants and industrial relations issues. Kate’s recent cases in this area have included:
Employment status and IR35
Kate has extensive experience of employment status issues, including IR35, from both an employment and tax perspective. Kate’s notable cases in this area include:
National Minimum Wage
Kate has significant experience advising on issues pertaining to the National Minimum Wage (NMW). Her recent advisory work in this area has included advising several FTSE 100 companies on multi-million pound NMW enquires being brought by HMRC.
Other advisory work
Kate has broad experience advising on all manner of employment related issues, both in conference and in writing. Examples of Kate’s recent advisory work include:
Kate has a substantial tax practice, appearing in the FTT and UT on many occasions without a leader and, as a junior, in both the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.
Kate’s expertise is recognised by Legal 500 2021, in which she is ranked as a Leading Junior for both Corporate Tax and VAT. Kate is also ranked by Chambers UK 2021 for Tax. The directories particularly highlight Kate’s strong advocacy skills, as well as her expertise on the cross-over between employment and tax.
Kate’s recent tax cases without a leader have included:
Kate has also done numerous tax cases as a junior, including the following:
Kate has extensive experience of commercial matters in the County Courts and High Court. Kate has provided advice and assistance in respect of claims involving breach of contract, restrictive covenants, breach of settlement agreements, breaches of confidentiality, stress at work and other issues.
Kate has also advised and represented clients in claims involving the non-employment provisions of the Equality Act 2010. This includes housing; education; the provision of goods and services; and transport.
Kate has extensive experience in employment status and IR35, both in the public and private sectors. Her work in this area has included litigating high profile IR35 cases for HMRC, as well as providing written advice to private clients on IR35 issues. Kate’s recent work has included:
Government Developed Vetting Clearance
Appointed to the Attorney General's Panel of Counsel (B Panel) in 2020.
Appointed to the Attorney General's Panel of Counsel (C Panel) in 2013.
Harmsworth Scholarship, Middle Temple
Clyde & Co Prize for the Highest Mark in Tort
Award for Outstanding Achievement in Undergraduate Studies
BA in Politics and History (First Class)
Graduate Diploma in Law (Distinction)
Bar Vocational Course (Very Competent)
Kate is a keen amateur actress and sports enthusiast. In 2015, she ran the London Marathon on behalf of Barnados. She also enjoys skiing and sailing.