Catherine Meredith > Doughty Street Chambers > London, England > Barrister Profile

Catherine Meredith

020 7404 1313 c.meredith@doughtystreet.co.uk View profile

Work Department

Position

Catherine is human rights and public law specialist with particular expertise in trafficking, immigration and asylum including immigration detention.

Career

Catherine has been recognised by the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners in Immigration and described as:

“..highly regarded for her handling of complex cases involving trafficking, children and sexual and gender-based violence. Her broad practice has a noted focus on EU and ECHR law.”  “If I had a trafficking case I’d go to her in a heartbeat.” “She is an excellent, intellectual lawyer, who grasps cases very well. “She’s completely dedicated to every single case she takes on.”“A dynamic and experienced junior.” “She has a lot of energy … works incredibly hard and pushes for the best outcome.”

She has been involved test case litigation at all levels of the UK courts and both the European Court of Human Rights, and the Court of Justice of the EU in cases straddling domestic, European and international law: e.g. acting for the Claimant in PK (Ghana) on the compatibility of UK trafficking policy with the European Anti Trafficking Convention; or interventions in MA BT and Tarakhel on the best interests of the child.

She has advised UN agencies including the UNODC and UNHCR, the Council of Europe and the EU Fundamental Rights Agency in developing best practice and practitioner standards in the areas of trafficking, asylum and human rights. Prior to coming to the Bar, she worked with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (Committee on Refugees); UNHCR; the AIRE Centre (Advice on Individual Rights in Europe); and the Commonwealth Secretariat Human Rights Unit. She has published widely (see below) and frequently advises on public policy issues, public consultations, and lobbying on legislative issues (e.g. torts and victim support under the Modern Slavery Act, FGM in the Serious Crime Bill, legal aid and LASPO). She has lectured within the UK and across Europe (including Russia and Turkey); and has been a guest lecturer on international human rights law and EU law, on masters programmes at Essex, London South Bank and Queen Mary universities. She previously taught public law at Kings College London. 

Languages

French

Memberships

Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association

Anti Trafficking Legal Project

The Constitutional & Administrative Law Bar Association

Human Rights Law Association

Education

LLB Kings’ College London
(Chemistry sandwich year, Imperial College London)
LLM (Human Rights Specialism),
LSE Prince of Wales and BVC Scholarships