Claire Darwin KC > Matrix Chambers > London, England > Barrister Profile
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GRIFFIN BUILDING, GRAY'S INN
LONDON
WC1R 5LN
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Claire Darwin KC
Work Department
Claire Darwin KC is a leading expert in employment and equality rights. Her discrimination work spans the fields of employment, goods and services, pensions, premises, education, and public law.
Position
Claire has been recognised by the legal directories as a leading barrister for employment, education, and public law for many years. According to the directories ‘on complex disability discrimination cases there is no one better’, and Claire is said to be ‘well known for her strength in discrimination cases’.
Career
Called to the Bar 2005. Appointed King’s Counsel 2023. Appointed a Recorder (part-time Circuit Judge), 2023. Appointed to the Attorney General’s A Panel in 2017 and reappointed for a further term in 2021. Also appointed to the B and C Panels. In 2018 she was appointed to the Attorney General’s Panel of Special Advocates, and she is a member of the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s current Panel of Preferred Counsel.
Shortlisted for the 2023 Public Services and Charities Silk of the Year. One of eight barristers shortlisted for The Lawyer’s Barrister of the Year Award 2020, for which she received a Commendation. Named as one of the UK’s “Hot 100 Lawyers” by The Lawyer magazine in January 2020.
Languages
German, Spanish, basic French.
Memberships
Employment Lawyers Association (ELA); Employment Law Bar Association (ELBA) (elected member of ELBA Committee since 2019); Industrial Law Society; Association of Partnership Practitioners, Education Law Association, European Employment Lawyers Association, the UK Association for European Law (UKAEL) and the Bar European Group.
Education
St Catharine’s College, Cambridge (2002, MA History);
University of Heidelberg, Germany (2000 – 2001);
City University (2004, CPE/GDL).
Lawyer Rankings
London Bar > Employment
(2023 Silks)Ranked: Tier 1Claire Darwin KC – Matrix Chambers ‘Claire has a real ability to get her head around very complex factual and legal issues quickly, and work out what matters and what does not matter. She takes controls of hearings in a firm but constructive way, with crisp advocacy.’
London Bar > Education
(2023 Silks)Ranked: Tier 1Claire Darwin KC – Matrix Chambers ‘Claire is an authority on all matters relating to discrimination within the field of education law. Her calm and assured advocacy skills are particularly sought after. She is personable and highly accomplished.’
Barristers at Matrix Chambers are known for their excellent handling of education law matters for an array of clients, including individual students or parents, as well as the Department of Education and a variety of statutory bodies. David Wolfe KC and Katy Sheridan acted for the claimants in R (Bowen) v Kent County Council, challenging the decision of Kent County Council to refuse to consider a humanist for membership of local authority Standing Advisory Councils on Religious Education. Claire Darwin KC represented the Department of Education in a judicial review against admission arrangements, including the nomination of a primary school as a feeder school, for Langley Park School for Boys and Langley Park School for Girls for the September 2023 intake were challenged as unfair. Nick Armstrong KC is lauded for being ‘particularly good at difficult cross-examination in the context of the girst-tier tribunal, knowing exactly when and to what extent to ask the difficult questions, whilst displaying a sense of empathy’.
London Bar > Pensions
(2023 Silks)Ranked: Tier 1Claire Darwin KC – Matrix Chambers ‘Claire is a highly impressive advocate and a class act. She senses where judges are going and responds by giving them exactly the information they need to confirm or change their minds.’
London Bar > Administrative law and human rights
(2023 Silks)Ranked: Tier 1Claire Darwin KC –Matrix Chambers ‘Claire’s written and oral advocacy is exemplary. She has the ear of the court.’