Set Profile > Chambers of Mark Sutton QC > Bristol, England

Employment Tier 1

Old Square Chambers' 'expertise in employment law issues is second to none and it has good coverage at all levels', say instructing solicitors, who also note how members are 'very knowledgeable about the NHS and the health sector'. Mark Sutton QC represented the appellant in the Agarwal v Cardiff University regarding the scope of the Employment Tribunal's jurisdiction in unpaid wages claims. Among Lord Hendy QC's highlights was the high-profile gig economy case of R (IWGB) v Central Arbitration Committee and RooFoods in which a judicial review was sought on the grounds that denial of the opportunity for Deliveroo couriers, who have been found to not be workers, to bargain collectively is a breach of Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Aviation Tier 2

Travel law (including jurisdictional issues) Tier 2

Environment Tier 2

Leading Sets Tier 2

Administrative and public law (including local government) Tier 3

Personal injury, industrial disease and insurance fraud Tier 3

The 'impressive' Old Square Chambers is an 'excellent choice' in the personal injury market. The set has a longstanding reputation in successfully acting for claimants but has recently built a significant defendant presence. Members, particularly juniors, are highly-regarded for bringing 'different strengths to the table'. Paul Rose QC has extensive experience of acting for severely injured service personnel, which is also an area of expertise for Ben Collins QC, one of the leading experts on the law of criminal injuries compensation. Charles Woodhouse is noted for his proven track record acting for defendants in chronic pain and mild traumatic brain injury claims.

Professional disciplinary and regulatory law Tier 3

At Old Square Chambers, Mary O’Rourke QC represented Dr Shekhar Chandra in an appeal brought by the General Medical Council before the Court of Appeal regarding a Medical Practitioners Tribunal's decision to restore Dr Chandra to the medical register after he was struck off for misconduct. The case concerned whether the test for restoring doctors to the register was parallel to the test for restoring solicitors, although the test must still focus on the overriding objective to protect, promote and maintain the public's health and safety. In July 2019, after the matter was remitted to tribunal, the tribunal reaffirmed the decision to restore Dr Chandra to the register.

Clinical negligence Tier 4

The 'impressive' Old Square Chambers is well-established in the clinical negligence field and members are instructed in a wide ranger of cases for both defendants and claimants. Ben Collins QC successfully represented the claimant in Asante v Guy’s & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, a complex claim for inadequate management of sickle cell anaemia.

Administrative and public law (including local government) Tier 4

Administrative and public law (including local government) Tier 4

Education Tier 5

Clinical negligence

Old Square Chambers is experienced in clinical negligence work from both claimant and defendant perspectives, with particular expertise in birth injury cases, where Kara Loraine and Sophie Beesley have a substantial track record. In addition, Beesley's involvement in the the clinical negligence sphere goes beyond her work on claims, having been appointed as sole counsel to the Ian Paterson Inquiry, which seeks to learn lessons and improve procedures following the conviction of the former surgeon.

Employment

Old Square Chambers is home to whistleblowing expert Jack Mitchell, whose notable recent cases include Royal Mail Group v Jhuti, which has progressed to the Supreme Court - the case concerned the test to be applied when the actions of a co-worker can be considered to be an action of the employee in a whistleblowing case.

Employment

Old Square Chambers is home to several specialist employment barristers, providing good coverage across all aspects of employment law. Whistleblowing specialist Jack Mitchell acted as junior to Simon Gorton QC in the Supreme Court case Royal Mail Group Ltd v Jhuti, in addition to representing both respondents and claimants in several separate tribunal cases also concerning whistleblowing.

Personal injury

Public law

Old Square Chambers is home to Nadia Motraghi, who specialises in public law cases involving NHS trusts and other medical bodies, both at the advisory stage and in judicial review proceedings.

Set overviews: England and Wales

The ‘impressive’ Old Square Chambers is ‘an excellent personal injury set’ and ‘one of the leading employment chambers nationally’. ‘Their expertise in employment law issues is second to none and they have good coverage at all levels, meaning you can always find the right barrister for the case in question,’ said one solicitor. The ‘capable, efficient, and helpful’ clerks’ room provides ‘a service-orientated approach and goes above and beyond in trying to ensure you have the right barrister for the job; you have the utmost confidence in the clerking. The team is led by senior clerk William Meade, who ‘is excellent, approachable, leads by example, and he works hard to ensure the practice runs smoothly’. Deputy senior clerk Graham Smith is ‘accommodating and works hard to find alternative counsel if there is a diary clash’; he and Olivia Moliterno are the ‘standout performers’ in the team. Senior team leader Paul Adams is also of note. Senior clerking assistant Jenny O’Grady, team leader Joe Kallas, and junior team leader Lee Jennings are ‘thoroughly helpful and professional to deal with, and transparency on fees is another strength’. Also of note is marketing manager Phil Desmondez. Offices in: London and Bristol