Dere Street Barristers

Kate joined Chambers after successfully completing pupillage in September 2010. Since then, Kate has developed a common law practice, providing advice and advocacy across employment, family, and civil jurisdictions. Employment: Kate acts for both claimants and respondents across the North East and throughout the country. She has experience across a range of areas including unfair dismissal, discrimination, redundancy, TUPE and breach of contract. Kate has conducted many lengthy hearings and recently successfully defended a six-day discrimination claim which included a substantial personal injury element. Kate is able to provide both high-quality advocacy at Tribunal and advice at the earlier stages of litigation including drafting pleadings and advice on settlement. Kate also takes an active part in the Dere Street employment team’s seminar programme, most recently providing a presentation on the impact of the Beecroft report and the multiple changes currently facing the employment jurisdiction. Family: Kate has substantial experience across a range of family law matters. Kate has a strong public law practice, predominantly acting for parents. She has represented parents facing allegations of non-accidental injury and has experience of challenging expert medical evidence. She is able to provide appropriate advice and representation depending on the needs of the client, and has represented parents with significant mental health needs and cognitive limitations. In private law cases, Kate acts in both Children Act disputes and domestic violence injunction matters. Kate recently appeared in the High Court in a removal from the jurisdiction matter. Kate also has a growing financial practice, representing clients at FDR and final hearing stage, as well as advising on the resolution of proceedings. Civil: Kate undertakes a variety of civil litigation for both claimants and defendants. Kate’s practice is predominantly in personal injury including road traffic accidents (including low velocity impact cases), occupier’s liability, and employer’s liability cases. She provides written advice and pleadings as well as attending court, and has experience of public inquiries. Kate is also a member of Dere Street’s specialist costs team, and is fully trained to provide representation at detailed costs assessments. This training of course can also prove invaluable in the course of substantive litigation. As a member of Dere Street ‘s specialist housing team, Kate is available to provide advice and representation in any housing matters including defective premises and landlord and tenant disputes. Kate regularly appears in the Coroner’s Court.

Called 2009.

Durham University (2007 BA (Hons) English and Philosophy 2(1)); College of Law (2008, Graduate Diploma in Law Distinction; 2009 BVC Outstanding).