‘Excellent in terms of administrative and human rights law’ 39 Essex Chambers has a range of ’extremely committed and clever counsel’ at the silk and junior level, and are regularly instructed in major administrative law matters. ‘The best of the best when it comes to judicial review’, Jenni Richards KC represented the claimant in R (Clifford) v SSWP, a challenge to the consultation process on changes to the Work Capability Assessment, and Katherine Apps KC recently led for the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers in a challenge to the introduction of sub-six-figure personal injury and clinical negligence claims – the matter settled. Emily Wilsdon undertook oral advocacy as part of the government team in the aforementioned Clifford v DWP case. Saara Idelbi and Sam Fowles joined the team in August 2025.
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Profile
Work Department
Equality, public/administrative, human rights, civil liberties, employment, trade unions, European, regulatory, disciplinary, medical, civil litigation, commercial.
Position
Barrister
Career
Call 2006. Silk 2023. Previously Treasury A Panel. EHRC B Panel. MA (Hons) Cantab. LLM Harvard Law School. Bedingfield Scholar (Grays Inn).
Appointed to Sport Resolution Panel: safeguarding, integrity, discrimination, commercial disputes, National Anti-Doping Panel, Premier League Judicial Panel.
Katherine’s practice sits at the cutting edge where private and public law meet and where international standards (including EU law) influence the interpretation of statutory schemes and development of the common law. Katherine has particular expertise in equality law, having appeared in the CJEU, Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, human rights (Articles 2,3,4,5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, A1P1), education, regulatory law, procurement and publicly funded contracts, good faith standards in contract law, professional discipline, employment, pensions, sport and tax.
Katherine’s full cv can be viewed at: https://www.39essex.com/profile/katherine-apps-kc
Languages
English
Memberships
ELBA, ALBA, BEG, ARDL, ELAAS
Education
LL.M Harvard Law School. MA (Hons) Law Cantab, First Class. BVC (Outstanding)
Content supplied by 39 Essex Chambers
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Katherine is a public law encyclopaedia. She has a winning way with clients and excels in this field particularly in matters with an equalities crossover. Her advocacy is robust and effective and tailored to each case.'