Caitlin acts for both Claimants and Respondents, covering a broad range of both statutory and contractual employment matters.  Recent instructions include:

• Kingdom of Spain v Lorenzo [2024] EWCA Civ 1602: junior counsel for the Claimant in the Court of Appeal, confirming that s 4(2)(a) of the State Immunity Act 1978 is to be disapplied where the Claimant’s employment or the acts complained of is not a ‘sovereign act’ (led by Matt Jackson). Successfully obtained a declaration of incompatibility under s 4 of the Human Rights Act 1998.

• Successfully acted for a Claimant – the Chief Nurse of a home care service for elderly patients – in her whistleblowing claims for automatic unfair dismissal and detriments, following a series of protected disclosures concerning failures in care and financial irregularities.  Achieved a six-figure compensation award.

• Acted for a Respondent – a small hospital for patients with neurological disorders – in successfully arguing that an ex-employee was neither harassed nor constructively dismissed.  Required careful cross-examination of a vulnerable Claimant on sensitive matters of mental health and childcare.

• Drafted the skeleton argument for a Claimant, a Chief Financial Officer, ahead of an interim relief hearing for his claim for automatic unfair dismissal for making protected disclosures.  The Claimant achieved a highly attractive financial settlement of his claims immediately before the interim relief hearing (led by Ed Williams KC).

• Defeated (in full) sensitive claims for disability discrimination brought by a job applicant for a major NHS ambulance trust following the verse employment references.

• Drafted particulars of claim for a Claimant solicitor in her multi-year claim for sexual harassment against a partner of the Respondent firm.

• Caitlin is also a member of the Government’s ‘Junior junior’ scheme and has advised the Government on aspects of discrimination-related retained EU law.

Personal injury and clinical negligence

Caitlin acts exclusively for Claimants in personal injury and clinical negligence matters.  She has considerable experience in complex and high-value claims. Recent instructions include:

Drafting the Schedule of Loss for a complex, eight-figure brain injury case in respect of injuries sustained by a child in a road traffic accident (led by Sarah Fraser Butlin KC).

Drafting two Schedules of Loss for a retired husband and wife who suffered catastrophic injuries, including lower limb amputation, after they were struck by a moving vehicle (led by William Latimer-Sayer KC).

Advising and drafting Particulars for a Claimant in a claim for alleged failure to diagnose a heart attack, leading to life-altering injuries.  Resulted in an attractive settlement, despite several complexities on causation.

Frequently instructed on Police Federation cases, including drafting complex schedules of loss in fatal accident claims and advising a former police officer on a possible claim for psychiatric injury following several episodes of sexual assault at work.

Advising a family on the apportionment of damages following a fatal accident resulting from a failure to treat a heart condition (including representation at an infant approval hearing).

Often instructed on Human Rights Act 1998 claims, including advising a family on a claim for breach of Article 2 rights following failures in care for a vulnerable psychiatric patient, resulting in an attractive settlement.  Also acted for a Claimant with overlapping physical and mental disabilities in her HRA 1998 claim against a Defendant council for failures in nursing care, including representation in two interim applications.

Investigations

• Junior counsel for a sensitive investigation into complaints of antisemitism at a high-profile, public facing organisation (led by Rachel Crasnow KC).

• Carried out a complex investigation into possible failures to make reasonable adjustments for an employee with complex chronic medical conditions.

• Conducted an investigation into possible health and safety risks and intimidating behaviour during a period of industrial action.

Goods and services discrimination

• Successfully defended (in full) a wide-ranging discrimination claim against a small charity serving those with lived experience of mental illness and trauma brought by a former service user (acting pro bono).

• Provided advice for a major, multinational tech company on responding to a goods and services discrimination claim.

Before the Bar

Before coming to the Bar, Caitlin spent eight years in international finance.  She started her career as an investment banker before transitioning to private equity, making and managing investments in developing economies. She worked at the World Bank and subsequently at a social impact fund in London, focusing primarily on financial services companies in Africa.

Qualifications

Bar Course, City Law School (Distinction)

GDL, City Law School (Distinction)

Master of International Affairs (Economic Development & Policy Analysis), Columbia University (4.0 GPA)

BA History, Brasenose College, Oxford (First Class)

Awards

Listed in Advocate's 'Pro Bono Recognition List of England and Wales' for 2024

Everard Ver Heyden Foundation Prize for performance in the Bar Course, City Law School (2022)

Princess Royal Scholarship, Inner Temple (2021)

Winner, Maitland Advocacy Prize (2020)

GDL Scholarship for Academic Excellence, City Law School (2020)

GDL Exhibition, Inner Temple (2020)

Academic Scholarship, Brasenose College, Oxford (2008 – 2010)

ALBA

JUSTICE

HRLA