News & Events
News & Events
For a long time, one of the hottest and most contentious questions in Equality & Diversity has been “What is a woman?” Last week, the Supreme Court answered this question in a ruling that is set to cause rewrites of policies up and down the UK. There have been various suggested answers to this question: anyone who says they are a woman; biological women plus trans-women who hold GRCs; or just biological women. Last week, the Supreme Court answered the question, at least so far as the Equality Act is concerned: a woman is someone who is biologically female. As the judges were at pains to point out, that doesn’t undermine the protected characteristic of gender reassignment. Those with that…
News 23 Apr, 2025
We are delighted to announce that Outer Temple Chambers and our team of barristers have yet again been ranked as leaders in commercial law and construction law in the Middle East by Legal 500 EMEA. Legal 500 announced their 2025 EMEA results this month and we are proud to have yet again been ranked as a Tier 1 Set in the ‘Middle East: The English Bar: Commercial’ guide. Legal 500 EMEA described Outer Temple Chambers as “a preeminent set active in the Middle East with particular focus on Dubai and UAE law, exemplified by the set’s active contributions in the drafting of new legislation and amending of foundational laws, recently in relation to the new Digital Assets Law”. These rankings reflect competency…
News 28 Mar, 2025
James Counsell KC has been appointed as Disciplinary Panel Chair of the world famous Marylebone Cricket Club, owners of Lord’s. We are delighted to announce that regulatory and disciplinary expert James Counsell KC has been appointed as Disciplinary Panel Chair to the world famous club, for an initial three-year term starting on 1 April 2025. Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) is the world’s most active cricket club, the owner of Lord’s Ground and the guardian of the Laws of the game. With over 18,000 Full and 6,000 Associate Members, the club is governed by members through various committees. The Club invests around £2 million in the game each year, supporting individuals, co-ordinating over 500 matches, and promoting the Laws and Spirit of…
News 25 Mar, 2025
Scotland’s leading political and current affairs publication, Holyrood, has interviewed women’s rights barrister Naomi Cunningham for their latest International Women’s Day feature. Instructed on yet another prominent case relating to the issue of sex and gender, Naomi Cunningham has carved herself a niche career acting for those accused of discrimination based on their protected ‘gender-based’ beliefs. The latest employment tribunal, Peggie v Fife Health Board, has reignited a political debate in both Holyrood and Westminster, and Holyrood magazine invited Naomi for an interview to find out more about her motivation to defend cases such as these, and her rise to fame in this arena. Naomi tells Holyrood Editor, Mandy Rhodes, that the whole debate is simply a matter of ‘fact…
External Publications 10 Mar, 2025
We are delighted to announce that Chris Gittins has joined Outer Temple Chambers as our Director of Clerking. Chris joins Outer Temple Chambers this week to take on the post of Director of Clerking, overseeing the management of the clerking teams, the business development function and its strategic leadership. Chris is thrilled to take up this position, having previously been part of the Outer Temple family in the early 2000s. In all, he has enjoyed over 25 successful years in senior clerking roles in some of London’s leading commercial, chancery and family sets, and brings a wealth of management experience back to where it all started for him. He cut his clerking teeth at Outer Temple before swiftly moving up…
News 3 Mar, 2025
Outer Temple Chambers is pleased to announce that John McKendrick KC has been appointed to serve as a Judge of the High Court. It has been announced today that John McKendrick KC has been appointed to serve as a Judge of the High Court, assigned to the Family Division. His appointment takes effect from 10th March. Whilst we are sad that this means that John will no longer be able to practise at Outer Temple Chambers, everybody here wholeheartedly congratulates him. John enjoyed a varied civil practice for 25 years and has held a number of part-time judicial roles. James Counsell, Head of Chambers, said of the appointment; “John will be missed here as a valued member of chambers. I…
News 26 Feb, 2025
We are delighted to announce that dual-qualified US lawyer and English barrister Joshua Ray has joined the International Team as a full tenant. We are delighted to announce that Joshua Ray has joined the International Team as a full tenant, splitting his time between London and New York. An accomplished US financial crime specialist and commercial litigator, Josh previously worked closely with Outer Temple’s International team as a Professional Associate before deciding to dedicate his time to the bar and join on a full-time basis in December 2024. Before that he was an attorney in New York and London with several leading disputes firms. Josh will continue to focus his practice on Business Crime, Sanctions, International Arbitration and Commercial Litigation.…
News 5 Dec, 2024
Chambers and Partners UK Bar 2025 have today launched their 2025 Guide and we are delighted to share the highlights from this year’s rankings, including two Band 1 awards for our Pensions Law team and Travel Law team. We are delighted to share the news that Outer Temple Chambers has yet again been awarded 9 set rankings in the 2025 Chambers & Partners UK Bar Guide and over 110 individual rankings. In what is our best set of rankings ever, our individual rankings see 12 new entries and 16 elevations, whilst we are delighted with two new Band 1 set rankings. A huge congratulations to all of our barristers and clerks for another year of excellent results. A particular thank…
News 17 Oct, 2024
The Legal 500 2025 rankings have just been announced and Outer Temple Chambers is delighted with another year of excellent results including a Tier 1 Pensions ranking We are proud to announce that we have been recognised as a Top Tier Set in Crypto & Blockchain Assets again, as well as achieving a Top Tier Set ranking in Pensions. These Tier 1 rankings mean we are now ranked for excellence in nine practice area rankings with 73 individual members ranked across 27 practice areas. A huge congratulations to all of our barristers and clerks within these teams for another year of excellent results. A particular thank you to all our clients and colleagues for taking the time to provide references.…
News 2 Oct, 2024
Six members of Outer Temple Chambers will visit Dubai in September and October to deliver the ‘Advanced Advocacy Skills’ training of the DIFC Laws Certificate Programme 2024 at the DIFC Academy. The DIFC Academy have invited Outer Temple Chambers to deliver the Advanced Advocacy Skills course as part of their DIFC Laws Certificate Programme 2024. This course will be presented by six KCs and barristers of Outer Temple Chambers in association with the DIFC Courts. This comprehensive training explores the application of traditional advocacy skills to activities routinely performed by lawyers. There will be series of both unassessed and assessed advocacy exercises. These exercises take the form of mock hearings covering submissions (written and oral), witness handling and general advocacy tips. They…
News 28 Sep, 2024
Chambers is deeply saddened to announce the death of our friend and colleague, Christopher Meiring. Chris died peacefully on 29 August 2024. He passed away surrounded by the love of his family and the comfort of his Christian faith. His strength and humour inspired all who knew him and he will be deeply missed. We send our love and condolences to his wife and very young family. A tribute to Chris from Saul Margo can be found here.
News 4 Sep, 2024
Naomi Cunningham secures £54,000 compensation for a social worker after her local authority employer admitted discriminating against her protected beliefs. Naomi recently acted for Lizzy Pitt who accused her employer, Cambridgeshire County Council, of harassment related to sexual orientation and her philosophical beliefs. The council had launched disciplinary proceedings against Ms Pitt after she voiced her gender-critical views at an LGBT network meeting. The council launched a probe after formal complaints were made which led to a management instruction and suspension from the LGBT network. Ms Pitt said she found the whole process “stressful and humiliating” and took the council to an employment tribunal. On the morning of the hearing, the council accepted liability and agreed to pay Ms Pitt…
News 12 Aug, 2024
