Patrick has developed a broad commercial practice, with a particular focus on pensions, employment, information law and financial services.
He has appeared before the High Court, County Court, First-tier Tribunal (Information Rights), Employment Appeal Tribunal and Employment Tribunal. Patrick also has experience in group litigation with a professional negligence and fraud focus.
Patrick has a particular interest in data protection, where he has experience of litigation involving the GDPR and the data protection framework, and in the regulatory aspects of both pensions and financial services matters. He has been on secondments to the FCA and TPR and continues to be instructed by them.
Prior to joining chambers, Patrick worked in the Court of Appeal as the judicial assistant to Sir Ernest Ryder, the Senior President of Tribunals.
Patrick provides advice and representation across all areas of pensions law. He has experience in Part 8 claims, professional negligence actions, advisory work, complaints to the Pensions Ombudsman and in regulatory aspects of pensions law.
Patrick is a contributor to the Pensions chapter of Atkin’s Court Forms and a member of the Association of Pension Lawyers. He has completed secondments to the Pensions Regulator, where he worked on pensions superfunds, and the FCA, where he worked on the Handbook rules for pensions dashboards. He has given talks on pensions law, including on actuarial confirmation in the context of section 67 of the Pensions Act 1995 and Pensions Ombudsman decisions .
Patrick is developing a broad commercial practice and has appeared in court in a variety of contractual claims. Patrick’s advisory and drafting work has covered breach of contract, insolvency and restitution claims.
Examples of recent instructions include:
Patrick is experienced in information law and data protection. His experience stems from his secondment to the FCA during which he advised on:
He continues to be instructed on data protection and FOIA matters. Examples of recent instructions include:
Burton v IC (FtT, 2021)
Successfully advising and representing the FCA in this FOIA appeal relating to the application of s348 of the Financial Services and Markets Act to mutual societies.
Khan v IC (FtT, 2021)
Successfully acting for the FCA in this FOIA appeal concerning the proper scope of the request and adequacy of searches.
X v IC (FtT, 2023)
ongoing advice and representation in relation to two FOIA appeals concerning the application of section 14 FOIA (vexatiousness).
Advice on various FOIA internal reviews and referrals to the ICO.
Advising the FCA on the data protection, and privacy and electronic communication, matters arising from the regulatory framework for pension dashboards.
Patrick is experienced in the financial services regulation having been seconded to the General Counsel’s Division of the FCA. He gained experience across the breadth of financial services regulation.
Patrick continues to be instructed by the FCA on a range of matters. Most recently he has been advising and assisting on the drafting of the Handbook rules for pension providers and dashboard providers in relation to pension dashboards.
Patrick acts for both Claimants and Respondents in all areas of employment and discrimination law, in addition to providing written advice and drafting pleadings. Patrick is experienced in appellate matters, including being instructed on appeals in Employment Appeal Tribunal and assisting with appeals in the Court of Appeal.
Patrick is also experienced in advice and representation in relation to goods and services discrimination claims in the civil courts, particularly in relation to discrimination claims brought against financial institutions.
In December 2022 Patrick was named the Times ‘Lawyer of the Week’ for his representation of a Claimant in Employment Tribunal proceedings.
Reed v Thorney Golf Club (ET/EAT, 2022)
Acting unled in several linked appeals in the Employment Appeal Tribunal concerning costs orders, postponements and Rule 21 judgments.
Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust v Moon (EAT, 2023)
Acting (led by Will Young) for the Respondent in important appeal concerning the worker status of Associate Hospital Managers appointed under section 23 of the Mental Health Act 1983
Jandu v Marks & Spencer plc (ET, 2022
Successful representation of a Claimant in her claim against a multinational retailer for disability discrimination and unfair dismissal. Successfully obtained an award of aggravated damage and an order for costs
A v An NHS Trust (2022)
Acting (led by Andrew Allen KC) for the Defendant NHS Trust in a High Court claim for an injunction to restrain ongoing disciplinary proceedings.
Flanagan v London Fire Commissioner (ET, 2022)
Successful representation of a Claimant against the fire service for trade union detriment
Palihakkara v Robertson Bell Ltd and anr (EAT, 2021)
Acting (led by Jeremy Lewis KC) in the Employment Appeal Tribunal in an appeal concerning the application of time limits under the Equality Act.
Rooney v Leicester City Council (EAT, 2021)
Acting (led by David E Grant KC) in the Employment Appeal Tribunal in an appeal concerning whether menopause amounted to a disability and the issue of strike out in discrimination claims.
Nolan v East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (ET, 2021)
Successful representation of a paramedic against an NHS Trust in her claims for constructive discriminatory dismissal due to disability.
To find out more, contact Matt Sale +44 (0)20 7427 4910 or George Bennett on +44 (0)207 427 0807 for a confidential discussion.
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