Victoria is a pensions and employment specialist, recognised as a leading junior in both by Chambers & Partners and Legal 500. Her practice includes pure pensions/employment, as well as related professional negligence work.
Victoria also has significant international experience, and has appeared before a number of international administrative tribunals.
The directories recommend Victoria as “a strong barrister” who “knows the law backwards but holds her brightness lightly” and “is compelling in court”. She is “willing to give views on tricky technical points” and “performs at a level far beyond her year of call”. At the same time, Victoria prides herself on being “great to work with” and “a real team player”.
Much of Victoria’s work is unled, and she is used to appearing against more senior opponents including KCs. She equally enjoys working as part of a team and regularly acts as junior counsel. She is particularly sought after for large-scale, long running or group litigation.
She was appointed to the Attorney General’s C Panel in October 2020.
Victoria is a leading pensions junior with a practice spanning pure pensions issues as well as professional negligence claims and crossover employment/discrimination issues. She has experience in advisory work, litigation and regulatory matters. Her work includes issues of construction, rectification, the limits of amendment powers, s37 matters, equalisation, indexation, and severance.
Victoria also frequently acts in professional negligence claims against legal and actuarial advisers, including invalid scheme documentation and failed amendments (including estoppel, extrinsic contract and misrepresentation issues). She regularly advises on limitation problems and complicated issues of loss.
Victoria has acted in a number of the most significant pensions cases of recent years. She is recognised by the directories for her intellectual ability and oral advocacy, as well as strategic input and client care. She is adept at integrating into a team with those instructing.
Verity Trustees
A huge Part 8 action concerning a sectionalised scheme which has c.2,600 employers and 389,000 members. Thought to be the longest Part 8 submissions only trial ever heard in the Pensions list. Led by Nicolas Stallworthy KC.
Pennon
An unusual application by a Trustee for the Court to exercise its jurisdiction under section 57 of the Trustee Act 1925 to grant the Trustee power to make changes to the scheme’s deed & rules which are specifically prohibited by the scheme’s amendment power.
Places for People
Assisted the Representative Beneficiary team in complex Part 8 proceedings. Numerous issues, including validity of trust documentation over two decades, construction, severance, estoppel, etc. Led by Keith Bryant KC and Naomi Ling.
A Company vs Actuaries & Lawyers
A significant professional negligence claim involving issues of execution / validity, failed amendments, and failures to advise, affecting many aspects of the scheme and its governing documentation. Led by Andrew Short KC.
D v PPF & DWP
Acted for the Secretary of State for the DWP in respect of a claim of indirect discrimination relating to pensions legislation.
The £60m multiparty professional negligence claim arising from the judgment of Newey J in Re Gleeds. Acting for the Defendant Solicitors. The interlocutory judgment concerning without prejudice privilege is reported at [2019] EWHC 102 (Ch).
McCloud v MOJ & Lord Chancellor
Direct age discrimination, indirect discrimination and equal pay claims brought by judges in respect of the civil service pension reforms.
Victoria’s employment practice spans both advisory and contentious work in the Tribunals and High Court. She regularly represents clients across the breadth of statutory employment law, with particular experience in complex discrimination and whistleblowing matters. Her High Court work includes acting for individuals, teams, and current & former employers. Victoria’s advisory practice spans both black letter law and topical matters such as social media and dress code policies.
Victoria is frequently instructed by global and national companies, including those listed in the FTSE 100. Victoria is also experienced in acting for public authorities and local governments, including Transport for London and the Prison Service. She regularly represents individual claimants, senior executives and unions. She also advises on and acts in discrimination claims in the County Courts, including services and government / public function claims.
Victoria is adept at managing and conducting internal investigations. The breadth of Victoria’s practice allows her to recognise and manage consequential legal risks, whether commercial or employment related. Victoria accepts instructions in investigations dealing with the full range of misconduct, regulatory and internal disputes.
Clients value Victoria’s combination of technical expertise with her approachability. She is recognised by the directories as being a hard-working and compelling advocate, who is tactically astute as well as pragmatic.
Victoria acts for the claimants represented by Leigh Day in the first of the mass retail equal pay claims, including representing those claimants as sole counsel in the EAT.
McCloud v MOJ & Lord Chancellor
Direct age discrimination, indirect discrimination and equal pay claims brought by judges in respect of the civil service pension reforms.
Rooney v Leicester City Council
One of the earlier claims of disability discrimination relying on the menopause which has received a lot of press coverage. More coverage in The Guardian and BBC.
At the EAT only, a group claim of direct age discrimination in respect of the Civil Service Compensation Scheme involving arguments of abuse of process regarding stayed claimants seeking not to be bound by the determination of sample claims.
Represented the claimant in a race and sex discrimination claim against a private office and multiple individuals involving complicated points of the territorial jurisdiction of the Equality Act 2010 against individual respondents.
AB v A Public Authority
Represented the claimant in a sex discrimination claim involving sexual assault by a senior executive at the respondent.
Arbitration
An arbitration about incorporation of a document into employment contracts. Group claim in one location but expected to have national impact.
Victoria acts for international civil servants and staff associations, internally and before International Administrative Tribunals. She has advised clients and/or appeared before the Administrative Tribunals of the World Bank, OAS, EBRD, UN, Islamic Development Bank, ILO, and others.
Victoria acts in all cases relating to International Organisations, in particular relating to their privileges and immunities, internal disciplinary proceedings, relief from administrative decisions, class actions and whistleblowing retaliation.
Recent cases include:
Victoria also has experience in claims involving sexual harassment, high profile complaints and successfully obtaining reinstatement.
Victoria Brown is regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) and holds a current practising certificate. If you are not satisfied with the service provided, please click here.
To find out more, contact Matt Sale on +44 (0)20 7427 4910 or Andy Hunter on +44 (0)20 7427 4905 for a confidential discussion.
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