News & Events
News & Events
Outer Temple Chambers are delighted to share this year’s great success with appointments to the Attorney General’s Panel. Bianca Venkata, Jeremy Scott-Joynt, Patrick Tomison and Carin Hunt have been appointed to the C Panel, whilst Alex Cisneros has been appointed from the C to B panel. The Government Legal Department (GLD) administers the Attorney General’s Panel Counsel. The GLD relies on the junior counsel panel for advice and representation. We’re pleased to announce that Alex Cisneros has been appointed from the C to B Panel. Members appointed to the B Panel will generally be instructed where knowledge and experience of a particular field is required. B panel applicants will generally have between 5 and 10 years’ advocacy experience. Bianca Venkata,…
News 7 Aug, 2023
Bianca Venkata has written an article titled Bhaur and others v Equity Trustees and others [2023] EWCA Civ 534—when will equity set aside a voluntary disposition for mistake? The article highlights Bhaur and others v Equity Trustees and others [2023] EWCA Civ 534. The Court of Appeal handed down its decision on 18 May 2023. The Court declined to grant equitable relief to set aside the transfer of the Claimants’ family wealth into an employment benefit trust. This was despite the fact that the Claimants had acted on dishonest advice and the catastrophic financial consequences of the transaction. The Court found that as the Claimants were aware of the nature of the tax avoidance scheme, it would not be unconscionable to…
External Publications 21 Jul, 2023
Bianca Venkata has recently been published in Lexis Nexis® PSL. Her article provides a short overview of the proposed amendments of Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to the National Health Service Pension Scheme Regulations 1995 (1995 Regs). On the 5th December 2022, DHSC launched a consultation regarding proposed amendments to the 1995 regulations. The background to the consultation was a desire to make it more attractive for NHS employees to work for longer and thereby reduce NHS waiting times and retain the skills and knowledge of experienced NHS employees. The key reform proposals include allowing pensionable re-employment for retired members of the 1995 Scheme, allowing partial retirement for members who wish to continue working while reducing their hours and drawing…
External Publications 22 May, 2023
Andrew Short KC and Bianca Venkata, acting for the claimants, and Naomi Ling, acting for the Trustee, have appeared in an important case relating to age discrimination in pension schemes. Mrs Justice Eady, President, sitting in the EAT, found that claimants bringing claims of age discrimination against a private sector body after IP Completion date (31 December 2020) could not rely on general principles of EU law to disapply a provision [in the Equality Act (Age Exemptions for Pension Schemes) Regulations 2010] excluding all claims for age discrimination relating to pensionable service before 1 December 2006. The Employment Tribunal had disapplied this provision relying on the case of Innospec v Walker [2017] UKSC 47. The decision of the Employment Tribunal…
News 1 Nov, 2022
The Legal 500 UK 2023 Rankings have been announced and Outer Temple Chambers is delighted with the results. With over 60 barristers now holding rankings across 27 practice areas and some glowing feedback, we are honoured to have been described as a “go-to set” once again. We are particularly delighted that the hard work of our juniors has been noticed and would like to congratulate Bianca Venkata and Victoria Brown for their elevation from Rising Stars to a Tiered ranking. As they now start working their way up the ranks we welcome four new juniors into the Rising Stars category; Alex Cisneros, Carin Hunt, Imogen Egan and Olinga Tahzib. Congratulations also to Alex Haines, Clare Baker, David Haines, Joshua Hitchens…
News 29 Sep, 2022
Bianca Venkata has recently been published in Lexis Nexis® PSL. Her article looks at The Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Act 2022 and is available now online. Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Act 2022 (PSPJOA 2022) was given Royal Assent on 10 March 2022. Following a detailed report on the need to reform public sector pensions, the ruling in the McCloud and Sargeant case, a cost control valuation, and a review conducted by the Senior Salaries Review Body, the government introduced the PSPJOA 2022. The key measures, including the removal of discriminatory transitional provisions and of the final salary link, alongside the introduction of the cost control mechanism have meant public sector pension schemes are arguably fairer. In…
External Publications 13 Jun, 2022
Outer Temple Barristers Naomi Cunningham, Will Young and Bianca Venkata have recently completed the ’25 for 25: Pro Bono Challenge’, run by the charity Advocate. In order to complete this challenge, they all had to complete 25 hours or over of pro bono work between June 2021 – June 2022. Advocate is a charity that connects volunteer barristers with those who require free legal assistance. This ensures that those who cannot afford legal assistance can still receive justice. Yet another three of Outer Temple’s barristers have completed the ’25 for 25: Pro Bono Challenge’ ran by Advocate. This challenge requires barristers to complete a total of 25 hours of pro bono work between June 2021 – June 2022. We are…
News 6 Jun, 2022
Bianca Venkata writes for Lexis Nexis PSL on the NHS Pension Scheme changes, equalisation of survivor pensions and final pay control. The Department of Health & Social Care has published the outcome of its consultation on the draft NHS Pension Schemes and Injury Benefits Regulations 2021. The draft regulations seek to equalise survivor pensions and make changes to final pay control by amending the National Health Service Pension Scheme Regulation 1995 (as amended). Bianca examines the response and its implications. Analysis This analysis was first published on Lexis®PSL on 13 August 2021 and can be found here (subscription required).Alternatively, please read the PDF here. Find out more Bianca Venkata accepts instructions in all areas of Chambers’ practice including pensions, commercial…
External Publications 20 Aug, 2021
On 11 June 2021, HHJ Jarman QC sitting at the High Court handed down judgment in Hughes v Pritchard[2021] EWHC 1580 (Ch). The Court notably found the testator to lack capacity and his last will to be invalid despite a contemporaneous medical capacity assessment finding the testator to have capacity. Jennifer Seaman and Bianca Venkata provide a brief overview of the case and suggests what lessons can be learned to ensure the validity of wills going forward. The facts Mr Hughes owned considerable farmland in Wales. Mr Hughes had three children: an eldest son Elfed, a second son Gareth and a daughter Carys. Elfed worked long hours on his father’s farm for no remuneration. Mr Hughes promised Elfed, his wife Gwen and their three…
Legal Blogs 3 Aug, 2021
Bianca Venkata examines the Financial Conduct Authority perimeter and cryptoassets in the context of the FCA Handbook and The Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 (“MLRs”). In her article, Bianca also considers the Financial Conduct Authority’s approach to territoriality, the application of the FSMA Financial Promotions Order (SI 2005/1529) and the regulatory approach taken by the United States. There have been calls for there to be more regulation of cryptoassets due to their price volatility and soaring popularity. For instance, Bitcoin in April 2011 was valued at £0.71 (USD$ 1) but on 26 May 2021 at £27,352 (USD$ 38,694.14). There is also a risk that criminals and terrorists may exploit cryptoassets. However, it…
Legal Blogs 22 Jun, 2021
Daniel Barnett will be holding 30 employment law webinars over 3 weeks from 1st – 19th March 2021 to raise £30,000 for the Free Representation Unit. Daniel Barnett’s webinars will raise funds for the FRU, which has been providing representation in social security and employment tribunals for those who are not eligible for legal aid and cannot afford legal fees since 1972. Our members will be joining Daniel’s webinars to discuss the following topics: Health and Safety with Gus Baker Monday 1 March 2021 at 3:30pm ACAS Early Conciliation with Andrew Short QC Thursday 4 March 2021 at 3:30pm Employee Data, Monitoring and Privacy with Jeremy Scott-Joynt Friday 5 March 2021 at 9:30am Changing Terms and Conditions with Lydia Seymour Monday…
News 2 Mar, 2021
On 19 January 2021, the Court of Appeal handed down an important decision regarding data protection and law enforcement. Bianca Venkata evaluates the judgment. On 19 January 2021, in The Queen (on the application of M) v The Chief Constable of Sussex Police, Brighton & Hove Business Crime Reduction Partnership [2021] EWCA Civ 42 the Court of Appeal has handed down a decision regarding part 3 of the Data Protection Act 2018 (“DPA”) which is concerned with the processing of personal data for law enforcement purposes. The unanimous judgment, delivered by Lady Justice Andrews, is the first of its kind to examine Part 3 of the DPA. The judgement considers the safeguards for the processing of “sensitive data” for law enforcement…
News 1 Feb, 2021
