News & Events
News & Events
14 members of Outer Temple’s Employment Law team attended the Industrial Law Society (ILS) Annual Conference on Friday 12th and Saturday 13th September 2025 at Keble College in Oxford. The Industrial Law Society was founded in 1964 as an organisation where both sides of industry and all those involved in employment law can meet regularly, and informally, to exchange views. It is the leading forum for debate and understanding of employment law and its applications. The two-day conference brought together solicitors, barristers, judges and academics from across the United Kingdom. Our team of silks, juniors and clerks took the opportunity to meet up with peers and colleagues whilst attending talks and workshops on some of the hottest topics in employment…
News 18 Sep, 2025
The Employment Tribunal handed down judgment on Friday 31st January 2025 in the landmark equal pay claim for Asda workers. Andrew Short KC, Paul Livingston and Victoria Brown, instructed by Leigh Day, acted for the Claimants. The ET found in favour of 12 female lead claimants, represented by Andrew, Paul and Victoria, determining that they have established equal value with at least one of the male comparators. Asda’s female workers launched their claim in 2014 against their employer based on the fact that the predominantly female retail workforce is paid less than the predominantly male depot workforce per hour. The recent decision means tens of thousands of Asda shop floor workers have now established their work was of equal value…
News 6 Feb, 2025
The final report of the Brook House Inquiry, in which Paul Livingston was Junior Counsel to the Inquiry, was published yesterday, 19th September 2023. The Inquiry, chaired by Kate Eves, was established to investigate the mistreatment of people detained at Brook House Immigration Removal Centre from April to August 2017, following a BBC Panorama investigation which was broadcast in September 2017, showing covert footage recorded over that period. The Inquiry found 19 incidents in which there was credible evidence of acts or omissions that were capable of amounting to mistreatment contrary to Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, including inappropriate use of force, unnecessary infliction of pain, physical violence, threatening and humiliating comments, and inappropriate segregation. Findings…
External Publications 20 Sep, 2023
11 members of the Outer Temple International Team will attend Dubai Arbitration Week, (DAW 22) between 14th & 18th November 2022. Outer Temple’s; David Russell KC, Andrew Spink KC, Philip Punwar, Justina Stewart, David Holloway, Sean Yates, Peter Linstead, Stephen Doherty, Lucian ILIE, Anson Cheung, and Sam Carter will be joining delegates at this year’s Dubai Arbitration Week. Sean Yates will be speaking at a number of events throughout the week hosted by Accuracy, The Firm (Moaza Alkhadar Advocates), Trowers and Hamlins LLP and Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration (SCCA). Outer Temple is also thrilled to be an event partner for the TL4FIRE Middle East 2022 conference between 13 and 15 November at the Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai. David Russell KC will be on a panel discussing the ‘The Nuances of Litigation in UAE…
News 8 Nov, 2022
The UK Covid-19 Public Inquiry has now officially opened, headed by Baroness Heather Hallett who has appointed 50 junior Counsel to the legal team including OTC’s Paul Livingston and Joshua Cainer. Baroness Hallett launched the UK Covid-19 Inquiry on 21st July 2022 and opened its first investigation into the preparedness of the UK for a pandemic. Baroness Hallett also set out the timetable for the first 12 months of the Inquiry saying, “It’s time for facts, not opinions – and I will be resolute in my quest for the truth. The Inquiry is already gathering evidence and I will be holding public hearings next year.” The next 12 months sees Module 1 looking into the UK’s preparedness for a pandemic.…
Covid-19 29 Jul, 2022
Paul Livingston is Junior Counsel to the Brook House public inquiry, set up to investigate mistreatment of individuals detained at Brook House IRC in 2017, as shown on BBC Panorama’s “Under-Cover: Britain’s Immigration Secrets”. Hearings began earlier today with an opening statement from Brian Altman QC, Leading Counsel to the Inquiry.. Chaired by Kate Eves, The Brook House Inquiry is a public inquiry set up to investigate the decisions, actions and circumstances surrounding the mistreatment of individuals who were detained at Brook House Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) shown in the BBC Panorama programme “Under-Cover: Britain’s Immigration Secrets”, aired on 4 September 2017. The Inquiry will consider allegations of mistreatment at Brook House relating to the period from April 2017 to…
News 23 Nov, 2021
In a judgment handed down this morning, the Supreme Court unanimously rejected Asda’s appeal and held that the Claimants (35,000 predominantly female retail employees) can use male distribution employees as comparators for the purposes of an equal pay claim. Andrew Short QC, Naomi Cunningham and Paul Livingston were instructed by Leigh Day to appear on behalf of the Claimants. The claims are brought on the basis that retail employees are paid less than distribution employees despite doing work of equal value. Asda had argued that the distribution employees were not valid comparators as they and the retail employees worked at different locations and were not employed on “common terms” within the meaning of the legislation. This argument was previously rejected…
News 26 Mar, 2021
Paul Livingston appears this week in the substantive hearing in the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse’s investigation into Child Sexual Exploitation. The hearing – which is being conducted entirely remotely – examines institutional responses to child sexual exploitation by organised networks in England and Wales. Sexual exploitation of children is a form of child sexual abuse involving exploitative situations, contexts and relationships where a child receives something, as a result of sexual activities. An ‘organised network’ involves two or more individuals who are known or associated with one another, and known to be involved in or facilitate the sexual exploitation of children. The hearing is primarily looking at six areas: Durham, Swansea, Warwickshire, St Helen’s, Tower Hamlets and Bristol.…
News 22 Sep, 2020
We are delighted to announce new appointments to the Attorney General’s A and C panels. Naomi Ling joins the A Panel, Rob Dickason joins the B Panel and four members of Chambers have been added to the C Panel. Naomi Ling joins the Attorney General’s A Panel, recognising her considerable expertise in employment and pension law. The A Panel deals with the most complex government cases in all kinds of courts and tribunals. Members will often appear against QCs. In general, those appointed to the A Panel will have over 10 years’ advocacy experience. Rob Dickason joins the Attorney General’s B Panel and continues to represent a range of Government departments in a variety of healthcare-related public and private law…
News 3 Sep, 2020
Outer Temple’s recent lunch-time briefing update on abuse claims is now available online, presented by James Counsell QC, Patrick Sadd and Paul Livingston. James Counsell QC, Patrick Sadd and Paul Livingston recently hosted a lunch-time briefing update and practice points review on the subject of abuse claims. Topics included: Reviewing two High Court decisions: DSN v Blackpool Football Club and BXB v Watchtower Costs: the impact of the Defendants’ approach before and during trial Limitation climate: is it possible to forecast? Consequence for vicarious liability following Supreme Court decisions in Barclays and Morrisons Watch the full webinar here: The Speakers James specialises in acting for claimants in historical and more recent sex abuse claims against religious organisations, schools, the scouts…
Webinars & Recordings 4 Jun, 2020
Paul Livingston presents an Employment Law webinar on Harassment As part of the 28 barristers in 14 days Employment Law Series, Paul gave a webinar on harassment in the workplace. Paul specialises in Employment and Discrimination and has considerable experience in acting in claims for harassment, as well as advising organisations about their approach to reducing and responding to harassment in the workplace. He advised on the foundation of www.talktospot.com, an AI tool to assist employees with recording and reporting harassment and discrimination and to assist employers in responding to such allegations. Paul’s experience as Counsel to public inquiries also puts him in a perfect position to advise on and carry out internal investigations. Free Representation Unit The webinars raised £15000, which…
Webinars & Recordings 28 May, 2020
Outer Temple Chambers would like to invite you to a lunch-time briefing update on Abuse Claims on Wednesday 27th May 2020. James Counsell QC, Patrick Sadd and Paul Livingston will be conducting a lunch-time briefing update and practice points review on the subject of abuse claims. Topics will include: Reviewing two High Court decisions: DSN v Blackpool Football Club and BXB v Watchtower Costs: the impact of the Defendants’ approach before and during trial Limitation climate: is it possible to forecast? Consequence for vicarious liability following Supreme Court decisions in Barclays and Morrisons The Speakers James specialises in acting for claimants in historical and more recent sex abuse claims against religious organisations, schools, the scouts and against football clubs and…
Events 20 May, 2020
