Anna practices in all areas of public law. She undertakes a wide variety of advisory, court and tribunal work for a range of central government departments, other public bodies and claimants. She has a particular interest in claims involving human rights, civil liberties, discrimination, local government, housing, mental health, data protection, freedom of information and education. She has appeared in a number of interesting public law cases in the High Court and the Court of Appeal.

In connection with her local government work, Anna regularly advises on issues of vires. Recently this has included advising on the power of local authorities to establish a mutual insurance scheme (the “LAML” litigation) and on the powers and duties of the Greater London Assembly and the Mayor of London.

Representative Cases

• R (on the application of Breckland District Council & Ors) v Boundary Committee [2009] EWCA Civ 239; (2009) LGR 589 (consultation obligations)
• Re A sub nom a Local Authority v Department of Children and Families & Ors [2009] EWCA Civ 41; (2009) All ER 479
• R (on the application of Westminster City Council) v Mayor of London [2002] EWHC 2440 (Admin); (2002) All ER (D) 494  (challenge to congestion charging scheme)
  

Anna has a busy employment law practice, acting and advising in relation to all types of employment disputes in the tribunals, the EAT and the High Court. Within this, she regularly advises central government departments and other public bodies as well as acting for claimants. She has a particular interest in discrimination law and has acted in a number of complex and high value claims for sex, maternity, age, race and religious belief discrimination. She is often asked to provide general advice to public bodies on their duties under the equality legislation.

Representative Cases

• Kraft Foods v Hastie [2010] ICR 1355 (age discrimination – redundancy provision)

Anna is a recommended junior in regulatory and disciplinary law, both by Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500. Her recent work has included advising disciplinary bodies on revising their disciplinary procedures and drafting disciplinary procedural rules. Anna also advises a number of regulatory bodies on human rights issues. She was instructed by the General Medical Council as junior council in the complex disciplinary proceedings brought against both Professor Sir Roy Meadow and Dr Alan Williams arising out of the conviction of Sally Clark for the murder of her two children, and on appeal.

Representative Cases

• Williams v GMC [2007] EWHC 2603 (Admin); (2008) BMLR 59

Anna has extensive experience of advising and acting for local authorities and housing associations in a wide range of housing matters including anti-social behaviour and disrepair. This area of work complements her public law practice, and she provides frequent advice to local authorities on housing duties and homelessness. She also acts in the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal.

Anna has appeared and advised in relation to a wide range of commercial contractual disputes brought in the county courts, High Court and the Commercial Court.  She has a particular interest in insurance litigation, having been instructed by a group of major insurers as junior counsel in a long-running and high-value construction dispute.

Representative Cases

• Yorke v Katra [2003] EWCA Civ 867

• R (on the application of Breckland District Council & Ors) v Boundary Committee [2009] EWCA Civ 239; (2009) LGR 589 (duties of consultation)
• Re A sub nom a Local Authority v Department of Children and Families & Ors [2009] EWCA Civ 41; (2009) All ER 479
• R (on the application of Westminster City Council) v Mayor of London [2002] EWHC 2440 (Admin); (2002) All ER (D) 494  (challenge to congestion charging scheme)
• Kraft Foods v Hastie [2010] ICR 1355 (age discrimination – redundancy provision)
• Williams v GMC [2007] EWHC 2603 (Admin); (2008) BMLR 59
• Yorke v Katra [2003] EWCA Civ 867