Kate is developing a broad practice across all of Chambers’ main areas, with a particular focus on commercial litigation, group actions, product liability, and environmental disputes. She welcomes instructions as both junior and sole counsel.
Kate’s recent work includes appearing in the Court of Appeal in an appeal against a planning decision (led by Patrick Green KC), assisting in an appeal regarding recognition and enforcement of an arbitration award (led by Patrick Green KC), and advising a sports national governing body (led by Adam Heppinstall KC).
Before joining Chambers, Kate completed pupillage at a leading commercial set, where she gained experience in commercial litigation, professional negligence, construction, and insurance. She also worked on public law cases including advising government departments. Kate was awarded Lord Denning and Lord Brougham scholarships during her legal studies, prior to which she undertook an internship at UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency.
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Expertise
Commercial
Kate has significant experience of commercial litigation and has a particular interest in disputes related to energy, commodities, construction, sports, and technology.
Examples of Kate’s recent work include:
- Instruction by the Respondents to assist Patrick Green KC with research and hearing preparation for Infrastructure Services v The Kingdom of Spain, concerning the recognition and enforcement of a €120 million arbitration award (one of the Lawyer’s Top 10 Appeals of 2024);
- Assisting with a claim by the victim of APP fraud against an e-money institution for breach of trust and unjust enrichment;
- Varied research on two high profile claims under s90A of FSMA (including one of The Lawyer’s Top 20 Cases of 2024) (as a pupil);
- Drafting Particulars of Claim for a claim worth £60 million arising from the commercial development of an African gas field (as a pupil);
- Drafting a skeleton argument in relation to a commercial dispute over a $30 million debt (as a pupil);
- Advice in a dispute worth £15 million arising from PPE procurement (as a pupil); and
- Advice and skeleton arguments in a multi-million-pound dispute relating to a joint venture agreement in an African gold mine (as a pupil).
Group Actions and Competition
Kate is currently seconded to the Competition and Markets Authority on a part-time basis and has unique insight into all aspects of competition litigation. Her work has covered the CMA’s involvement in:
- Director disqualification in competition cases;
- Remedy negotiations pursuant to a Chapter II breach;
- Possible interventions in High Court proceedings; and
- Varied consumer matters.
As a pupil, Kate gained experience in various group actions, including:
- A large-scale environmental nuisance claim;
- The second wave of the NOx emissions cases;
- Two financial mis-selling group actions under s90A of FSMA (including one of The Lawyer’s Top 20 Cases of 2024); and
- A proposed group action arising from a terrorist attack.
Public and Environmental Law
Kate has growing experience in public law. Examples of her recent work include:
- Acting for the claimant/appellant in an appeal against a planning decision in the Court of Appeal (led by Patrick Green KC) (Wathen-Fayed v Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities [2024] EWCA Civ 507).
- Research on multiple matters before the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (as a pupil); and
- Varied advice for government departments, ranging from disputes concerning PPE procurement to professional negligence (as a pupil).
Kate has a particular interest in environmental law, having studied Geography at university. During pupillage she worked on a large-scale environmental nuisance claim, and the second wave of the NOx emissions cases.
Representative cases
grid list-
Wathen-Fayed v Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities [2024] EWCA Civ 507
Company, Insolvency and Bankruptcy
Kate is developing a practice in bankruptcy and insolvency and has experience drafting petitions as well as appearing in court, most recently in successfully resisting a bankruptcy order in the amount of £1.2 million.
During pupillage, Kate gained experience in claims under the Insolvency Act 1986, directors’ duties, and derivative claims. She also drafted written submissions on behalf of a Respondent for proceedings before the Takeover Panel Hearings Committee.
Sports
Kate has a particular interest in sports disputes, whether commercial or regulatory. She is a keen sportswoman who played Lacrosse for Wales at junior level and was awarded a Full Blue at Oxford University.
Examples of her recent work include:
- Advising a major sporting governing body on their regulatory framework (led by Adam Heppinstall KC);
- Advice (as a pupil) in relation to a commercial dispute between a La Liga football club, major international player, and a football agent, involving allegations of breach of fiduciary duty;
- Drafting pleadings (as a pupil) in a dispute between two major sportswear brands; and
- Winning the Littleton Chambers Sports Law Essay Prize 2023.
Insurance
Kate has significant experience in relation to high-value insurance disputes and is well-positioned to advise in such cases. Her experience includes advice on coverage, notification, and aggregation, as well as brokers’ negligence and advising on potential unregulated insurance policies.
Consumer Finance
Kate has experience of consumer finance disputes of all kinds, including PPI, solar panels, and motor finance.
Professional Negligence and Professional Discipline
Kate has significant experience in matters of professional negligence (across the legal, insurance, construction, and financial industries) and is developing experience in regulatory disputes.
Instructing Kate Gardiner
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Education
- BVS, City University – Distinction
- GDL, City University – Distinction
- BA (Hons) Geography, University of Oxford (Hertford College) – First Class (2nd in year)
Scholarships and Prizes
- 1st Place – Littleton Chambers Sports Law Essay Prize 2023
- Lord Denning Scholarship, Lincoln’s Inn
- Lord Brougham Scholarship, Lincoln’s Inn
- Gibbs Prize (proxime accessit) for Geography, University of Oxford
- Highly commended in the Royal Geographical Society DARG Dissertation Prize (top three dissertations in country)
- Hertford College Final Honour School Prize
- Hertford College Academic Scholarship
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For more information about the way barristers at Henderson Chambers work, including our fee transparency statement and our complaints process, please click here.
Bar Council Number: 76511
VAT Registration Number: 463400027
Legal Status: Barrister
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Regulated by the Bar Standards Board.
