Kathleen Donnelly KC
"Kathleen is absolutely stellar."
Chambers UK 2025
- Call
- 2005
- Silk
- 2023
- Tel:
- +44 (0)20 7583 9020
- Email:
- kdonnelly@hendersonchambers.co.uk
Kathleen specialises in group actions, product liability, environment and employment litigation.
Kathleen has acted in some of the largest and most significant class actions in the English Courts. She acted for 555 subpostmasters against the Post Office in civil litigation concerning the operation of the Horizon IT system, resulting in the unravelling of the largest miscarriage of justice in UK history, with 93 convictions of innocent people for theft, fraud and false accounting overturned as a result of the findings in the High Court that the IT system contained bugs and errors and was not robust.
Kathleen acted in the long running VW NOx emissions litigation and continues to act in this field. She has experience of large scale environmental claims including the OCENSA pipeline litigation (concluding in a 5 month trial) as well as workplace respiratory claims and private nuisance claims. She acted for a major industry party at the Potters Bar inquest.
Kathleen has broad commercial litigation experience, including in the high profile aviation dispute between Qatar Airways v Airbus, and in the Stirling Mortimer fraud and professional negligence litigation.
Kathleen is instructed for a major retailer in a high profile equal pay claim. She has particular experience of employee competition cases, and appears for international civil servants against the African Development Bank.
Chambers and Partners 2023 describe Kathleen as “a phenomenal barrister; her ability to retain detail is truly impressive”, with “a stunning ability to understand complex issues”, “really bright, commercial, and great strategic acumen”. Legal 500 describes her as “tenacious and persuasive”, “excellent with clients”, having “excellent advocacy skills that result in clients winning their cases” and being “very bright, tenacious and good on her feet”.
Chambers and Partners 2024 describe Kathleen as ” a superb barrister with a combination of fierce intellect, dogged work ethic, incredible grasp of detail, a superb manner with clients and a great sense of humour”, “absolutely fabulous… extremely well prepared and combines diplomacy with a forcefulness in arguing our case”, and “an expert in environmental law and group litigation”, and that “Kathleen works endlessly and is the engine room for the case.” Legal 500 say “Clients and solicitors love her”, “Excellent with clients under pressure”, and “Razor-sharp mind and exceptionally strong on managing multiple work streams.”
Kathleen studied law at Oriel College, Oxford and has a postgraduate law degree from Queens’ College, Cambridge.
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Expertise
Group Actions
Kathleen has acted in some of the largest and most significant group actions in the English Courts, including the Post Office litigation, the VW NOx Emissions litigation and the OCENSA pipeline litigation.
She is adept at dealing with strategic issues across multiple work streams, and leading a large team, including where multiple technical experts are involved.
Representative cases
grid list-
VW NOx Emissions group litigation
Acted for VW in this long running litigation (2015-2021) and instructed in the second wave of NOx emissions cases, in which allegations are made against the entire diesel industry.
-
Equal Pay group litigation
- Acting for a major retailer in a high profile equal pay case being pursued by more than 2,000 staff members.
-
Post Office group litigation
Acting for 555 subpostmasters against the Post Office in civil litigation concerning the operation of the Horizon IT system, resulting in the unravelling of the largest miscarriage of justice in UK history, with 93 convictions of innocent people for theft, fraud and false accounting overturned as a result of the findings in the High Court that the IT system contained bugs and errors and was not robust.
-
OCENSA pipeline group litigation
Major environmental damage action concerning alleged environmental damage in Colombia, which concluded in a 5 month trial.
-
Sports Direct bonus group litigation
Acting for Sports Direct in this employment related group action brought by part time employees.
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Arkwright In Vessel Composting Site group litigation
Private nuisance claim concerning odour.
-
Powertrain group litigation
Large scale litigation concerning alleged respiratory complaints arising from exposure to metal working fluid.
Product Liability
Kathleen has significant product liability experience in complex multi-party actions, including where product safety issues arise. She has particular experience in manufacturing, transport and energy related claims and dealing with technical expert evidence.
Representative cases
grid list-
Qatar v Airbus
Acting for Qatar in this high profile commercial dispute concerning the surface degradation and grounding of A350 aircraft.
-
VW NOx Emissions litigation
Acting for VW in this long running litigation (2015-2021) and is instructed in the second wave of NOx emissions cases, in which allegations are made against the entire diesel industry.
-
OCENSA pipeline litigation
Large scale group litigation concerning the construction of a pipeline in Colombia, which concluded in a 5 month trial.
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Proceedings concerning the emissions compliance of forklift trucks.
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Inquest concerning the death of a patient during cranial surgery using a surgical navigation system.
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A claim for defective playground equipment.
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A claim for adverse reaction to cosmetic products.
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Claims for defective car brakes and bonnets.
Environment
Kathleen has acted in a number of large scale environmental group actions, as well as other high profile civil and criminal environmental proceedings. She has particular experience in waste, transport, mining and railway related cases.
Representative cases
grid list-
VW NOx Emissions group litigation
Acted for VW in this long running litigation (2015-2021) and instructed in the second wave of NOx emissions cases, in which allegations are made against the entire diesel industry.
-
Arkwright In Vessel Composting Site group litigation
Private nuisance claim concerning odour.
-
OCENSA pipeline group litigation
Major environmental damage action concerning alleged environmental damage in Colombia, which concluded in a 5 month trial.
-
Powertrain group litigation
Claim concerning alleged respiratory complaints arising from exposure to metal working fluid.
-
HSE v UK Coal, Alstead and Davison
Prosecution arising from a fatal accident at Daw Mill Colliery.
Employment
Kathleen is an established employment practitioner and experienced in employment tribunal and high court work. Kathleen has particular experience of employee competition cases, discrimination and whistleblowing claims. She is currently instructed for a major retailer in a high profile equal pay claim. She appears for international civil servants against the African Development Bank.
Representative cases
grid list-
Equal Pay group litigation
Acting for a major retailer in a high profile equal pay case being pursued by more than 2,000 staff members.
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Advising CEO of major UK fashion brand in a claim for whistleblowing and sex discrimination.
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Jerroms v Tilson
Employee competition and economic tort claim.
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Advising CEO of major UK PR brand in claim for bonus and sex discrimination.
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Aron v AFDB
Claim for unlawful termination for abandonment of post.
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Michelitsch v AFDB
Acting for former Evaluator General against the AFDB.
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Advising former country director in relation to departure from AFDB.
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Sports Direct bonus claim litigation
Acting for Sports Direct in claim concerning bonus payments to part time workers.
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Baldwins v Maidstone
Acting for accountancy firm in case arising from breach of covenants in sale purchase agreement.
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Donaghy v Kings College
Acting for Kings College.
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Fabrizi v London Borough of Hackney
Acting for a claimant in a complex discrimination claim.
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Back Office v Tipper
Acting for a payroll company against departing employees who set up a competitor company. Departing employees in breach of undertakings found liable for contempt of court.
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Crown Talk v Dandy
Acting for a telecoms company against salesmen who secretly incorporated a competitor company during their employment.
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The Hospital Medical Group Ltd v Westwood [2012] EWCA Civ 1005
Case concerning worker status and the limb(b) exception.
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Bungay v Chandel [2011] EqLR 1130
Joint and several liability, and awards of aggravated damages for events post termination of employment.
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Westwood v The Hospital Group, EAT
Appeal concerning approach to worker status.
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Baldwins v Maidstone
Breach of restrictive covenants in sale purchase agreement.
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Rowan Dartington v Davis and others, High Court
Acting for a stockbroking company against former employees for alleged breach of restrictive covenants, confidentiality and database rights.
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Autoclenz v Belcher [2009] EWCA Civ 1046, [2010] IRLR 70
Acting for appellant in Court of Appeal (led by Patrick Green QC) in case concerning employee/worker status and sham contracts.
What the directories say
"Kathleen's cross-examination is beyond exceptional."
Chambers UK 2025
"Kathleen is fantastic."
Chambers UK 2025
"I think she's great and hugely impressive."
Chambers UK 2025
"She is wonderfully articulate, clear, concise and commercial."
Chambers UK 2025
"I've found her to be user-friendly and a great team player."
Chambers UK 2025
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Instructing Kathleen Donnelly KC
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- King’s Counsel (2023)
- Commercial Bar Association
- Employment Lawyers Association
- Personal Injuries Bar Association
- LLM Commercial and International Law (Cantab) (2003)
- BA (Hons) Jurisprudence (Oxon) (2001)
- Hardwicke Award, Lincolns Inn
- Buchanan Scholar, Lincoln’s Inn
All members of Chambers are registered with the Bar Standards Board of England and Wales. For our standard contractual terms click here.
For more information about the way barristers at Henderson Chambers work, including our fee transparency statement and our complaints process, please click here.
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VAT Registration Number: 877522195
Legal Status: King’s Counsel
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Regulated by the Bar Standards Board.