Kate Stone

"[Kate] earns recognition for acting on behalf of claimants in human rights claims. She is also singled out for her detailed knowledge of prison law..."

Leading junior in Administrative and Public Law (the regions) - Chambers & Partners 2012

"a tenacious advocate who is thoroughly conscientious".

Chambers & Partners 2012

"We are grateful to Counsel for her assistance in this case. [Client] has specifically stated he is happy with the representations."

Instructing solicitor 2009

Practice

Kate has a broad-based practice with an emphasis on human rights, public law and equality & discrimination law.

Public law

Kate's public law experience to date has predominantly been in the prison law field (see below) but she has also represented and advised claimants on judicial review arising from homelessness, mental health proceedings, inquests and education law. She accepts instructions in all types of public law challenge and has a particular interest in cases involving human rights issues.

Recent cases include R (Rawnsley) v Parole Board [2010] EWHC 2689 (Admin) judgment in which the claimant successfully challenged a Parole Board decision not to release him on licence.

Prison law

Kate deals with all aspects of prison law, with an emphasis on judicial review proceedings (see above). She regularly advises and represents claimant prisoners in all types of judicial review challenge including unlawful detention, Parole Board decisions and procedure, categorisation and adjudications. Recent prison/public law cases include a successful habeas corpus application.

She is also experienced in conducting all types of hearing before the Parole Board and has a particular interest in discrimination claims arising in the prison sphere. In addition, Kate deals with criminal appeals and references to the CCRC arising from prison law.

Recent cases include:
R v Pritchard (2011) (IPP quashed by Court of Appeal) > news item
R v Sutherland (2010) (IPP quashed by Court of Appeal) > news item
R v O'Connor [2010] EWCA Crim 2842 (successful appeal against conviction and sentence)

Actions against public authorities

Kate is regularly instructed in civil law claims against the police, prisons and other public authorities including claims under the Human Rights and Equality Acts, false imprisonment and personal injury.

Inquests

Kate represents bereaved families, including the families of those who have died in custody, at inquests before a Coroner and jury or Coroner alone.

Equality and discrimination

Kate advises and represents claimants in all types of discrimination claim. Experience in conducting cases before the Employment Tribunal and EAT with particular expertise in equal pay litigation. She was instructed as junior counsel for the successful Unison claimants in local authority equal pay litigation Bury Metropolitan Borough Council v Hamilton and others [2011] All ER (D) 85 Mar (EAT) more and is also currently instructed in two further cases:
Bury Metropolitan Borough Council v Hamilton and others (Court of Appeal) (to be heard in 2012)
Smyth and others v Trafford MBC (EAT) (to be heard in 2012).

Outside of the employment law sphere, Kate also deals with discrimination in relation to goods and services and cases involving breach of the public sector equality duties. She is a member of the Equality and Human Rights Commission's Preferred Counsel Panel more .

Regulatory proceedings

Kate has considerable experience representing professionals in fitness to practise proceedings before the Health Professions Council and Nursing and Midwifery Council. Recent cases include the successful representation of a registrant at HPC proceedings in which the panel found no lack of competence.

Recommendations

Leading junior in Administrative and Public Law (the Regions) "Kate Stone is the latest addition to the tables from these chambers. She earns recognition for acting on behalf of claimants in human rights claims. She is also singled out for her detailed knowledge of prison law, and recently conducted a successful judicial review of Parole Board procedures. Commentators say she is "a tenacious advocate who is thoroughly conscientious" ." (Chambers & Partners 2012) more

Articles and media comment

• 9/2/12 - European Court of Human Rights: Time for Reform? - Lexis Nexis Current Awareness
• January 2009 - Cleaning up the Act: Kate Stone looks at how the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 addresses some of the concerns over the dangerous offender regime introduced by the Criminal Justice Act 2003. - Independent Lawyer
• May 2008 - Indeterminate ethics of sentences: What is the framework behind sentences of imprisonment for public protection, why are they so widely imposed and how can they be avoided? - Independent Lawyer

Other Activities

Training
Kate regularly conducts training in all her areas of practice.
Speaker at Public Law Project's annual Judicial Review North conference in 2010 & 2011.

International Human Rights Law
Kate has a particular interest in international human rights law and is currently studying for a Masters in International Human Rights Law at the University of Oxford. She regularly undertakes advisory work in IHRL both on a consultancy and pro-bono basis. Recent work in this area includes researching and drafting of expert briefs on international law for overseas clients including both legal professionals, NGOs and other agencies and individuals. She also produces training and guidance materials on international human rights laws for both domestic and overseas organizations.

Kate was a 2009 Pegasus Scholar and spent 6 weeks in Washington DC gaining experience in all aspects of the US legal system from parole hearings to Supreme Court appeals and the legislative process on Capitol Hill. > Letter from America

Professional Associations

Bar Human Rights Committee
HRLA
ALBA
Advocates for International Development (undertook A4ID's Law and Development Training Programme 2010/2011)
Amnesty International
Lawyer for Liberty

Languages

French.