She is meticulous and good with clients, always remembering that the case is about them and not the lawyers. She is good at drafting, clever, and brave on her feet. She does not shy away from difficult issues.

Overview

Kate Stone is a human rights and public law specialist, with an emphasis on inquests and inquiries, judicial review and civil actions against public authorities. She has a developing Court of Protection practice. Kate was instructed as junior counsel for 22 families in the Hillsborough inquests (2014 to 2016). She is instructed as part of the Counsel team on behalf of Covid Bereaved Families for Justice in the UK Covid-19 Public Inquiry.

Kate also specialises in international human rights law. She has been a member of the Executive Committee of the Bar Human Rights Committee (BHRC) since 2018. She completed a Master of Studies in International Human Rights Law (Distinction) at the University of Oxford in 2012. Kate is a contributor to the IBAHRI Toolkit on Lawyers at Risk (launched 24 Jan 2020) and has worked on a range of other human rights issues.

Kate is recommended in both The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners in Inquests and Inquiries, and Administrative and Public Law.

 

Inquests & public inquiries

Kate has extensive experience of inquests, particularly complex proceedings engaging Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights, and frequently represents bereaved families whose loved ones have died in detention or where there is or may be other state involvement in the death, including high profile cases. She is ranked as a Tier 1 Leading Junior by The Legal 500 and Band 1 by Chambers and Partners. Kate is co-convenor of the GCN Inquests and Inquiries Team.

Kate has a particular interest in the parameters of Article 2 and regularly conducts arguments on the engagement of Article 2 in complex or unusual circumstances. She has significant experience in post-homicide Article 2 inquests, particularly those touching on the deaths of women and children, and frequently deals with cases involving people with serious and complex mental health needs. She also has wide experience of inquests following police involvement with the deceased.

Kate was instructed as junior counsel for 22 bereaved families in the Hillsborough inquests.

Her inquest practice is complemented by her experience in judicial review, human rights and civil actions against public authorities and she is able to provide specialist advice on judicial review and post-inquest civil claims.

Below: Kate addresses the UK Covid-19 Inquiry (5:10:45)

Public law

Kate conducts all types of public law challenge with an emphasis on judicial review cases involving human rights issues, and has a particular interest in cases involving international human rights law.

She has substantial experience of judicial review proceedings in respect of prison law (Parole Board decision-making, unlawful detention, prisoner treatment, discrimination), inquests, policing and mental health. She also has experience of making applications for permission to intervene, including in high profile cases.

Kate is ranked as a Tier 2 Leading Junior by The Legal 500 and Band 3 by Chambers and Partners.

International

Kate is a specialist in international human rights law. She completed a Master of Studies in International Human Rights Law (Distinction) at the University of Oxford in 2012.

Kate regularly undertakes advisory and drafting work in IHRL. She has worked with a number of organisations including Oxfam, Advocates for International Development and the Environmental Defender Law Center on a range of international human rights law issues, including fair trial rights, the intersection of IHRL and the environment (impact on local communities of extractive industry and palm oil development) and the export assessment provisions dealing with IHRL and gender based violence in the Arms Trade Treaty.

As a Member of the Bar Human Rights Committee (BHRC) Kate has also carried out extensive work on IHRL. She is a contributor to the IBAHRI Toolkit on Lawyers at Risk (launched 24 Jan 2020) and has worked on a range of other human rights issues, including undertaking research for an Amicus brief to the Guantanamo Bay Military Tribunal on torture derived evidence and providing research and drafting assistance for an Amicus brief in the case of David Ravelo, a Colombian human rights defender.

Kate co-drafted the ECHR application arising from the Hillsborough disaster alleging breach of the state’s procedural obligation under article 2 (Harrison and others v UK Application no. 44301/13).

International human rights law

Kate is a specialist in international human rights law. She completed a Master of Studies in International Human Rights Law (Distinction) at the University of Oxford in 2012.

Kate regularly undertakes advisory and drafting work in IHRL. She has worked with a number of organisations including Oxfam, Advocates for International Development and the Environmental Defender Law Center on a range of international human rights law issues, including fair trial rights, the intersection of IHRL and the environment (impact on local communities of extractive industry and palm oil development) and the export assessment provisions dealing with IHRL and gender based violence in the Arms Trade Treaty.

As a Member of the Bar Human Rights Committee (BHRC) Kate has also carried out extensive work on IHRL. She is a contributor to the IBAHRI Toolkit on Lawyers at Risk (launched 24 Jan 2020) and has worked on a range of other human rights issues, including undertaking research for an Amicus brief to the Guantanamo Bay Military Tribunal on torture derived evidence and providing research and drafting assistance for an Amicus brief in the case of David Ravelo, a Colombian human rights defender.

Kate co-drafted the ECHR application arising from the Hillsborough disaster alleging breach of the state’s procedural obligation under article 2 (Harrison and others v UK Application no. 44301/13).

Court of Protection

Kate has a developing Court of Protection practice, focused in particular on cases involving deprivation of liberty.

Human rights

Kate is a specialist human rights lawyer and acts for claimants in all types of human rights action, including public law challenges and civil claims for damages.

She has wide experience of advising on post-inquest human rights claims and has a particular interest in the human rights of women, vulnerable people and detainees, including article 3 claims relating to detention conditions and failure to protect detainees from violence.

Kate frequently advises on claims against the police alleging breach of article 2, 3 and 8, including claims relating to the investigation of serious crime and misuse of information. She also has experience of cases in a range of contexts engaging the right to a private and family life, to freedom of expression and to freedom of assembly under articles 8, 10 and 11. She has experience of raising article 6 arguments in connection with injunction and inquest proceedings.

 

Civil actions against the police & public authorities

Kate is regularly instructed in civil actions against a range of public authorities and is experienced in all types of claim, including those under the Human Rights Act 1998, Equality Act 2010 and common law claims in negligence, false imprisonment, assault and battery, malicious prosecution and misfeasance in public office. She has significant experience of acting for vulnerable adults and children.

Kate is ranked Band 3 by Chambers and Partners.

Prison law

Kate deals with all aspects of prison law, with an emphasis on judicial review proceedings (see above). She advises and represents claimant prisoners in all types of judicial review challenge including unlawful detention, Parole Board decisions and procedure, categorisation and adjudications, and has experience of bringing habeas corpus applications.

In addition, Kate has a background in criminal law and has conducted appeal proceedings arising from her prison law practice, notably appeals against IPP sentences and in respect of unlawful sentences and references to the CCRC.

Discrimination

Kate has a background in discrimination law with particular emphasis on equal pay litigation. Examples of such work include:

Kate also has significant experience representing professionals in fitness to practise proceedings before the HCPC and NMC.

She now deals with discrimination in the course of her public law and civil actions practice.

Privacy Notice

Kate’s Privacy Notice may be viewed by clicking here.

Recommendations

Kate is an extremely clear and articulate barrister. Her advocacy is effective because of the clarity that she holds in her questioning of witnesses, and she can cut through the complexity that can arise from considering various documents and distil it in a very simple way to then put before witnesses, which makes her a very good jury advocate.The Legal 500, 2024
Kate provides practical and client-focused advice and is always on top of the detail of cases. She is also great with lay clients and persuasive on her feet in front of judges and coroners.The Legal 500, 2024
I trust her implicitly. She is very composed and calm in her responses and she does not give up the fight.Chambers and Partners 2023
The person to go to when tricky arguments of Article 2 arise as she knows the case law around it inside out.Chambers and Partners 2023
At no point does she give up the fight.Chambers and Partners 2023
She is very easy to work with; her paperwork is always spot on and she has a very good manner.Chambers and Partners 2023
Her paperwork in particular is always spot-on and I find Kate easy to work with.Chambers and Partners 2023
Inquests and Inquiries: Ranked Tier 1 'Kate Stone acted as part of the team for the Hillsborough inquest, with a practice complemented by expertise in civil claims arising from inquest.' 'She is meticulous and good with clients, always remembering that the case is about them and not the lawyers. She is good at drafting, clever, and brave on her feet. She does not shy away from difficult issues.'The Legal 500 2021
Leading Junior Administrative & Public Law - Northern/North Eastern (Bar): A dependable advocate who takes the time to familiarise herself with the detail. She is well liked by clients. Recent work: Instructed on behalf of the mother in the inquest into the death of Poppi Worthington, a 13-month-old child found to have suffered sexual assault.Chambers and Partners 2019
She is conscientious and great with vulnerable clients.The UK Legal 500 2019
Focuses predominantly on representing bereaved families and other interested parties in inquests. Her public law practice includes judicial reviews challenging coronial decisions and the availability of legal aid funding for inquests. Strengths: "Kate goes above and beyond to provide thorough and detailed advice to clients..." Recent work: Represented 22 of the families in the inquests into the deaths of the 96 victims of the Hillsborough disaster.Chambers and Partners 2018
Leading junior in Inquests and inquiries (Northern): A very meticulous and brave advocate.The UK Legal 500 2017
Leading junior in Administrative and Public Law (The Regions): Instructed to represent claimants in a broad range of administrative and public law cases. She is particularly adept at judicial reviews and inquests which concern prison and human rights law. Strengths: "Her skeleton arguments are excellent. As an advocate, she's on the ball and gets right to the point. She's an economical advocate, which makes her effective." Chambers and Partners 2017
Leading junior in Administrative and Public Law (The Regions): Frequently represents claimants in judicial review and public law proceedings, and has a particular interest in human rights issues. She often acts on behalf of prisoners in challenges to the parole board and Secretary of State and has additional experience of acting in inquests and cases concerning the police. "She is known for handling inquests and enjoys a good reputation in the field." "She's very thorough and very good in the sense that you can just pick up the phone to her. She likes to be involved from start to finish." Recent work: Acted as junior counsel to Peter Weatherby QC in representing 22 families in the Hillsborough inquests concerning the 96 deaths arising from the stadium disaster. Chambers and Partners 2016
Leading junior in Administrative and Public Law (The Regions): Specialises in appearing for claimants in prison law proceedings, particularly in challenges to decisions of the Parole Board and the Home Secretary. She is also experienced in inquests and matters concerning the actions of the police. "She defended a complex case with discretion and vigour, and her pleadings were just brilliant." Recent work: Acted as junior counsel to 22 bereaved families in the Hillsborough Inquests.Chambers and Partners 2015
Leading junior in Administrative and Public Law (The Regions): Widely praised for her handling of a range of public law matters in keeping with the profile of the set.Chambers and Partners 2014
Leading junior in Administrative and Public Law (The Regions): Also at Garden Court North is the "very capable and very able" Kate Stone, whose claimant-based public law offering covers inquests, prison law and actions against the police and other public authorities.Chambers and Partners 2013
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 and Partners 2012

 

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