Emma Dixon

Acted for the Claimant in a challenge to Ofcom’s regulation of the launch of BBC Radio 1 Dance.

Emma acted as junior counsel for the Appellant (led by Ben Jaffey KC) in this appeal to the Supreme Court about the territorial scope of the public sector equality duty (‘PSED’) in section 149(1) of the Equality Act 2010, which requires public authorities to have due regard to equality issues. The Appellant was a vulnerable Palestinian refugee from Syria seeking resettlement in the UK.

Advised on the human rights and equality impacts of the draft Online Safety Bill.

Acting for a broadcaster in a judicial review challenge to Ofcom’s oversight of radio broadcasting in the digital age.

Gave advice and assistance in relation to an appeal by a centre which had been made subject to conditions prohibiting the undertaking of certain activities relating to gamete or embryo donors, and to donor sperm or embryos (including surrogacy cases); and prohibiting the import of gametes.

Advised an advertiser who had lost revenue during the Covid-19 crisis as to its position as against a local authority which was refusing to renegotiate terms.  

Advised the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal as to proposed public law proceedings brought against it by a complainant who had been subject to an adverse ruling.

Advised in relation to the environmental impacts of the UK Internal Market Bill 2019-21, and how these might be mitigated by legislative means.

Acted for an advertiser in a proposed judicial review of the ASA after it sought to publish an adverse ruling in relation to an advertisement at the height of the Covid-19 crisis despite its stated approach of ‘regulatory forbearance’. Successfully obtained interim measures preventing publication of the ASA’s ruling.  

Successfully acted for the Interested Party, a manufacturer of milkshake-style sip feeds supplied to the NHS, in resisting a proposed claim for judicial review by a commercial competitor which would have prevented the Interested Party from entering into a discount agreement.  

Provided advice as to the law applicable to an NHS Trust which wished to provide commercial services outside the NHS in order to raise revenue for its NHS work.

Led the public law junior counsel team in this complex case relating to the deportation of a foreign national criminal who had misappropriated the client’s confidential information.

Advised a regulatory body as to the lawful holding & use of protected information within the meaning of section 22 GRA, and as to the principles of good practice in that regard in order to ensure respect for the dignity & human rights of trans employees and individuals.

Acted pro bono for a midwife dismissed by an NHS Trust after many years’ unblemished service for an alleged breach of professional standards. There are parallel professional disciplinary proceedings.

Acting pro bono for a healthcare professional subject to professional disciplinary allegations.

Provided advice to a professional regulator on the equality implications of remote testing during the covid-19 pandemic.

Provided advice to a regulator as to its obligations under the GRA in relation to transgender professionals. 

Advised on the impact of Brexit upon overseas qualified persons both in the EU and outside it.

Advised on an investigation into the collapse of an investment scheme.

Advised on the impact of Brexit upon overseas qualified persons both in the EU and outside it.

Advised the operator of a financial advice website in relation to a claim for disability discrimination brought against it by a user of the site. The claim was successfully resolved.

Acted in a case involving the protection of foreign nationals who had been subjected to false allegations of wrongdoing abroad.

Advised on an investigation into the collapse of an investment scheme.

Emma acted as junior counsel for the Appellant (led by Ben Jaffey KC) in this appeal to the Supreme Court about the territorial scope of the public sector equality duty (‘PSED’) in section 149(1) of the Equality Act 2010, which requires public authorities to have due regard to equality issues. The Appellant was a vulnerable Palestinian refugee from Syria seeking resettlement in the UK.

Advised on the human rights and equality impacts of the draft Online Safety Bill.

Advised a regulatory body as to the lawful holding & use of protected information within the meaning of section 22 GRA, and as to the principles of good practice in that regard in order to ensure respect for the dignity & human rights of trans employees and individuals.

Helped to achieve a mediated settlement of proposed claims for age and disability discrimination on behalf of a company which had moved to an ‘online-only’ service model during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Acting pro bono for a healthcare professional subject to professional disciplinary allegations.

Advised a school in relation to the termination of employment of a minister of religion in circumstances giving rise to issues about discrimination on grounds of religion or belief; sexual orientation discrimination; and freedom of expression.

Advised the operator of a financial advice website in relation to a claim for disability discrimination brought against it by a user of the site. The claim was successfully resolved.

Acted in a case involving the protection of foreign nationals who had been subjected to false allegations of wrongdoing abroad.

Advised a professional regulator as to the possibility of claims under the Equality Act 2010 arising out of changes made by the regulator to its procedures during the Covid-19 crisis.

Emma acted as junior counsel for the Appellant (led by Ben Jaffey KC) in this appeal to the Supreme Court about the territorial scope of the public sector equality duty (‘PSED’) in section 149(1) of the Equality Act 2010, which requires public authorities to have due regard to equality issues. The Appellant was a vulnerable Palestinian refugee from Syria seeking resettlement in the UK.

Advised on the human rights and equality impacts of the draft Online Safety Bill.

Acted pro bono for a midwife dismissed by an NHS Trust after many years’ unblemished service for an alleged breach of professional standards. There are parallel professional disciplinary proceedings.

Provided advice to a professional regulator on the equality implications of remote testing during the covid-19 pandemic.

Provided advice to a regulator as to its obligations under the GRA in relation to transgender professionals. 

Advised a school in relation to the termination of employment of a minister of religion in circumstances giving rise to issues about discrimination on grounds of religion or belief; sexual orientation discrimination; and freedom of expression.

Advised the operator of a financial advice website in relation to a claim for disability discrimination brought against it by a user of the site. The claim was successfully resolved.

Advised the Bar Standards Board in relation to a high-profile case of alleged sex and disability discrimination by a set of Chambers against a barrister.

Advised a regulatory body as to the lawful holding & use of protected information within the meaning of section 22 GRA, and as to the principles of good practice in that regard in order to ensure respect for the dignity & human rights of trans employees and individuals.

Helped to achieve a mediated settlement of proposed claims for age and disability discrimination on behalf of a company which had moved to an ‘online-only’ service model during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Successfully represented the Appellant, a serving Metropolitan police officer, at a rule 3(10) hearing concerning his whistleblowing and victimisation claims.

Advised the Bar Standards Board (‘BSB’) as to a number of allegations of sexual orientation discrimination, age discrimination and race discrimination made by a barrister against his employer. Questions arising included whether there were arguable breaches of the Equality Act 2010 and whether these were made out on the evidence.

Advised the Bar Standards Board in relation to a high-profile case of alleged sex and disability discrimination by a set of Chambers against a barrister.

Advised a school in relation to the termination of employment of a minister of religion in circumstances giving rise to issues about discrimination on grounds of religion or belief; sexual orientation discrimination; and freedom of expression.

Acted for the Appellant in relation to her claim of disability discrimination and unlawful victimisation following her resignation from her job.  The Appellant had OCD and anxiety which the employer had not properly taken into account and had suffered harassment. There had also been a failure to make reasonable adjustments.

Successfully acted for the Appellant in contending there had been arguable disability discrimination in withholding his bonus when his performance at work declined following a grief reaction. A key issue was whether a grief reaction following a bereavement might amount to a ‘disability’ for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010 definition.

Acted for the Appellant who had been dismissed from her employment with a national public sector service. Successfully contended there had been an arguable breach of her rights under Article 8 ECHR by virtue of the employer’s decision to dismiss her on the basis of highly sensitive matters which had occurred in the Appellant’s private life and involved her ex-partner and children.