Isabel accepts instructions across all the main areas of Chambers' practice. This includes Public International Law, Public & Regulatory, Civil Liberties & Human Rights, Commercial, Financial Services, Media & Entertainment, Telecommunications, EU & Competition, and Employment.
Following a successful 12 month pupillage, Isabel joined Blackstone Chambers in September 2016. From November 2016 to June 2017, Isabel was based in Washington, DC, working with US attorneys on cases involving US sanctions and white collar and government investigations.
Before coming to the bar, Isabel worked as a caseworker for Justice Project Pakistan, providing pro bono representation to persons facing the death penalty in Pakistan. Isabel also taught jurisprudence and property law at the University of Glasgow and equity and trusts and contract law at Birkbeck College, University of London. She is the author of Trials: On Death Row in Pakistan (London: Jonathan Cape, 2016) which won the Saltire Scottish First Book Award 2016 and was an Economist and Spectator book of the year 2016.
Isabel accepts instructions in all areas of civil liberties and human rights work.
Isabel worked on a wide range of matters during pupillage, including acting for claimants and respondents on both common law human rights claims and claims brought under the European Convention of Human Rights.
Acting for the Secretary of State in a judicial review challenging the Secretary of State’s decision to maintain a prisoner’s Category A status (assisting Ivan Hare).
Advising an applicant on the convention and charter rights potentially relevant to applications under ss. 790ZF and 790ZG (assisting Ivan Hare).
Acting for the General Medical Council in a judicial review challenging rule 6(b) of the Schedule to the General Medical Council (Legal Assessors and Legally Qualified Persons) Rules Order of Council 2015 as unlawful and in breach of article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights (assisting Ivan Hare).
Appearing for the Secretary of State in these cases challenging the Secretary of State’s policy on release of prisoners with a whole life tariff or (as in Du’s case) a tariff which is likely to extend beyond their lifetime on the basis of Article 5 of the ECHR. The cases follow the ECtHR’s decision in Vinter v United Kingdom (2012) 55 EHRR 34 (assisting Ivan Hare who, in Vinter, appeared with James Eadie QC).
Acting for the Secretary of State in a judicial review challenging the Secretary of State’s decision to refuse the claimant’s application for asylum and finding that the claimant could be returned to Iraq (assisting Ivan Hare).
Acting for the Secretary of State in a judicial review challenging the Secretary of State’s policy of accepting the recommendation of a High Court judge in a detention at Her Majesty’s Pleasure tariff review, the Secretary of State’s decision not to allow the claimant to make submissions on the High Court judge’s representation, the Secretary of State’s refusal to review the High Court judge’s decision not to disclose a victim impact statement (assisting Ivan Hare).
Advising the Secretary of State for the Home Department as to the merits of a judicial review challenge to an immigration detention decision (assisting Ivan Hare).
Isabel accepts instructions in all areas of public international law.
Prior to coming to the bar, Isabel worked on litigation brought in the Lahore High Court which challenged the detention of Pakistani detainees in Bagram Airbase, Afghanistan.
During her pupillage, Isabel gained experience of public international law. She appeared before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council on a constitutional appeal from the Court of Appeal of Trinidad and Tobago and provided advice as to the effect of international humanitarian law.
Advising the General Medical Council on whether allowing registered doctors to serve in the armed forces was compatible with international humanitarian law (assisting Ivan Hare).
Appeared for appellants in an important constitutional appeal from Trinidad and Tobago concerning the retrospective repeal of a limitation period for certain criminal offences (assisting James Segan who appeared with Michael Beloff QC).
Isabel accepts instructions in all areas of public and regulatory work.
During pupillage, Isabel gained considerable relevant experience, acting for both claimants and respondents and she has appeared, assisting her supervisors, before the High Court and Court of Appeal. Whilst on secondment in the US, Isabel worked with attorneys on white collar and government investigations.
Acting for a football club in a high profile arbitral challenge to financial fair play rules in English football (assisting Nick De Marco).
Acting for the Secretary of State in a judicial review challenging the Secretary of State’s decision to maintain a prisoner’s Category A status (assisting Ivan Hare).
Advising a claimant in relation to a potential challenge to a decision of the Chief Coroner relating to the training requirements for coroners (assisting Ivan Hare).
Acting for the General Medical Council resisting the appellant’s appeal against the decision of a Fitness to Practise Panel (assisting Ivan Hare).
Advising the Secretary of State for Justice as to the extent of disclosure required in a judicial review claim (assisting Ivan Hare).
Acting for the General Medical Council resisting the appellant’s appeal against the decision of a Fitness to Practise Panel (assisting Ivan Hare).
Acting for the appellants in an application for permission to appeal to the Supreme Court from the Court of Appeal’s finding that the Employment Tribunal had jurisdiction to hear claims brought under the Equality Act 2010 against the General Medical Council (assisting Ivan Hare).
Acting for the General Medical Council in a judicial review challenging rule 6(b) of the Schedule to the General Medical Council (Legal Assessors and Legally Qualified Persons) Rules Order of Council 2015 as unlawful and in breach of article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights (assisting Ivan Hare).
Advising the General Medical Council on whether allowing registered doctors to serve in the armed forces was compatible with international humanitarian law (assisting Ivan Hare).
Appearing for the Secretary of State in these cases challenging the Secretary of State’s policy on release of prisoners with a whole life tariff or (as in Du’s case) a tariff which is likely to extend beyond their lifetime on the basis of Article 5 of the ECHR. The cases follow the ECtHR’s decision in Vinter v United Kingdom (2012) 55 EHRR 34 (assisting Ivan Hare who, in Vinter, appeared with James Eadie QC).
Acting for the Secretary of State in a judicial review challenging the Secretary of State’s decision to refuse the claimant’s application for asylum and finding that the claimant could be returned to Iraq (assisting Ivan Hare).
Advising a potential claimant in a judicial review claim as to possible grounds of review and the merits of a claim against HMRC (assisting Ivan Hare).
Acting for the Secretary of State in a judicial review challenging the Secretary of State’s policy of accepting the recommendation of a High Court judge in a detention at Her Majesty’s Pleasure tariff review, the Secretary of State’s decision not to allow the claimant to make submissions on the High Court judge’s representation, the Secretary of State’s refusal to review the High Court judge’s decision not to disclose a victim impact statement (assisting Ivan Hare).
Advising the Secretary of State for the Home Department as to the merits of a judicial review challenge to an immigration detention decision (assisting Ivan Hare).
Acting for Her Majesty’s Inspector in a claim for negligent misstatement (assisting Ivan Hare).
Acted for the General Medical Council in these related appeals concerning the circumstances in which a Fitness to Practise Panel can proceed in the absence of a doctor and the admissibility of fresh evidence on appeal to the High Court (assisting Ivan Hare).
Acting for the Secretary of State resisting the claimant’s application for permission to appeal to the Supreme Court (assisting Ivan Hare).
Acting for the Secretary of State in resisting an application for permission to proceed with judicial review challenging the Secretary of State’s decision to temporarily suspend a fisheries management agreement with the States of Guernsey and to temporarily suspend licences issued to fishing vessels of the States of Guernsey (assisting James Segan).
Acting for Defra in defence of a challenge by Greenpeace to the UK’s allocation method for fishing quota and effort, on ground of alleged incompatibility with EU law (assisting James Segan).
Acting for the SFO in a judicial review claim concerning the SFO’s procedure for handling of documentary evidence potentially attracting legal professional privilege (assisting James Segan).
Advice to a commercial fishing company as to whether EU Regulation 404/2011 required the installation of a vessel monitoring system (“VMS”) on-board their vessels and advice as to the merits of a potential judicial review claim challenging a government decision not to grant a licence to vessels without a VMS (assisting James Segan).
Isabel accepts instructions in all areas of commercial litigation.
During pupillage, Isabel gained a wide range of experience and assisted her pupil supervisors in both tort and contract cases before the High Court. Whilst on secondment in the US, Isabel worked with attorneys on white collar and government investigations.
Acting for the claimant in a claim in unjust enrichment, challenging the police power to charge for the provision of policing services under s. 25 of the Police Act 1996 (assisting Nick De Marco).
Acting for the claimant in a claim for breach of a series of finance agreements (assisting Nick De Marco).
Advising an applicant on the convention and charter rights potentially relevant to applications under ss. 790ZF and 790ZG (assisting Ivan Hare).
Acting for the claimant in a claim for a declaration, an injunction and damages for breach of contract (assisting James Segan).
Advising a potential claimant in a claim for breach of contract on formation and variation of that contract.
Isabel accepts instructions in all areas of employment work.
During pupillage, Isabel worked on a wide range of employment cases, acting for both claimants and respondents before the Employment Tribunal, the Employment Appeal Tribunal and the Court of Appeal. Many of the matters Isabel worked on are confidential and so not referred to here, or are only referred to with client names anonymised.
Acting for the respondent in a claim of unfair dismissal and discrimination (assisting Nick De Marco).
Acting for the claimant in a claim for damages following the termination of the claimant’s employment contract without notice (assisting Nick De Marco).
Acted for the respondent in direct discrimination, harassment and victimisation claim (assisting Ivan Hare).
Acting for the appellants in an application for permission to appeal to the Supreme Court from the Court of Appeal’s finding that the Employment Tribunal had jurisdiction to hear claims brought under the Equality Act 2010 against the General Medical Council (assisting Ivan Hare).
Acting for a number of care home workers in relation to their High Court breach of contract claim for unpaid wages (assisting Diya Sen Gupta).
Advising on the interrelation of statutory and contractual claims in the Employment Tribunal and contractual claims in the High Court (assisting Diya Sen Gupta).
Acting for Citibank N.A. (2015-2016) defending various claims by former Foreign Exchange traders arising from their dismissal for sharing client confidential information in Bloomberg Chats. These cases have been widely reported in the press. (Assisting Diya Sen Gupta.)
Acting for a claimant in a High Court stigma damages claim against a bank (assisting Tom Linden QC and Diya Sen Gupta).
Acting for the claimant in a team move case (assisting Paul Goulding QC and Diya Sen Gupta).
Isabel accepts instructions in all areas of sport work.
During pupillage Isabel gained a wide range of experience and assisted her pupil supervisors acting for both players/athletes and sports governing bodies. She appeared before first instance and appellate regulatory tribunals and the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Advising on the availability of third party cost orders in the event of costs having been awarded against a bankrupt party (assisting Nick De Marco).
Acting for a football club in a high profile arbitral challenge to financial fair play rules in English football (assisting Nick De Marco).
Acting for the claimant in a potential Rule K arbitration (assisting Nick De Marco).
Acting for the player resisting FIFA’s appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against the decision of the Saudi Arabian Anti-Doping Appeals Panel (assisting Nick De Marco).
Acting for the claimant in a claim in unjust enrichment, challenging the police power to charge for the provision of policing services under s. 25 of the Police Act 1996 (assisting Nick De Marco).
Acting for the respondent to a charge brought by The FA for breach of the Football Agents Regulations 2009 (assisting Nick De Marco).
Acting for the player defending a charge of an anti-doping rule violation following use of an inhaler (assisting Nick De Marco).
Acting for the RFU in a successful disciplinary prosecution for attempted trafficking of a human growth hormone (assisting James Segan).
Isabel accepts instructions in all areas of media and entertainment work.
During pupillage, Isabel appeared before the Copyright Tribunal assisting James Segan.
Acting for PRS for Music in defending Copyright Tribunal proceedings challenging ITV’s broadcast licence fee (assisting James Segan who appeared with Robert Howe QC).
Isabel accepts instructions in all areas of telecommunications law.
Acting for mobile virtual network operator Lebara in proceedings against its main competitor, Lyca, concerning a block implemented by Lyca upon its customers accessing websites and services offered by Lebara (assisting James Segan who appeared with Tom de la Mare QC and Ben Jaffey).
Isabel accepts instructions in all areas of EU and competition law.
Advice as to the treatment of no-challenge clauses under article 101(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (assisting James Segan).
Acting for Defra in defence of a challenge by Greenpeace to the UK’s allocation method for fishing quota and effort, on ground of alleged incompatibility with EU law (assisting James Segan).
Advice to a commercial fishing company as to whether EU Regulation 404/2011 required the installation of a vessel monitoring system (“VMS”) on-board their vessels and advice as to the merits of a potential judicial review claim challenging a government decision not to grant a licence to vessels without a VMS (assisting James Segan).
Whilst on secondment in the US, Isabel gained experience of US Iran sanctions, working with attorneys challenging and advising on the regime. For reasons of confidentiality, these matters are not detailed here.
LLB (Hons) (Glasgow): First Class; MRes (Glasgow): Distinction; Kennedy Scholar (Harvard); BPTC (BPP): Outstanding, third in year
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