Harini Iyengar

Harini has wide-ranging experience in Information, Media and Privacy, both court work and advisory work.  She is recommended by Chambers & Partners directory for her expertise in Data Protection law.  Recent examples of her work include the following:

Chambers & Partners 2026: Harini is a joy to work with.  Her careful case preparation and warm good humour make it a pleasure to work on even the most challenging of cases with her.

Data Subject Access Policy of Professional Regulator
Harini advised a professional regulator in writing about the lawfulness of its policy on data subject access requests from registrants.  She also advised on a specific data subject access request which arose out of very unusual facts.

Individual v Charity
Harini is currently defending a charity facing a claim by a former employee in the Business and Property Court of the Chancery Division in connection with a dispute about the employer obtaining and using the content of a social media chat in disciplinary proceedings.

Advice on Data Protection and Discrimination Dispute at Sports Club
Instructed on a direct access basis, Harini gave comprehensive written advice to an individual who had been expelled from a sports club, at which a protracted dispute was ongoing between members, including over data protection matters and allegations of unlawful discrimination.

Quick Tax Claims v Information Commissioner [2025] UKFTT 444 (GRC)
Harini successfully represented the Information Commissioner in an appeal against an enforcement notice imposed for breach of PECR 2003 by way of unsolicited direct marketing SMS, which turned on the quality of the consent which data subjects were claimed to have given online.

Pearson v Information Commissioner [2025] UKFTT 53 (GRC)
Harini successfully represented the Information Commissioner in an appeal against a monetary penalty notice which the regulator had imposed on a business for spam marketing SMS under PECR 2003 and the DPA.

O’Shea v Information Commissioner and HMRC [2023] UKFTT 01005 (GRC)
Through her written submissions, Harini successfully represented the Information Commissioner in an appeal under FOIA 2000 concerning a request for information about the value of the largest Individual Savings Account and the exemption concerning prohibitions on disclosure.

Killock v Information Commissioner [2021] UKUT 299 (AAC) [2022] 1 WLR 2241
Harini successfully represented the Information Commissioner, as junior counsel in a significant Upper Tribunal appeal involving three cases, concerning the proper interpretation of section 165 of the DPA 2018 and the nature of the ICO’s duty to conduct its regulatory work.

Harini is recommended by both Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500 directory as a leading practitioner in Professional Discipline and Regulation.  Recent examples of her work include the following:

Legal 500 2026: Harini has one of the most incredible legal minds of her generation.  Her ability to digest complex facts, disseminate legal advice in a client-friendly way, and advocate with strength and fortitude are her best qualities.

Chambers & Partners 2026: Harini is precise, to the point and wonderful with clients.  She is excellent at digesting complex facts and then providing advice in an easily intelligible format.

Chambers & Partners 2026: Harini is a joy to work with.  Her careful case preparation and warm good humour make it a pleasure to work on even the most challenging of cases with her.

Navjot Sidhu KC v Bar Standards Board [2026] EWHC 25 (Admin)
Harini successfully represented the regulator, as junior counsel, in the widely-reported High Court appeal against sanction by a prominent barrister against the decision of the Bar disciplinary tribunal to disbar him for sexual misconduct towards a mini-pupil.  Disbarment was held justified given the seriousness of the misconduct.  Harini had previously successfully represented the regulator, as junior counsel, in the ten-day widely-reported disciplinary tribunal hearing.

Dispute between Barristers’ Chambers and Pupil Barrister
Harini advised a large barristers’ chambers on a difficult dispute which had arisen with a former pupil barrister.  Her written opinion ran to nearly 60 pages and included analysis of the relevant facts and law in regard to various heads of discrimination, the pupillage contract and regulatory aspects of the relationship between the chambers and the pupil barrister.  The matter was resolved out of court.

Data Subject Access Policy of Professional Regulator
Harini advised a professional regulator in writing about the lawfulness of its policy on data subject access requests from registrants.  She also advised on a specific data subject access request which arose out of very unusual facts.

Professional v Professional Regulator
Harini currently represents a professional regulator which is defending a novel claim in the employment tribunal that it has exercised its regulatory function in a discriminatory way.

Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care v Social Work England and JS [2023] EWHC 926 (Admin)
As sole counsel, Harini represented the regulator in a complex High Court appeal concerning the border and relationship between professional impairment caused by mental ill-health, professional impairment caused by statutory barring, and professional impairment caused by misconduct, concerning a registrant with bipolar affective disorder, involving alcohol and drugs misuse.

Kearney v Bar Standards Board [2025] EWHC 2048 (Admin)
Harini successfully represented the regulator, as sole counsel, in the High Court appeal by a barrister who had been disbarred for sexual misconduct towards five mini-pupil and pupil barristers.  The High Court held that the disciplinary tribunal had had proper regard to mitigation, totality and the sanctions guidance, and that disbarment was not wrong, manifestly excessive or clearly inappropriate.  Harini had previously successfully prosecuted the barrister, at three different disciplinary hearings.

Kearney v Bar Standards Board [2024] EWHC 924 (Admin) [2024] ICR 853
Harini represented the regulator, as sole counsel, in a High Court appeal which turned on whether there had been apparent bias on the part of the Bar disciplinary tribunal.

Harini has over 20 years’ expertise and experience in a wide range of Education law.  She is recommended as a leading practitioner by both Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500 directories.  Recent examples of her work include the following:

Legal 500 2026: Harini is enormously experienced, very responsive and thorough.

Chambers & Partners 2026: Harini was really easy to work with and showed good attention to detail.

Successful Challenge to Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education
Through advice, drafting a series of formal responses, and a letter before claim for judicial review, Harini helped a higher education institution, which had expelled a student for sexual misconduct towards a peer, to persuade the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education that its proposed complaint outcome was wrong.

Direct Access Advice to University Disciplinary Panel
Harini was instructed on a direct access basis by a university disciplinary panel which had been convened to hear allegations of sexual misconduct by a male professor towards junior female colleagues.  Harini’s independent advice was required on difficult legal issues including a previous investigation, regulatory matters, procedural issues, points of substantive fairness, and witness evidence.  Harini advised both in writing and in conference.

Suicide Prevention and Well-Being Policies in Higher Education
Harini, as senior counsel, is currently advising a higher education institution in regard to its well-being and suicide prevention policies.

Disability Discrimination Claim against Independent School
Harini successfully defended an independent school in the First-tier Tribunal Special Educational Needs and Disability against allegations that it had discriminated against a pupil who was disabled with autism and mental health difficulties, who had brought a weapon into school shortly before their public examinations, on whom the school had imposed restrictions.

Direct Access Advice on Allegations of Antisemitic Bullying at Independent School
Harini advised a teenaged pupil at an independent school and their parents, on a direct access basis, in regard to disciplinary allegations made against them of antisemitic bullying.

Allegations of Sexual Misconduct by Headteacher at Independent Special School
Harini advised an independent special school on a complex matter.  The school was facing employment tribunal claims and Local Authority Designated Officer safeguarding procedures arising out of allegations that the Headteacher had sexually misconducted himself towards female staff and that staff grievances had not been correctly handled.

Advice to Educational Charity on Public Sector Equality Duty, Human Rights Act and Freedom of Information Act
Harini provided her comprehensive written opinion to an educational charity on difficult legal questions concerning the applicability of the public sector equality duty under the Equality Act 2010, the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to its unique activities and functions, and its governance.

Chambers & Partners 2026 place Harini Iyengar in Band 1 which is the top rank for Independent Investigations.  Harini Iyengar has a decade’s experience of conducting independent investigations, both as sole investigator and as a member of an investigation panel.  Recent examples of her work include the following:

Insurance Business
Harini conducted an urgent independent investigation for a well-known insurance business into allegations from an internal whistleblower of serious financial impropriety by senior directors.

Financial Services Business
Harini conducted an independent investigation, as sole investigator, into 14 allegations of serious misconduct by the Chief Executive of a financial services business.  Her investigation involved interviewing and analysing the evidence of 13 witnesses, considerable documentary evidence, and complex legal issues including the requirements of procedural fairness, reasonable adjustments for disability, and allegations including bullying, race discrimination, disability discrimination, sex discrimination, absenteeism, use of illegal drugs, drunkenness at work, misuse of company property, and financial impropriety.  Harini’s report ran to nearly 200 pages.

Urgent Investigation into Racist Remarks
Harini undertook an urgent investigation for a public body into allegations of racist remarks and conduct by the Head of Equalities towards one Black and one White colleague, who had each raised concerns over the organisation’s anti-racism training plans.

Major Investigation for Public Body
Harini conducted a major double grievance investigation for a public body into allegations of racist bullying by a senior leader, interviewing over 20 witnesses, considering thousands of pages of documentary evidence and writing a report of nearly 300 pages.

Major Investigation for University
Harini investigated a vulnerable male student’s complaint of harassment and bullying through a vulnerable female student spreading allegedly false rumours about him, after a prior investigation by a different investigator into her complaints of alleged sexual assault by him had been found not proven.  Harini interviewed ten witnesses and provided a 76-page report.

Independent Review Panel on Race Equality at Cardiff University
Harini was instructed as a member of the Independent Review Panel set up by Cardiff University in 2016 to examine race equality following the disciplining of 31 medical students after their performance in a student revue which included “blackface” and other offensive aspects.  The Panel considered extensive documentary evidence and spent two days hearing live witness evidence.  All 13 Panel Recommendations were publicly accepted by Cardiff University.

Harini Iyengar has over 20 years’ experience in Employment law and has undertaken cases in every area.  She is recommended as a leading practitioner by both Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500.  Recent examples of her work include the following:

Legal 500 2026: Harini is clear-sighted and forensic in defending claims and her employment knowledge is formidable.

Chambers & Partners 2026: Harini is really easy to work with and has good attention to detail.

National Minimum Wage Investigation
Harini advised a major retail chain in conference and in writing on an investigation which is being conducted by HMRC into its pay arrangements and whether it is meeting its obligations to pay the national minimum wage to its staff.

Gender Reassignment Discrimination in the Arts
Harini successfully defended a high-profile individual working in the Arts, who had a private disability, and their company, against a claim of gender reassignment discrimination, sexual harassment, victimisation, unfair dismissal, and whistleblowing.  Harini advised in conference, drafted the response and appeared at a private preliminary hearing, before the matter was resolved.

Al-Hassany v General Medical Council
Harini currently represents the General Medical Council which is defending an appeal in the Employment Appeal Tribunal concerning its role as a qualifications body.

Overseas Employment
Harini advised two British employees who had been employed overseas in a remote location, where one had complained of sexual harassment, and where both believed that they had been unfairly dismissed in retaliation.

Professional v Professional Regulator
Harini currently represents a professional regulator which is defending a novel claim in the employment tribunal that it has exercised its regulatory function in a discriminatory way.

Allegations of Sexual Misconduct by Headteacher at Independent Special School
Harini advised an independent special school on a complex matter.  The school was facing employment tribunal claims and Local Authority Designated Officer safeguarding procedures arising out of allegations that the Headteacher had sexually misconducted himself towards female staff and that staff grievances had not been correctly handled.

Solicitors facing claim of Discrimination in the Provision of Legal Services
Harini advised and represented a firm of solicitors which was defending a claim that it had unlawfully discriminated in the provision of legal services.

Cook v Gentoo Group Ltd [2023] EAT 12
Harini successfully challenged the tribunal’s reasoning on direct age discrimination, proportionality and costs, in an appeal to the Employment Appeal Tribunal.  She represented an employee whose public sector employer had curtailed a redundancy process in order to prevent the employee from obtaining an enhanced pension.

Croydon Health Services NHS Trust v Beatt [2017] EWCA Civ 401 [2017] ICR 1240
For many years, Harini represented the NHS heart surgeon, Dr Kevin Beatt, who was a whistleblower on matters concerning patient safety.  Harini was victorious in the Employment Tribunal as sole counsel, lost as sole counsel in the Employment Appeal Tribunal, and won in the Court of Appeal as junior counsel.  With Harini’s assistance as sole counsel at the remedies stage, Dr Beatt was eventually awarded £870,740 in compensation.

A Practical Guide to the Law of Gender Pay Gap Reporting
Harini is the sole author of “A Practical Guide to the Law of Gender Pay Gap Reporting”, Law Brief Publishers, 2019.  If and when the new laws on race and ethnicity pay gap reporting are enacted, Harini will be writing a second edition.

Harini has over 25 years’ experience in public law and human rights law.  She typically advises and represents smaller public bodies, including “hybrid” public authorities, on governance and judicial review matters.  She has never represented central government.  Harini is often selected for difficult matters at the intersections of her specialisms and is well-known for her expertise in Equality law.

Funerary Arrangements
Harini advised a public body in writing concerning current and future provision for funerary arrangements.  This included giving her written opinion on a range of legal issues, including the scope of consultation and the applicability of various legal rules on public health and burial provisions, the public sector equality duty, and the Human Rights Act 1998.

Successful Challenge to Office of the Independent Adjudicator of Higher Education
Through advice, drafting a series of formal responses, and a letter before claim for judicial review, Harini helped a higher education institution, which had expelled a student for sexual misconduct towards a peer, to persuade the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education that its proposed complaint outcome was wrong.

Advice to Educational Charity on Public Sector Equality Duty, Human Rights Act and Freedom of Information Act
Harini provided comprehensive written advice to an educational charity on difficult legal questions concerning the applicability of the public sector equality duty under the Equality Act 2010, the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to its unique activities and functions, and its governance.

Direct Access Advice to School Governor on Gender-Fluid Toilets Policy
Instructed on a direct access basis, Harini provided comprehensive written advice to an individual school governor at a state school, who wanted to have his own expert advice on the law on school toilet provision and the governing body’s legal duties, because of a proposed policy on gender-fluid toilets which was causing heated disagreements on the governing body.

A Practical Guide to the Law of Gender Pay Gap Reporting
Harini is the sole author of “A Practical Guide to the Law of Gender Pay Gap Reporting”, Law Brief Publishers, 2019.  If and when the new laws on race and ethnicity pay gap reporting are enacted, Harini will be writing a second edition.