Public, Human Rights and Civil Liberties
Zoe is a specialist barrister with extensive expertise in administrative law, civil liberties and human rights claims, often with a regulatory element. Her experience also spans procurement and commercial judicial review. She regularly acts for and advises public bodies, commercial entities and individuals as sole counsel and as a member of a larger team.
Zoe has significant appellate experience including in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court and has been instructed in relation to applications to the European Court of Human Rights. She has appeared as sole counsel in the High Court, the Divisional Court and a range of Tribunals, including on appeal in the Upper Tribunal.
She is regularly instructed in high profile and sensitive cases, with a particular focus on claims involving the rights of individuals under the European Convention on Human Rights, and the Equality Act 2010. Recently this has included three leading Supreme Court cases:
- For Women Scotland v Scottish Ministers [2025] UKSC 16, the landmark judgment on the meaning of “sex” in the Equality Act 2010.
- R (oao Jwanczuk) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2025] UKSC 42, on Article 14, Article 8 and A1P1 of the Convention and the proper approach of senior courts (Court of Appeal and High Court) in England and Wales to decisions of higher courts in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
- AG Reference [2026] UKSC 16 on Article 5 the Convention and whether the Supreme Court should apply the 1966 Practice Statement and depart from its 2014 decision in Cheshire West.
Zoe is a fantastic public law barrister. She is objective, very smart, fast, reliable, amazingly well organised, and proactive.
Legal 500 2026Zoe has an excellent grasp across a range of areas in public law, and she is highly regarded by clients.
Chambers and Partners 2024Zoe is a friendly and approachable advocate who is able to turn around complex advice quickly.
Chambers and Partners 2024
R (ooo Good Law Project) v EHRC
[2026] EWHC 279 (Admin)
Challenge brought by the Good Law Project to the EHRC’s “Interim Update” as published on its website following the judgment of the Supreme Court in For Women Scotland on the meaning of “sex” in the Equality Act 2010.
The University of Sussex, R (On the Application Of) v The Office for Students
[2026] EWHC 984 (Admin)
Landmark case on university free speech duties, and the regulatory decisions of the Office for Students.
R (on the application of Jwanczuk) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
[2025] UKSC 42
Discrimination claim under Article 14 of the Convention. Leading Supreme Court decision on proper approach of senior courts (Court of Appeal and High Court) in England and Wales to decisions of higher courts in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Led by Sir James Eadie KC for the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.
R(CKT and DGT) v Twyford Church of England Academies Trust, and the Office of the Schools Adjudicator
[2025] EWHC 2396 (Admin)
Leading indirect discrimination case brought under the Equality Act 2010 where claimants sought to challenge a faith school’s admissions policy claiming race discrimination. Led by Joanne Clement KC for the Secretary of State for Education Intervening.
For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers
[2025] UKSC 16
Landmark Supreme Court case on the definition of “sex” and man and woman in the Equality Act 2010. Led by Jason Coppel KC for the Equality and Human Rights Commission intervening.
R (YVR) v Birmingham City Council
[2025] EWCA Civ 393
Significant Court of Appeal decision on Article 14 of the Convention in the context of public authority decision making and the Public Sector Equality Duty under section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 and delegated decision making. Led by Joanne Clement KC.
R (Bell) v Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
[2025] (AC-2024-LON-000706)
Challenge to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care’s failure to ban cross sex hormones by private providers. Zoe appeared as sole Counsel for the Claimants in the Divisional Court permission hearing (coverage here)
Fertré v Vale of White Horse District Council
[2025] EWCA Civ 1057
Important judgment on the interaction of domestic and EU law (as applied by the Withdrawal Agreement) following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, and the correct approach to the interpretation of the Withdrawal Agreement. Led by Julia Smyth KC and James Cornwell.
R (on the application of) UK Curriculum and Accreditation Body (t/a Scholars School System) v Pearson Education Ltd
[2025] EWHC 2161 (Admin)
Sole Counsel for the Claimant in this judicial review of regulatory decision making by Pearson Education Limited acting as a regulator of a private education provider.
Free Speech Union v Secretary of State for Education
2025
Significant challenge to the vires of the Secretary of State’s decision to revoke regulations bringing the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 into force (see here). Led by Tom Cross KC.
R (on the application of Jwanczuk) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
[2023] EWCA Civ 1156
Case involving discrimination claim under Article 14 and A1P1 and constitutional issues as to the effect of a decision of the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal. Led by Clive Sheldon KC.
R. (on the application of DF) v Essex CC
[2023] EWHC 3330 (Admin)
Challenge to local authority decision making and obligations under s.20 of the Children Act 1989. Led by Clive Sheldon KC.
R (on the application of Motherhood Plan) v HM Treasury
[2021] P.T.S.R. 1202
Challenge to central government Covid decision making. Case involving Article 14, A1P1 and discrimination claims in the context of Covid 19 government support. Led by Julian Milford KC and Rupert Paines.
R (Drexler) v Leicestershire City Council
[2020] EWCA 502
Court of Appeal Article 14/A2P1 Convention case involving complex school transport statutory obligations. Led by Peter Oldham KC.
R (on the application of D) v Hampshire CC
[2020] EWHC 2916 (Admin)
Judicial review challenge regarding a school’s obligations to pupils with EHCPs (Sole Counsel).
Hendron v Bar Standards Board
[2020] EWHC 1255 (Admin)
Sole counsel for the Bar Standards Board in this appeal by Henry Hendron, which involved a “lacuna” in the in the BSB Handbook in relation to suspended Barristers.
R (London School of Science and Technology) v Pearson Education Limited
[2019] EWHC 3129 (Admin)
Sole Counsel to the Claimant in this important regulatory challenge on the legal requirements on qualification awarding bodies when withdrawing accreditation from providers.
R (Haq) v Walsall MBC
[2019] EWHC 70 (Admin)
Claim against local authority burial rules brought under Article 9 (religious rights) and as an Article 14 discrimination claim as well as a claim under the Equality Act 2010. Led by Jonathan Auburn KC.
