Catherine O'Donnell

Practice

Catherine is a member of the housing and civil teams. Her housing practice spans a wide range of tenancy and other issues, including possession (anti-social behaviour, rent, breach of tenancy, tenancy status), anti-social behaviour injunctions, unlawful eviction, disrepair and succession. She has a particular interest and experience in disability discrimination and capacity issues. She also undertakes appeals in homelessness cases.

As a member of the civil team Catherine practices in employment law. Her practice covers all areas of discrimination law, along with unfair dismissal and other employment rights. Catherine has appeared in both the Employment Appeal Tribunal and in the Court of Appeal in employment cases.

Catherine also represents bereaved families at inquests, including deaths in custody.

Background

Catherine came to the Bar from the voluntary sector where she was a senior researcher at the Low Pay Unit. As well as campaigning on employment rights issues, she worked with a variety of organisations including trade unions, the Low Pay Commission and the European Commission on pay and working conditions.

Notable cases

Luke v Stoke City Council [2007] EWCA Civ 761 (implied terms in employment contracts)

Rydqvist v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2002] EWCA Civ 947 (jurisdiction of Social Security Appeal Tribunal after appeal withdrawn)

Pagetti v Cobb, The Times, April 12, 2002 (national minimum wage and compensation for unfair dismissal)

Training

Catherine has been a regular trainer in the courses delivered by Garden Court Chambers for solicitors and advisors in new legislation and developing case law in the areas of employment and housing law.

Societies

Housing Law Practitioners Association, Employment Law Bar Association, Industrial Law Society and INQUEST Lawyers Group.

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