International Women’s Day Series

Emily Read

Emily focuses on civil litigation involving damage to people and to property as well as proprietary interests, insurance, recovery and costs.

Emily has a diverse professional and legal background; her first degree was an MA in Economics. Emily worked for a property developer, then one of the leading global insurance and risk legal specialists doing professional negligence work involving property investment fraud as well as working for one of the largest global insurance companies, also dealing with professional risks at a senior level.

During her second six Emily did a mix of criminal and civil work, prosecuting and defending at both magistrates and crown court level and this provided her with not only the knowledge to deal with criminal aspects of the law, but also an excellent ability to quickly read and digest large quantities of paperwork with an eye for relevant detail, something she is regularly praised for by clients and Judges.

Vanessa Cashman

Vanessa specialises in clinical negligence. She acts predominantly for claimants and her practice encompasses a huge range of medical specialties. She has particular expertise in birth and obstetric injuries, spinal injury and brain injury.

Vanessa is ranked for clinical negligence in both the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners. She is known for her warmth and sensitivity and her extensive medical knowledge.

She also has considerable experience in personal injury, inquests and costs.

Charley Turton

Charley specialises in clinical negligence, abuse, and injury claims with an international element.

Her broader personal injury practice encompasses interests in sports law, motor insurance and military claims.

Charley has been led by William Audland KC, Harry Steinberg KC, Patrick Vincent KC and Andrew Roy KC of 12KBW and regularly does work for other members of chambers in high value cases.

In addition to frequent paperwork cases, Charley is regularly in court for trials, PTRs, CCMCs, interim applications and approval hearings.

As a member of Advocate (formerly the Bar Pro Bono Unit), Charley is willing to act in a pro bono capacity, where appropriate.

Prior to coming to the Bar, Charley studied English Literature at Merton College, Oxford, and was awarded a Blue for football.

When she is not in chambers Charley plays for Camden Town Football Club and is a loyal participant in the annual Blenheim Palace Triathlon.

Megan Griffiths

Megan specialises in claims for psychiatric injury arising from abuse, personal injury more widely and clinical negligence. She is happy to consider instructions on a CFA or publicly funded basis where appropriate.

Megan’s abuse practice sees her regularly advising on limitation, liability, causation and quantum in six figure claims for psychiatric injuries and consequential losses. She appreciates the sensitivities involved with this work and always reflects that in her approach. In recent months she has worked on claims arising from abuse within the military, in healthcare settings, in the workplace and at home.  She is instructed in claims involving both adult and child survivors and both institution and abuser-in-person defendants.

Megan’s wider personal injury practice includes claims arising from road traffic accidents, highways claims, public liability claims and employer’s liability claims. Her court practice informs her approach to her written and advisory work in this area, including on allegations of fraud where appropriate. She also advises on tactical and procedural issues including offers and costs. She recently completed a short secondment with a defendant insurer city law firm.

In her clinical negligence practice Megan works on a wide variety of cases. Recent subjects include ophthalmic treatment, negligent management of medication leading to hospitalisation, failure to obtain informed consent and delayed diagnoses. She is particularly keen to build her practice in women’s health and apply her experience in traumatic and sensitive cases to this area.

Megan is also instructed to assist leading counsel in high value claims and group actions. She has assisted in an amputation and brain injury claim which settled for millions and a group action arising from gender-based discrimination sexual harassment in the workplace, contrary to workers’ human rights.

She has been praised by her instructing solicitors for her communicative and thorough approach to case preparation in both her court work and paper practice.

Megan is a member of the Government’s Junior Juniors Scheme and of the Metropolitan Police Panel of Counsel. She regularly contributes to chambers’ various blogs and has been published by AvMA, Law in Sport and LexisPSL.

Before joining chambers Megan worked as a paralegal in a London law firm’s clinical negligence department. She therefore appreciates the importance of working closely with solicitors to achieve the best results for commercial and lay clients.

Martina Murphy

Martina Murphy specialises in complex employment litigation, including whistleblowing and discrimination. She also has cross-over expertise in Professional Discipline. She regularly appears unled in the appellate courts including the EAT and the Court of Appeal; often instructed directly on appeals without having appeared below. Martina has been appointed as a member of the editorial board of Harvey (lead practitioner text). She is Chair of the Employment Law Bar Association.

Martina is recognised as a Leading Junior in both Employment and Professional Discipline & Regulatory law. She has been described by the directories in the following terms:

“Martina’s advocacy is excellent, as is her ability to relate to clients and really understand their aims.’ (Legal 500, 2023).

“Martina is quick to grasp complex legal and factual issues. She is client-focused, practical and technically excellent” (Chambers, 2023).

“The quality of her written work and advocacy is impressive, she is unflappable.” (Chambers, 2022).

She “possesses expertise in whistle-blowing matters, including those arising in the medical profession.” (Chambers, 2021).

“Technically excellent, well prepared, detailed, and great with clients. She inspires confidence in clients with clear pragmatic advice. She is also liked by employment judges because she moves the hearing along, especially in cross-examination.” (Legal 500, 2021).

“Successfully defended the respondent in Khan v The WKCIC Group, against all claims of unfair dismissal, unauthorised deduction from wages, victimisation and discrimination because of sex, race, disability, age and religion.” (Chambers, 2021).

Private: Laura Robinson

Laura Robinson is an employment specialist who represents large corporations, SME’s, public and government bodies, local authorities and private individuals. Laura can advise on all aspects of employment law, but has a strong reputation in discrimination, whistleblowing, unfair dismissal, TUPE and breach of contract claims. Laura appears in Tribunals and Courts at all levels. Laura is a member of the Attorney General's A Panel of Counsel. 

"Laura has excellent technical skills, and understands and considers detailed and complicated legal points with serenity. She is extremely clear in her advice and her advocacy is very persuasive." - Legal 500, 2024

Hollie Patterson

Hollie’s principal areas of practice are employment and discrimination. She has been instructed in various high value, high profile and complex trials, and is in demand not only for her ability to obtain excellent outcomes, but also for her approachable and reassuring manner with clients.

Hollie is also an experienced CEDR accredited mediator. The focus of her mediation practice is employment and workplace disputes.

Hollie acts for both employers and employees. She has worked with a range of clients from national corporations and NHS trusts to small businesses and private individuals. She has specialist experience in claims involving public sector organisations and is well aware of the challenges, both legal and practical, such claims pose.