Karon practises principally in the fields of equality and discrimination law, human rights, public law and EU law. She is regularly instructed by the Equality and Human Rights Commission. A full CV can be downloaded from this site.
Recent cases include:
Acted for Royal Wedding protestors (2012)
S.A.S v France (burqa ban in France) (2012) (ECtHR)
R (Quila) v SoS [2012] 1 AC 621 (Supreme Court) (immigration rules and forced marriage)
CD v ST [2012] (reference to CJEU on protection afforded in EU law to women who become mothers through a surrogacy arrangement)
Land Registry v Grant [2011] ICR 1390 (Court of Appeal) (‘outing’ of gay man at work)
Verma v Barts and London NHS Trust [2011] EWCA Civ 1129 (Court of Appeal) (meaning of pay protection for doctor’s – permission granted to appeal to the Supreme Court)
HJ(Iran) v SoS [2010] 3WLR 386 (Supreme Court) (persecution of gay men and asylum)
St Helen’s and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Trust v Brownbill and O’rs [2012] ICR 68 (Court of Appeal) (equal pay)
Pothecary Witham Weld and another v Bullimore and another and the Equality and Human Rights Commission (intervener) [2010] IRLR 572 (Application of the burden of proof in victimisation claims)
Eweida v British Airways [2010] IRLR 322 (Religious belief and dress codes)
Rodriguez v The Minister for Housing of the Government of Gibraltar and the Housing Allocation Committee [2009] UKPC 52 (Marriage criterion and sexual orientation discrimination in housing provision)
Ladele v London Borough of Islington and Liberty (Intervening) [2009] icr 387; [2009] IRLR 154; [2009] EWCA Civ 1357 (Requirement that Christian registrar perform Civil Partnerships and religious/sexual orientation discrimination)
Hovell v Ashford and St Peter’s Hospital NHS Trust [2009] EWCA Civ 670 [2009] ICR 1545; [2009] IRLR 734 (Equal value claims and comparators)
Slack and others v Cumbria County Council and Equality and Human Rights Commission (intervener) [2009] EWCA Civ 293; [2009] ICR 1217; [2009] IRLR 463 (time limits in equal pay claims)
R (Domb & Ors) v London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham & Anor [2009] EWCA Civ 941 (disability equality duty and budget setting)
R (Kaur & Shah) v Ealing London Borough Council & EHRC [2008] EWHC 2062 (Admin) (judicial review of decision to withdraw funding from the Southall Black Sisters in respect of their domestic violence work in reliance on equality duties).
C (a Minor, by litigation friend) (R on the application of) v Secretary of State for Justice & Anor [2008] EWCA Civ 882 (Judicial review to quash the Secure Training Centre (Amendment) Rules 2007 in reliance on equality duties)
British Medical Association v Chaudhary [2007] EWCA Civ 788; [2007] IRLR 800 (race discrimination and indirect discrimination)
R (on the application of Equal Opportunities Commission) v Secretary of State for Trade and Industry [2007] EWHC 483 (Admin); [2007] ICR 1237 (Judicial review of regulations implementing EU amended Equal Treatment Directive)
Barracks v Chief Superintendent John Coles [2006] EWCA Civ 1041; [2007] ICR 60; [2007] IRLR 73, CA (Right to a fair trial, race discrimination)
Wilkinson v Kitzinger & Ors [2006] EWHC 2022; (2006) HRLR 36 (Recognition of same sex marriage)
Advisory Work/Appointments
Also undertakes advisory work for public bodies and NGOs. Acted as Adviser to the Government’s Women and Equality Unit on the “Discrimination Law Review” (2006) which led to the Equality Act 2010; Special Adviser to the Treasury Select Committee for their Inquiry on Women in the City (2009/10); appointed by the Commission for the Compact to undertake independent legal analysis and review of the Compact’s BME Code (2008). Member, Fawcett Society's Commission on Women in the Criminal Justice System (2003-9). Lectures widely.
Karon’s appointments include:
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Equal Treatment Advisory Committee of the Judicial Studies Board (2003 – 2011)
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Member, Fawcett Society’s Commission on Women in the Criminal Justice System (2003-9)
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Chair of inquiry into fitness standards in nursing, teaching and social work for the Disability Rights Commission (report published in 2007)
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Adviser to the Government’s Women and Equality Unit on the “Discrimination Law Review” (2006)
Publications
Karon writes widely. Recent writing projects/publications include:
Equality Law (2007) OUP (2nd edn 2012)
Clayton & Tomlinson, The Law of Human Rights (contributor)
Clayton & Tomlinson, Civil Actions Against the Police (contributor) (4th edn 2012)
Ed. Hunter, McGlynn and Rackley, Feminist Judgments: From Theory to Practice (2010) Hart (contributor)
K. Monaghan, The Equality Bill: A Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing or Something More? [2009] EHRLR 512
K. Monaghan, Constitutionalising Equality: New Horizons [2008] EHRLR 20
Civil Procedure (“White Book”) (2006-2012, Sweet and Maxwell) (Discrimination sections).
What the directories say
Chambers & Partners 2012 ranks Karon Monaghan QC in Civil Liberties and Human Rights and Employment. She has an "unparalleled understanding of discrimination law" and is "passionate, totally committed, astonishingly responsive and unhesitating in her readiness to roll her sleeves up and get stuck in."
Chambers & Partners 2011 ranks Karon in Civil Liberties and Employment. She is "massively respected" for her excellence in discrimination and equality matters and knows all there is to know" on the subject. "Bright and dedicated, she takes no prisoners in her advocacy."
Karon is ranked in Chambers & Partners 2010 in Civil Liberties and Employment: The "extremely passionate" Karon Monaghan QC "is brilliant on discrimination matters. She is recommended by clients for her representation in the Court of Appeal especially on matters pertaining to human rights in an employment context."
Chambers & Partners 2008 recommend Karon Monaghan in Civil Liberties Law "hard-working and creative" and Employment Law "Superb discrimination lawyer".
Karon is ranked in Employment law and Civil Liberties and Human Rights law, "very experienced and exceptionally competent', particularly in discrimination law" (Legal 500 2007/8).
Ranked in Employment "a real heavy weight in discrimination cases...characterised by a gutsy performance in court and down to earth approach with clients. Her breadth of knowledge and ability to focus on the key issues are as good as any junior at the bar." Karon was also ranked in Human Rights and was lauded for being "an effective advocate, clearly well versed in the area" (Chambers & Partners, 2007).
Ranked for Civil Liberties and Human Rights and in Employment (Legal 500, 2006-7).
Recommended in Human Rights and in Employment: "Karon Monaghan is rated by peers for her expertise in discrimination claims" (Chambers & Partners - 2006).
Recommended in Employment law "Solicitors rate Karon Monaghan particularly highly" and also in Civil Liberties and Human Rights "[a] strong favourite with clients" (Legal 500 - 2005).
Ranked in Employment and in Human Rights "Peers commended the tremendous commitment to people, who are disadvantaged", “she is a brave equality lawyer with a particular expertise in discrimination claims" (Chambers & Partners UK - 2005).
Karon accepts instructions under the Bar Council Standard Contractual Terms, details of which can be found here.