“She’s phenomenal – really impressive on her feet”
“She’s a fantastic advocate: she knows discrimination law inside-out and is always incredibly persuasive.”
“Superb for anything in equality law.”
Karon practises principally in the fields of equality and human rights law. She has a broad, largely claimant, practice, encompassing public law, employment law and civil actions. She also acts for NGOs and statutory bodies. Karon has an extensive advisory practice and in addition acts in, conducts, and advises on, statutory and non-statutory inquiries and investigations.
Karon has appeared in numerous cases at appellate level, including in the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, and she has appeared in the CJEU. Karon has also appeared in the Hong Kong Court of Appeal and Court of Final Appeal.
Karon is an A Panel member of the Equality and Human Rights Commission Panel of Preferred Counsel.
“She’s phenomenal – really impressive on her feet” (Chambers & Partners 2021)
“She’s a fantastic advocate: she knows discrimination law inside-out and is always incredibly persuasive.” (Chambers & Partners 2021)
“Superb for anything in equality law.”(Chambers & Partners 2021).
Karon’s recent cases include:
Please see here for more of Karon’s recent and notable cases.
Karon has acted for and advised individuals, regulatory and other bodies in public inquiries, other statutory inquiries and internal investigations. These include:
Further, Karon has conducted investigations, including:
Karon has also acted in a number of lengthy and complex Inquests:
She has also been appointed ad hoc Assistant Coroner to conduct a number of lengthy and complex Inquests (2010 – 2017).
Karon is a member of the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations.
Karon is an honorary visiting professor in the UCL Faculty of Laws.
Karon has in the past held a number of judicial positions:
Karon is a Matron of the charity FORWARD (Foundation for Women’s Health Research and Development).
She is also a Bencher of Inner Temple.
Her publications include:
Monaghan on Equality Law (OUP 2013)
The UK Supreme Court Yearbook 2017-8 (Appellate Press 2019) (chapter)
The UK Supreme Court Yearbook 2016-7 (Appellate Press 2018) (chapter)
ed. Hunter, McGlynn and Rackley, Feminist Judgments: From Theory to Practice(Hart 2010) (chapter)
Clayton & Tomlinson, The Law of Human Rights (OUP 2009) (co-authored chapter)
Blackstone’s Guide to the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (OUP 2005)
Religious Freedom and Equal Treatment: A UK Perspective (2014) Journal of Law and Policy 673
Karon is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. In order to provide legal services to her clients, including advice and representation services, Karon needs to collect and hold personal data. That may include personal data of my client and others who feature in the matter upon which she is instructed. To read Karon’s privacy notice in full, please see here.
"She is a leading light at the Bar."
"She has great vision and arguments that cut straight through to the point. People underestimate Karon at their peril."
"Karon Monaghan QC is a force of nature." "She is absolutely formidable, clients absolutely love her, she is so down to earth and she has been doing discrimination claims for 30 years or more so she knows the law inside out. She seeks to change the law and we bring in Karon when there are really important landmark cases." "Karon Monaghan is absolutely excellent and all the praise that she gets is deserving as year in and year out she is a star - she is a leader in discrimination law."
"Karon is phenomenal on equality law." "Karon is very clever, concise and gets to the point. She is brilliant on her feet and able to present cases in a compelling way."
"She has very good instincts for where the real pinch points in a case are." "She is eminently approachable and goes above and beyond in her dedication."
"She's phenomenal - really impressive on her feet. I love the way she fights fearlessly for her clients and doesn't take no for an answer - clients really value that." "A really excellent speaker in court."
"She knows everything about discrimination law."
"She's a fantastic advocate: she knows discrimination law inside-out and is always incredibly persuasive." "Superb for anything in equality law."
"Brilliant, absolutely compelling and trustworthy in court."
"Karon is one of a kind - a QC genuinely shaping the law for the greater good."
“Noted for her expertise in public and administrative law cases pursued on the grounds of equality and human rights law. She has considerable experience of challenging welfare reform on behalf of marginalised claimants. Other recent cases have concerned immigration, legal aid availability and Article 8 rights. ‘She’s a brilliant advocate on human rights and equality, and is brilliant to work with.’ ‘A doughty fighter who is client-friendly,’ and ‘a very effective and passionate advocate.’”
"She’s a brilliant advocate on human rights and equality, and is brilliant to work with." "A doughty fighter who is client-friendly," "a very effective and passionate advocate."
"She is a fantastic advocate, who is calm in the face of complex legal arguments."
"A skilled practitioner with far-reaching expertise in human rights, discrimination and equality, employment and EU law. She regularly attracts instructions in high-profile, significant matters from a diverse range of clients, including charities, trade unions and private claimants."
"Widely regarded as the leading barrister for equality issues and discrimination claims. She represents individuals, charities, trade unions and NGOs, and receives instructions at all levels, including the Supreme Court. Incredible to work with and brilliant in court.” “A brilliant advocate."
"Simply breathtaking. She has a very high knowledge of discrimination law. Clear, precise, calm under pressure and an excellent advocate. Her passion for the pursuance of equality is apparent."
“Fantastic on her feet and fights for what the clients want.” “She is an incredibly good and impressive advocate.”
"She is admired for both her fierce advocacy and her emotional intelligence, which allows her to form solid relationships with clients and solicitors alike. Strengths: “She has the attention of the court; she is a commanding presence and an exceptional advocate. She is a really experienced discrimination barrister."
"She is a fantastic advocate, who is calm in the face of complex legal arguments."
"Her ability to digest cases, work out the main arguments quickly and draft strong skeleton arguments is deeply impressive.” “She is fearless, utterly user-friendly and down-to-earth but immensely clever.” “Good at demystifying the law for clients and very good at getting to the heart of issues. She is good on her feet, eloquent and really impresses clients."
“She’s phenomenal – really impressive on her feet” “She’s a fantastic advocate: she knows discrimination law inside-out and is always incredibly persuasive.” “Superb for anything in equality law.”
Chambers & Partners 2021
Contact Karon: karonmonaghan@matrixlaw.co.uk | +44 (0)20 7404 3447
Contact Karon's Practice Team (Team X): TeamX@matrixlaw.co.uk
Karon practises principally in the fields of equality and human rights law. She has a broad, largely claimant, practice, encompassing public law, employment law and civil actions. She also acts for NGOs and statutory bodies. Karon has an extensive advisory practice and in addition acts in, conducts, and advises on, statutory and non-statutory inquiries and investigations.
Karon has appeared in numerous cases at appellate level, including in the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, and she has appeared in the CJEU. Karon has also appeared in the Hong Kong Court of Appeal and Court of Final Appeal.
Karon is an A Panel member of the Equality and Human Rights Commission Panel of Preferred Counsel.
“She’s phenomenal – really impressive on her feet” (Chambers & Partners 2021)
“She’s a fantastic advocate: she knows discrimination law inside-out and is always incredibly persuasive.” (Chambers & Partners 2021)
“Superb for anything in equality law.”(Chambers & Partners 2021).
Karon is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. In order to provide legal services to her clients, including advice and representation services, Karon needs to collect and hold personal data. That may include personal data of my client and others who feature in the matter upon which she is instructed. To read Karon’s privacy notice in full, please see here.
"She is a leading light at the Bar."
"She has great vision and arguments that cut straight through to the point. People underestimate Karon at their peril."
"Karon Monaghan QC is a force of nature." "She is absolutely formidable, clients absolutely love her, she is so down to earth and she has been doing discrimination claims for 30 years or more so she knows the law inside out. She seeks to change the law and we bring in Karon when there are really important landmark cases." "Karon Monaghan is absolutely excellent and all the praise that she gets is deserving as year in and year out she is a star - she is a leader in discrimination law."
"Karon is phenomenal on equality law." "Karon is very clever, concise and gets to the point. She is brilliant on her feet and able to present cases in a compelling way."
"She has very good instincts for where the real pinch points in a case are." "She is eminently approachable and goes above and beyond in her dedication."
"She's phenomenal - really impressive on her feet. I love the way she fights fearlessly for her clients and doesn't take no for an answer - clients really value that." "A really excellent speaker in court."
"She knows everything about discrimination law."
"She's a fantastic advocate: she knows discrimination law inside-out and is always incredibly persuasive." "Superb for anything in equality law."
"Brilliant, absolutely compelling and trustworthy in court."
"Karon is one of a kind - a QC genuinely shaping the law for the greater good."
“Noted for her expertise in public and administrative law cases pursued on the grounds of equality and human rights law. She has considerable experience of challenging welfare reform on behalf of marginalised claimants. Other recent cases have concerned immigration, legal aid availability and Article 8 rights. ‘She’s a brilliant advocate on human rights and equality, and is brilliant to work with.’ ‘A doughty fighter who is client-friendly,’ and ‘a very effective and passionate advocate.’”
"She’s a brilliant advocate on human rights and equality, and is brilliant to work with." "A doughty fighter who is client-friendly," "a very effective and passionate advocate."
"She is a fantastic advocate, who is calm in the face of complex legal arguments."
"A skilled practitioner with far-reaching expertise in human rights, discrimination and equality, employment and EU law. She regularly attracts instructions in high-profile, significant matters from a diverse range of clients, including charities, trade unions and private claimants."
"Widely regarded as the leading barrister for equality issues and discrimination claims. She represents individuals, charities, trade unions and NGOs, and receives instructions at all levels, including the Supreme Court. Incredible to work with and brilliant in court.” “A brilliant advocate."
"Simply breathtaking. She has a very high knowledge of discrimination law. Clear, precise, calm under pressure and an excellent advocate. Her passion for the pursuance of equality is apparent."
“Fantastic on her feet and fights for what the clients want.” “She is an incredibly good and impressive advocate.”
"She is admired for both her fierce advocacy and her emotional intelligence, which allows her to form solid relationships with clients and solicitors alike. Strengths: “She has the attention of the court; she is a commanding presence and an exceptional advocate. She is a really experienced discrimination barrister."
"She is a fantastic advocate, who is calm in the face of complex legal arguments."
"Her ability to digest cases, work out the main arguments quickly and draft strong skeleton arguments is deeply impressive.” “She is fearless, utterly user-friendly and down-to-earth but immensely clever.” “Good at demystifying the law for clients and very good at getting to the heart of issues. She is good on her feet, eloquent and really impresses clients."