Kirsten Sjøvoll

Kirsten joined Matrix in October 2012, following the successful completion of her traineeship. She practices predominantly in media, inquests and inquiries and human rights law.

Media and Information Law

Kirsten is building a strong practice in media and information law and has been ranked as an up and coming in the Legal 500 since 2018. She is currently the editorial complaints officer for the Scott Trust’s Independent Review Panel which is the independent complaints scheme for The Guardian and Observer. Kirsten acts for both claimants and defendants and has particular expertise in the areas of open justice, privacy, including privacy injunctions and libel law. Notable recent cases include:

• Construction Industry Blacklisting Litigation (II) Acting with Anthony Hudson QC and Ben Silverstone for various claimants who were blacklisted by the construction industry. This case settled successfully in June 2019
• Fridman & Ors v Orbis Business Intelligence Ltd Led by Hugh Tomlinson QC acting for three claimants alleging their personal data was unlawfully processed by publication in the so-called “Trump Dossier” prepared by Christopher Steele. Trial likely to be listed in early 2020.
• Ashraf v Dunya News (2019) Acted for the Defendant, an Urdu language news channel in a libel action brought by a former Prime Minister of Pakistan. Successfully argued for a much lower “Chase Level” meaning as well as striking out part of the Claimant’s case at a complex trial of meaning as a preliminary issue before Mr Justice Jay.
• Flannels Department Stores and Ors v Persons Unknown – led by Hugh Tomlinson QC successfully obtained an interim injunction preventing unlawful protests outside the flagship Flannels department store on Oxford Street.

Inquests and Inquiries and related civil claims

Kirsten is ranked as a Tier 3 Junior in Chambers & Partners for Inquests & Inquiries. She acts almost exclusively for bereaved families, often in complex Article 2 inquests. She has particular expertise in deaths in secure mental health settings and is currently instructed to act for the family of Amanda Bowles who is one of 5 anorexia related deaths which occurred within relatively short time period under the same NHS Trust. These inquests are due to be heard consecutively in 2020.

Kirsten  regularly acts on behalf of claimants in civil claims alleging breaches of Articles 2 and 3 of the European Convention, often following the inquests. She acted for the Claimants in Daniel v St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust [2016] 4 WLR 32 and successfully argued for the applicability of the Article 2 operational duty to healthcare professionals delivering life-saving treatment in a detention setting. The case also expands the notion of “victim” status in Article 2 claims brought by those without a formal legal relationship to the deceased.

More recently, Kirsten acted as junior counsel in the case of Seddon v Thames Valley Police (unreported) which was the first time the English courts considered whether the operational duty to protect life under Article 2 extended to the victim of a fatal accident following a police pursuit. After a 5 day trial, the Court held that Article 2 was engaged and that the officers involved had failed to take all reasonable steps to protect Matthew Seddon’s life. A copy of the Judgment may be found here.

Election Law

Notable cases include:

• Ireland v Dorries [2016] 1 W.L.R. 571
  Led by Anthony Hudson QC acting for the petitioner presenting an election petition seeking a determination that the respondent’s (Nadine Dorries MP) election as a Member of Parliament was void as a result of conduct during the election campaign.
• Ian Jones v The Labour Party [2016] EWHC 866 (QB)
  Led by Helen Mountfield QC. Successfully obtained an order for urgent interim relief brought ex parte on notice, to lift the claimant Mr Jones’ suspension from holding office in or representing the Labour Party.

Education and Qualifications

LLM (International Legal Studies) Georgetown University (2008) (highest mark in year)
LLB (hons) Durham University (2007)

Professional Memberships

INQUEST

Kirsten is regulated by the Bar Standards Board and accepts instruction under Standard Contractual Terms, details of which can be found here.

Articles and Downloads

• Article: If the Shoe Does Not Fit: Why the ATS Does Not Work
• Article: How should damages for libel be calculated
• Article: Should protecting the anonymity of victims of sexual offences be left to the media?
• Article: We must not withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights
• Article: Universities Online: Reputation, Risks, and Reaction
• Article: Judicial Review Costs Update
• Consultation Paper: The Judicial Review Consultation: Reflections, Predictions, and Predicaments

Privacy Notice

Kirsten is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. In order to provide legal services to her clients, including advice and representation services, Kirsten needs to collect and hold personal data. This includes her client’s personal data and the personal data of others who feature in the matter upon which she is instructed. To read Kirsten’s privacy notice in full, please see here.