She is meticulous and good with clients, always remembering that the case is about them and not the lawyers. She is good at drafting, clever, and brave on her feet. She does not shy away from difficult issues.
Kate Stone is a human rights and public law specialist, with an emphasis on inquests and inquiries, judicial review and civil actions against public authorities. She has a developing Court of Protection practice. Kate was instructed as junior counsel for 22 families in the Hillsborough inquests (2014 to 2016). She is instructed as part of the Counsel team on behalf of Covid Bereaved Families for Justice in the UK Covid-19 Public Inquiry.
Kate also specialises in international human rights law. She has been a member of the Executive Committee of the Bar Human Rights Committee (BHRC) since 2018. She completed a Master of Studies in International Human Rights Law (Distinction) at the University of Oxford in 2012. Kate is a contributor to the IBAHRI Toolkit on Lawyers at Risk (launched 24 Jan 2020) and has worked on a range of other human rights issues.
Kate is recommended in both The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners in Inquests and Inquiries, and Administrative and Public Law.
Kate has extensive experience of inquests, particularly complex proceedings engaging Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights, and frequently represents bereaved families whose loved ones have died in detention or where there is or may be other state involvement in the death, including high profile cases. She is ranked as a Tier 1 Leading Junior by The Legal 500 and Band 1 by Chambers and Partners. Kate is co-convenor of the GCN Inquests and Inquiries Team.
Kate has a particular interest in the parameters of Article 2 and regularly conducts arguments on the engagement of Article 2 in complex or unusual circumstances. She has significant experience in post-homicide Article 2 inquests, particularly those touching on the deaths of women and children, and frequently deals with cases involving people with serious and complex mental health needs. She also has wide experience of inquests following police involvement with the deceased.
Kate was instructed as junior counsel for 22 bereaved families in the Hillsborough inquests.
Her inquest practice is complemented by her experience in judicial review, human rights and civil actions against public authorities and she is able to provide specialist advice on judicial review and post-inquest civil claims.
Kate conducts all types of public law challenge with an emphasis on judicial review cases involving human rights issues, and has a particular interest in cases involving international human rights law.
She has substantial experience of judicial review proceedings in respect of prison law (Parole Board decision-making, unlawful detention, prisoner treatment, discrimination), inquests, policing and mental health. She also has experience of making applications for permission to intervene, including in high profile cases.
Kate is ranked as a Tier 2 Leading Junior by The Legal 500 and Band 3 by Chambers and Partners.
Kate is a specialist in international human rights law. She completed a Master of Studies in International Human Rights Law (Distinction) at the University of Oxford in 2012.
Kate regularly undertakes advisory and drafting work in IHRL. She has worked with a number of organisations including Oxfam, Advocates for International Development and the Environmental Defender Law Center on a range of international human rights law issues, including fair trial rights, the intersection of IHRL and the environment (impact on local communities of extractive industry and palm oil development) and the export assessment provisions dealing with IHRL and gender based violence in the Arms Trade Treaty.
As a Member of the Bar Human Rights Committee (BHRC) Kate has also carried out extensive work on IHRL. She is a contributor to the IBAHRI Toolkit on Lawyers at Risk (launched 24 Jan 2020) and has worked on a range of other human rights issues, including undertaking research for an Amicus brief to the Guantanamo Bay Military Tribunal on torture derived evidence and providing research and drafting assistance for an Amicus brief in the case of David Ravelo, a Colombian human rights defender.
Kate co-drafted the ECHR application arising from the Hillsborough disaster alleging breach of the state’s procedural obligation under article 2 (Harrison and others v UK Application no. 44301/13).
Kate is a specialist in international human rights law. She completed a Master of Studies in International Human Rights Law (Distinction) at the University of Oxford in 2012.
Kate regularly undertakes advisory and drafting work in IHRL. She has worked with a number of organisations including Oxfam, Advocates for International Development and the Environmental Defender Law Center on a range of international human rights law issues, including fair trial rights, the intersection of IHRL and the environment (impact on local communities of extractive industry and palm oil development) and the export assessment provisions dealing with IHRL and gender based violence in the Arms Trade Treaty.
As a Member of the Bar Human Rights Committee (BHRC) Kate has also carried out extensive work on IHRL. She is a contributor to the IBAHRI Toolkit on Lawyers at Risk (launched 24 Jan 2020) and has worked on a range of other human rights issues, including undertaking research for an Amicus brief to the Guantanamo Bay Military Tribunal on torture derived evidence and providing research and drafting assistance for an Amicus brief in the case of David Ravelo, a Colombian human rights defender.
Kate co-drafted the ECHR application arising from the Hillsborough disaster alleging breach of the state’s procedural obligation under article 2 (Harrison and others v UK Application no. 44301/13).
Kate has a developing Court of Protection practice, focused in particular on cases involving deprivation of liberty.
Kate is a specialist human rights lawyer and acts for claimants in all types of human rights action, including public law challenges and civil claims for damages.
She has wide experience of advising on post-inquest human rights claims and has a particular interest in the human rights of women, vulnerable people and detainees, including article 3 claims relating to detention conditions and failure to protect detainees from violence.
Kate frequently advises on claims against the police alleging breach of article 2, 3 and 8, including claims relating to the investigation of serious crime and misuse of information. She also has experience of cases in a range of contexts engaging the right to a private and family life, to freedom of expression and to freedom of assembly under articles 8, 10 and 11. She has experience of raising article 6 arguments in connection with injunction and inquest proceedings.
Kate is regularly instructed in civil actions against a range of public authorities and is experienced in all types of claim, including those under the Human Rights Act 1998, Equality Act 2010 and common law claims in negligence, false imprisonment, assault and battery, malicious prosecution and misfeasance in public office. She has significant experience of acting for vulnerable adults and children.
Kate is ranked Band 3 by Chambers and Partners.
Kate deals with all aspects of prison law, with an emphasis on judicial review proceedings (see above). She advises and represents claimant prisoners in all types of judicial review challenge including unlawful detention, Parole Board decisions and procedure, categorisation and adjudications, and has experience of bringing habeas corpus applications.
In addition, Kate has a background in criminal law and has conducted appeal proceedings arising from her prison law practice, notably appeals against IPP sentences and in respect of unlawful sentences and references to the CCRC.
Kate has a background in discrimination law with particular emphasis on equal pay litigation. Examples of such work include:
Kate also has significant experience representing professionals in fitness to practise proceedings before the HCPC and NMC.
She now deals with discrimination in the course of her public law and civil actions practice.
Kate’s Privacy Notice may be viewed by clicking here.
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