‘Banter’ and breach of the Equality Act?
05-11-2018COVID 19
19-03-2020
Saoirse Harris
Saoirse joined chambers in 2019 after the successful completion of her pupillage, she has an analytical and meticulous approach and is a strong negotiator, who strives to give the best to her clients.
2018 Inner Temple
- Re A (2024): Represented the children in public law proceedings, in a combined fact-finding and final hearing, triggered by the alleged non-accidental death of a younger sibling.
- PJ v HB [2023] EWHC 3400: published judgment. Represented the respondent mother in an appeal by the father against an order reducing his contact with child, following his refusal to accept finding of fact made against him.
- Re J (2023): Appeared in the High Court, in a case which involved the child being made a ward of the court, following their removal from the jurisdiction. Their return from a West African country directed.
- A Local Authority & Ors (2023): representation of a local authority in a 7-day fact finding hearing in the Court of Protection.
- Re T (2023): representation of a father in a 10-day fact finding hearing. The children had been subject to significant physical and emotional harm by other parties. Findings made against other parties.
- Re A (2022): represented the local authority in response to a combined application for injunctive relief pursuant to the Human Rights Act 1998, sections 7 and 8, and/or judicial review.
- 2018: BPTC with LLM (BPP Law School, Bristol), Distinction
- 2017: GDL (BPP Law School, London)
- 2010: B.Sc. Chemistry (UCL)
- Inner Temple Leonard Woodley Pupillage Scholarship (2018)
- Winner, BPP Mooting Competition 2016-2017, at the Supreme Court (2017)
- Lawyers for Palestinian Human Rights
- Family Law Bar Association (FLBA)
- Association of Lawyers for Children (ALC)
- Western Circuit
Details
Saoirse joined chambers in 2019 after the successful completion of her pupillage (2018-2019).
Child and Public Law
Saoirse now specialises in child and public law.
Saoirse has a thriving practice, regularly appearing in a wide range of public child matters including those heard in the High Court. Saoirse has experience with cases involving serious allegations of non-accidental injuries to babies and children including infant death, sexual abuse, domestic abuse, drug and/or alcohol misuse, neglect, mental health issues and abduction in every stage of care proceedings from urgent application to final hearing. She represents local authorities, parents, children and interveners and is compassionate when representing clients with vulnerabilities, learning disabilities and capacity issues.
Saoirse frequently appears in the High Court in matters involving deprivation of liberty for children and young people, in addition to health care and welfare cases in the Court of Protection. Saoirse accepts instructions to act on behalf of local authorities, families, the Official Solicitor and local health boards.
Prior to joining the Bar, Saoirse worked as a financial market analyst in the city, managing the US Equities desk.
Examples of recent cases:
- Represented the children in public law proceedings, triggered by the alleged non-accidental death of a younger sibling
- Represented a parent who had killed the other parent whilst the mother was pregnant with the child.
- Represented the local authority in an application by another party for injunctive relief pursuant to the Human Rights Act 1998, sections 7 and 8.
- Represented an intervener with learning difficulties accused of sexual and physical assault of a younger sibling in a ten-day fact-finding hearing.
- Represented a teenager who sought to challenge the making of a care order to move from foster care to independent living.
- Appeared successfully for an applicant against the Secretary of State for the Home Department in the Upper Tribunal Immigration & Asylum Chamber in an application for permission to apply for judicial review.
