Catherine Casserley

Practice Areas

Catherine specialises in discrimination, human rights law and employment law. She has particular expertise in disability discrimination (having worked as Senior Legal Adviser with the Disability Rights Commission) including in complex employment discrimination and judicial reviews. She has appeared in ground breaking cases involving discrimination and human rights - including Preddy and Hall v Bull and Bull (sexual orientation and discrimination) Akerman Livingston v Aster Communities (housing, disability, discrimination, human rights) and Paulley v First Buses - all in the Supreme Court. She obtained the first and in some cases only injunctions in non-employment discrimination claims (services and education). She has also appeared in transgender and sexual orientation direct discrimination/harassment services claims, as well as advising large national organisations (including sports governing bodies) on transgender and single sex issues. In addition, she has developed expertise in whistleblowing and complex worker contractual claims. Her instructions range from cases involving assisted dying to benefits and education discrimination (both in the FTT and post-16 county court) and juror participation She also advises organisations on strategic litigation and legal policy issues. She is on the Equality and Human Rights Commission's panel of counsel and was involved in drafting the EqA Codes of Practice on Services, guidance on the Public Sector Equality Duty and Education, and on age and services. She is presently specialist adviser to the Women and Equality Committee sub inquiry into Covid and disability. Publications include Blackstones on the Equality Act 2010 and Legal Actions' Discrimination in Employment A Claims Handbook