Patrick Keith

Patrick is instructed across the whole spectrum of employment law, with a particular emphasis on complex discrimination and whistleblowing cases. He is well-known for his effective handling of witnesses in cross-examination, particularly when that involves vulnerable parties.

Patrick regularly represents large employers including international financial institutions, national public bodies, local authorities and the NHS. In 2020 he was counsel for the respondent in the high profile “ethical vegan” case of Casamitjana v League Against Cruel Sports, which was widely reported in the international media.

Other recent work includes: securing a costs order against a serial litigant; representing an NHS Trust in a Covid mask case where the Claimant unilaterally withdrew his claims halfway through cross-examination; representing a fire and rescue authority in a case alleging racist Instagram posts; representing a government crime agency in a four-week trial including whistleblowing, disability discrimination and constructive unfair dismissal; representing an NHS Trust in a 17-day historic race discrimination claim; representing a national fast-food franchise amid claims of serious physical and verbal racist abuse and allegations of fabricated documents; representing a construction industry client in a high-value Covid dismissal trial concerning an alleged sham redundancy and its potential effect on a multi-million-pound bonus; and representing a large government agency against claims of race/religion and disability discrimination, harassment and victimisation, in which the claimant unilaterally withdrew all of his claims after cross-examination.

Patrick accepts public access instructions and represents clients at professional regulatory hearings.

Called 2006. Attorney General’s Regional Panel of Counsel 2020-2025.