People

Dr Joanna Kerr

Joanna is an Employment and Personal Injury law specialist.  She is in demand from both Claimants and Respondents/ Defendants for her skills as a fearless advocate.  She has a reputation for providing sound practical advice both before and during litigation and for dealing with complex issues in a direct and impactful manner in order to achieve the most effective outcome for her Clients.

Joanna acts for individuals and small businesses as well as larger organisations.  She has experience in Equality Act claims against service providers as well as those in a workplace relationship.  Joanna deals with unfair and wrongful dismissal cases, redundancy, TUPE, unlawful deductions, WTR, and has a particular interest in the law on discrimination on the grounds of race, disability, sex and sexual orientation, and religious and philosophical belief.

Joanna has experience in Personal Injury cases involving Stress at Work, Accidents at Work, Occupier’s Liability, Road Traffic Accidents involving motorcycles, private cars, heavy goods vehicles and public transport vehicles as well as Personal Injury Fraud cases and Professional Negligence.

Joanna is an Associate Lecturer with the Open University providing seminars and training in Employment and Business Law.  She has assisted the National Deaf Children’s Society by providing a talk on employment issues for young applicants and employees who are deaf and hearing impaired.

Joanna is qualified to accept work under the Bar’s Direct Public Access Scheme.

Unprompted testimonial:

“I just thought that I should write to you to say thank you for your excellent work you did on representing me in the court room. You did an amazing job and you gave me confidence that everything would go smoothly and it did, in fact better than I expected. You also gave me words of support which were backed by your kind and yet confident attitude”

In November 2021 Joanna gave a talk to the National Deaf Children’s Society about employment issues for employees and applicants who are deaf and hard of hearing.  She is qualified to accept work under the Bar’s Direct Public Access Scheme.

Joanna’s hobbies include participating and volunteering at her local parkrun, and in 2020 she ran the 40th London Marathon.  She has three children and a red fox Labrador called Hazel.

Further information

Qualifications

  • University of Edinburgh MA Hons (First) PhD
  • University of Edinburgh PhD in Philosophy and the Arts
  • Shaw Fellowship Prize
  • British Academy of the Humanities Fellowship
  • Common Practical Examination
  • Bar Vocational Course
  • Prince of Wales Scholar, Grays Inn

Memberships

  • ELBA
  • PIBA

Joanna has extensive experience in all types of Employment Law cases including TUPE, unfair dismissal, redundancy, discrimination on the grounds of race, disability, sex and sexual orientation, as well as Equality Act claims in the Civil Courts including discrimination by service providers and unincorporated associations.  She  represents both employers and employees.  Joanna provides advice and drafts letters and pleadings in a knowledgable, practical and sensible manner.  She is fearless in advocating for her clients before all tribunals as well as in negotiations.

Joanna is able to take instructions directly from members of the public under the Bar Council’s Public Access Scheme.  If you are able to take on all administrative aspects of your case, but need assistance with drafting particular documents, advice on your position or representation at a hearing, the Public Access scheme can be an economical and effective way of dealing with any potential employment litigation.    For more information see www.barristerlaw.co.uk

Joanna has extensive experience in acting for Claimants, including Children and Patients, as well as Defendants, in Employer’s Liability and Occupier’s Liability cases, Road Traffic Accidents involving motorcycles, private cars, heavy goods vehicles and public transport vehicles.  Joanna provides advice and drafts letters and pleadings in a knowledgable, practical and sensible manner.  She is fearless in advocating for her clients both in Court and in negotiations.

Joanna has experience in the Consistory Court and is able to advise and act for any party in dispute.  She appeared for the petitioner in Re West Norwood [2005] 1 WLR 2176 in a complex case involving burial rights, proprietary estoppal and a constructive trust in the context of a petition for exhumation.

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*This barrister is authorised to practice in England & Wales. Click here to search on the Bar Standards Board Barristers’ Register.

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