Schona Jolly QC Year of Silk/Call: 2017/1999 - Cloisters

Schona Jolly QC
Year of Silk/Call: 2017/1999

Call Clerk on 020 7827 4000

PRACTICE AREAS

Arbitration & Mediation | Commercial Law | Discrimination & Equality |
Employment | Human Rights | Professional Discipline | Sport & Entertainment

HIGHLIGHTS

According to an article in The Lawyer magazine in 2019, Schona Jolly QC was
one of “top 10” female silks appearing in the Court of Appeal.

"She has exceptionally good client management skills and draws on her
experience with great aplomb." "She is an extraordinary legal brain and
strategist who brings passion and diligence to a case." "She's very good at
getting to grips with the detail quickly, is superb at cross-examination and her
submissions are excellent." Chambers & Partners 2021

“A deadly cross-examiner, she achieves things other silks simply can’t pull off;
her advocacy is very convincing and she is able to read the judge perfectly,

knowing when to focus on a point and when to move on.” “She is fiercely
intelligent and uses her formidable intellect to pursue the best practical
outcome for her clients. A creative thinker, she is able to think outside the box
to devise avenues of argument to get the best outcome.” Legal 500 2021

  OVERVIEW

Schona Jolly QC is renowned for her cutting edge practice, pushing boundaries
across her principal areas of practice in equality, employment, civil liberties and
human rights law, including international law.

She also practices in public, sports, commercial and education law, particularly
where they intersect with her principal practice areas. Recent examples of her
work include the intersection of equality law with AI/tech, charity, housing or
sports law, and extensive experience on positive action and diversity across
sectors.

Schona is Chair of the Bar Human Rights Committee and Head of Cloisters
Human Rights Practice Group

Schona is described as “fearless” in the legal directories, and recommended as
“a highly skilled and very pragmatic advocate who is excellent with clients.
Schona has an amazing brain and is the best cross-examiner we have seen”.
“The go-to person in difficult discrimination cases”.

Widely sought-after for her strategic advice on litigation, policy and campaigns
in the UK and abroad, particularly in connection with equality and human rights
issues (including e.g. on positive action policies, business and human rights,
and the intersection with human rights and environmental law), she advises
high profile organisations, including international NGOS, and national bodies
across governance, politics, media and the entertainment industry.

She is currently acting for Shahmir Sanni, the Vote Leave Whistleblower,
advising Caster Semenya as part of an international legal team challenging
IAAF rules, and is instructed by MPs in respect of a potential JR against the

Metropolitan Police in connection with referendum expenses. Her present
caseload involves high value breach of contract claims, injunctive work complex
discrimination and harassment work, strategic advice work, and she is part of
an international team intervening for Equality Now in US v Dr Nagarwala on
the international human rights and equality implications of FGM.

Recent successes include successfully acting for Protect in Osipov (CA)on
whistleblowing and representing Deliveroo riders in mass litigation on
employment status which resulted in a well-publicised settlement. She also
advised in the Indian case of Sajjan Singh, concerning the Sikh mass pogroms in
1984.

She acts for a wide range of Claimants and Defendants/Respondents (including
in complex multiple claims) and has been a longstanding Panel Counsel to the
Equality and Human Rights Commission, and their predecessor organisations.

She is also a regular speaker on her specialist areas, including on Brexit-related
matters, and she writes widely in the national media, as well as specialist press.
She is available to conduct mediations, including remotely, and to conduct
complex investigations. She has recently returned from Turkey where she is
monitoring trials of journalists and lawyers, and conducts regular human rights
training in projects across the world. She is multilingual.

  AWARDS

Shortlisted for The Lawyer Lawyer of the Year 2015

  REFERENCES

Chambers & Partners 2021: "She has exceptionally good client management
skills and draws on her experience with great aplomb." "She is an extraordinary
legal brain and strategist who brings passion and diligence to a case." "She's
very good at getting to grips with the detail quickly, is superb at cross-
examination and her submissions are excellent."

Legal 500 2021: “A deadly cross-examiner, she achieves things other silks
simply can't pull off; her advocacy is very convincing and she is able to read the
judge perfectly, knowing when to focus on a point and when to move on.” “She
is fiercely intelligent and uses her formidable intellect to pursue the best
practical outcome for her clients. A creative thinker, she is able to think outside
the box to devise avenues of argument to get the best outcome.”

Chambers & Partners 2020: "Her advocacy is extremely good; she really gets
involved in the case and has a great interest in the strategy." "A fantastic
lawyer and advocate who controls the witness room with warmth, real
personality and authority." "Fights for her clients and goes to the ends of the
earth for them." "She's very thorough, very collegiate, helpful, easy to work
with and very good on her feet. Excellent all round."

Legal 500 2020: "A very impressive silk." "Excellent tactical acumen and
highly responsive."

Chambers & Partners 2019: (Employment) "Admired silk whose employment
practice is bolstered by her human rights knowledge. She is a regular counsel
for banking clients and trade unions, and was recently instructed in one of the
leading gig-economy cases in the court system. She also handles complex
discrimination claims." "Very good on her feet and excellent with clients." "A
really dedicated, committed and hard-working advocate."

(Civil Liberties) "A new silk with notable expertise across human rights matters
including discrimination, trafficking and judicial reviews. She has deep
experience in international human rights issues and is particularly recognised
for her work on the impact of Brexit on human rights and equality law. She also
has expertise in how charity, education and employment matters intersect with
human rights with human rights law." "She is helpful, comprehensive and pays
attention to detail." "She is willing to go the extra mile and has a very good
client manner." "She is very impressive and has an encyclopaedic knowledge."

Legal 500 2019: "A rare talent who approaches every challenge with an open
mind." "Creative and unafraid to use innovative arguments."

Chambers & Partners 2018: (Civil Liberties) "A new silk with notable
expertise across human rights matters including discrimination, trafficking and

judicial reviews. She is the Co-Vice Chair of the Bar Human Rights Committee
and has deep experience in international human rights issues. She is
particularly recognised for her work on the impact of Brexit on human rights
and equality law." "She is a great advocate in the disability and equality part of
the human rights field."

Chambers & Partners 2017: "She is a fighter, collaborative and takes on
board your input." "She is fantastic in cross-examination, really gets to the point
of any legal dispute and is very sensible to deal with." "A highly skilled and very
pragmatic advocate who is excellent with clients. Schona has an amazing brain
and is the best cross-examiner we have seen." "The go-to person in difficult
discrimination cases."

Legal 500 2016: "Immediately sets her clients at ease" Creative and unafraid
to use innovative arguments.' and 'confident, informed and dedicated to her
work'. Her cross-examination is exemplary; she tailors her style to suit the
witness and to get the best out of them.'

Legal 500 2015: "She has an impressive international human rights practice."

Chambers & Partners 2016: "Much sought after...She combines a sharp mind
with a commercial focus; she is excellent with witnesses." "She is very
committed and incredibly responsive; she's great if you've got a fight on your
hands."

Chambers & Partners 2015: "A very strong litigator and advocate, she is not
intimidated by the other side." "Excellent on high-profile cases, she is really
bright and good with clients." "We go to her for difficult cases, as she is very
commercial and legally excellent. She is always willing to take on difficult
cases."

Chambers & Partners 2014: "Noted for her appearance in high-profile
discrimination cases, there is a strong human rights element to Jolly's practice
... She's a robust litigator and handles the most awkward opponents calmly."

Chambers & Partners 2013: "Impressed sources with her skilful drafting."

Chambers & Partners 2012: "Incredibly attentive and really fights for her

clients." She is also commended for her extensive discrimination practice and
her commercial outlook.

Chambers & Partners 2011: "Does some interesting work that crosses over
into the human rights sphere. An expert on equality issues, she recently wrote a
book on age discrimination and is described as being "first-class with clients
and excellent on the law."

Legal 500 - Leading Junior

  APPOINTMENTS AND MEMBERSHIPS

Chair of the Bar Human Rights Committee

Head of Cloisters Human Rights group

Council of JUSTICE 2014-2016

IBA

IBAHRI

Discrimination Law Association

Employment Law Association

ELBA

JUSTICE

Lawyers for Liberty

Amnesty International

Advocates 4 International Development

PUBLICATIONS AND TRAINING

Contributing author to OUP 'Equal Pay', due in late 2018, on an Introduction to
EU law, Brexit and Equal Pay

Contributing author to Sweet & Maxwell, 'Human Rights Practice', next ed due
2019, on Article 9.

Contributor to 'Discrimination in Employment: A Claims Handbook', LAG, 2013.

Co-author: Age Discrimination Handbook, LAG 2006 with Declan O'Dempsey
and Andrew Harrop.

2004 co-author Consultation paper for Age Concern: Addressing Age Barriers:
An international comparison of legislation against age discrimination in the field
of goods, facilities and services.

She frequently writes articles for professional publications, including European
Human Rights Law Review and newspapers.

She was a former associate editor of the European Human Rights Reports.

  QUALIFICATIONS

Licence Special en droit Europeen, Université Libre de Bruxelles

BA Jurisprudence, Magdalen College, Oxford

Schona is legally fluent in French and also speaks high-level Spanish, Hindi and
Punjabi as well as basic Arabic and Greek.

HIGHLIGHT CASES

A selection across the range of some of her cases include:

• Successfully acted for the Claimants in Smailes v Clewer Court Residents Ltd
(Cardiff county court) on reasonable adjustments/disability discrimination in
housing law.

• Successful CA intervention for Protect in (1) Timis (2) Sage v Osipov [2018]
EWCA Civ 2321 (whistleblowing)

• Represented Deliveroo riders in their worker status claims resulting in
settlement July 2018

• Bou Simon v BGC Brokers LLP [2018] EWCA 1525 (Civ) (implied terms,
breach of contract)

• Shahmir Sanni v TaxPayers Alliance, ET - successfully represented Vote Leave
whistleblower

• US v Dr Nagarwala - amicus brief in US District Court, Eastern District of
Michigan

• Moyer Lee and others v Cofely Workplace Ltd UKEAT/0058/15 (meaning of
"undertaking" in ICE Regulations/Directive)

• X v Governing Body of a School (2015) UKUT 0007 (AAC) (education/equality)

• Carol Howard v Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis London Central
Employment Tribunal, 30 June 2014, 1st September 2014
(discrimination/employment)

• Kemeh v MOD [2014] EWCA Civ 91 (agency, discrimination, employment)

• Jivraj v Hashwani [2011] UKSC 40, Supreme Court (status of arbitrators,
discrimination, human rights, commercial)

• Bikramjit Singh v France (2012) UN Human Rights Committee (international
human rights (and in an application to Strasbourg)