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Ben Cooper QC - Lawyer of the Week (in the Times)

761 replies

Justme56 · 04/08/2022 08:13

Sorry I can't share the article, but liked this:

What is the funniest thing that has happened in your job?

As a result of my work in this area, apparently becoming an object of admiration on Mumsnet [the Internet parents' forum] - improbable in many ways.

😁

OP posts:
Thread gallery
15
Igmum · 04/08/2022 10:37

Yayy Ben!

I agree. The judgement was absolutely clear that Stonewall ideology discrimates against women. It's being reasonably well covered in the HR publications. Fingers crossed that no sane EDI department will touch them with a ten foot barge pole (sadly this leaves a lot of insane departments and plenty of equally crazy Stonewall offshoots but we progress).

Ereshkigalangcleg · 04/08/2022 10:32

Stonewall are already shaky and they became a national laughing stock with Metcalf, who they were happy to throw under a bus, showing their tip top ethics. I'm very happy with how it went. It was always going to be very difficult to implicate Stonewall as an outside org in the discrimination GCC have been found to have caused to Allison. The publicity was golden though.

TheBestBitch · 04/08/2022 10:26

achillestoes · 04/08/2022 08:40

‘my favourite line was something like ‘
’and how’s that going for you now’.’

This was when they said they wanted to avoid amplifying the scandal, wasn’t it? 😂

Big mistake. Huge.

😂

TheBestBitch · 04/08/2022 10:25

There's also an article in the Times law section with the headline

Firms 'should quit LGBT scheme'

If someone can share?

Sexdoesmatter · 04/08/2022 10:23

This is brilliant, thanks for sharing.

achillestoes · 04/08/2022 10:19

Stonewall didn’t need to lose for AB to beat them. GCC needed to lose, and they did. Copium.

Chrysanthemum5 · 04/08/2022 10:09

You're right @whereareyounow AB didn't win against Stonewall, and yes her crowd funder did use Stonewall as the headline. So in that respect I'll agree it was a loss. However, you cannot think that the text of the judgement (I'm assuming you've read it) is anything other than terrible for Stonewall.

whereareyounow · 04/08/2022 09:51

Chrysanthemum5 · 04/08/2022 08:53

@whereareyounow did we watch a different case? AB and her team won, and the bits they didn't get a positive judgement on (stonewall) are still terrible for stonewall

Show quote history

Copium on your part I'm afraid.

Ben Cooper QC - Lawyer of the Week (in the Times)
EmbarrassingHadrosaurus · 04/08/2022 09:28

BenCoopersSupportWren · 04/08/2022 08:57

my favourite line was something like
’and how’s that going for you now’.

Wasn't it even better than that? Wasn't it "it would be impolite of me to ask how that's going for you now"? 😂

I've a feeling that both versions were in play. One for Maya (the '"it would be unkind of me to ask how that's going for you now") and similar for Allison.

And YY to the need for recordings of these proceedings. Open Justice needs it in general and, in particular, for ETs and we so nearly had it. <groan>

WinterTrees · 04/08/2022 09:28

I hope he has read through the threads ☺️

One of the brilliant things about MN is that it provides a real time record of all sorts of things. In this instance, it's a frame by frame breakdown of Ben's exceptional performance - his quips, his arguments, his gotchas, his responses, his calm, dignified demeanour and his grace under fire. I hope he enjoys reliving a difficult case via the medium of MN and the wit of the vipers!

dunBle · 04/08/2022 09:24

nauticant · 04/08/2022 08:19

The piece is short, pithy, and amusing:

What law would you enact?
Automatic costs penalties for shoddy court bundles.

I laughed incredibly loudly when I got to that bit.

Terfydactyl · 04/08/2022 09:12

Awww that was a lovely write up, glad hes got in the paper, he deserves it.
I wonder if after it was all over he took a holiday and read through the threads.

FannyCann · 04/08/2022 09:02

What law would you enact?
Automatic costs penalties for shoddy court bundles.

GrinGrinGrin

Sunfriedegg · 04/08/2022 09:01

BenCoopersSupportWren · 04/08/2022 08:57

my favourite line was something like
’and how’s that going for you now’.

Wasn't it even better than that? Wasn't it "it would be impolite of me to ask how that's going for you now"? 😂

It’s such a shame that it wasn’t recorded,

BenCoopersSupportWren · 04/08/2022 08:57

my favourite line was something like
’and how’s that going for you now’.

Wasn't it even better than that? Wasn't it "it would be impolite of me to ask how that's going for you now"? 😂

Chrysanthemum5 · 04/08/2022 08:53

whereareyounow · 04/08/2022 08:47

Ben's a great lawyer, he did the best he could but never had a snowball's chance in hell of winning the AB case.

@whereareyounow did we watch a different case? AB and her team won, and the bits they didn't get a positive judgement on (stonewall) are still terrible for stonewall

Datun · 04/08/2022 08:51

whereareyounow · 04/08/2022 08:47

Ben's a great lawyer, he did the best he could but never had a snowball's chance in hell of winning the AB case.

Lol.

Aggravated damages because

"Many will have joined Stonewall’s schemes hoping for guidance on how to make their workplaces fairer and more inclusive. What they got was encouragement to write equality, diversity and inclusion policies that are in themselves discriminatory.”

Datun · 04/08/2022 08:48

I mean if these chambers are casting around for a reliable revenue stream, defending women against transgenderism is the mother lode.

whereareyounow · 04/08/2022 08:47

Ben's a great lawyer, he did the best he could but never had a snowball's chance in hell of winning the AB case.

Datun · 04/08/2022 08:46

Sunfriedegg · 04/08/2022 08:37

I wonder why he thinks it is improbable. Man is eloquent in defending women’s rights and sometimes humorous , what’s not to like?
if you are reading this Ben , I was glued to the Allison Bailey case. You got those GCC lawyers to look like a bunch of smug sanctimonious narrow minded headless chickens, lacking in any self awareness .
my favourite line was something like ‘
’and how’s that going for you now’.

And of course the GCC collective amnesia caused by many events including but not limited to, reversing into a bin.

IKR? He qualifies as a lifelong, honorary member of this Pit of Vipers.

Datun · 04/08/2022 08:43

ResisterRex · 04/08/2022 08:25

This may also be of interest:

Law firms ‘should quit Stonewall advice scheme’ after Allison Bailey ruling

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ec592cc6-134c-11ed-b7ce-9b24bf628db2?shareToken=7beb275369eb8f5af8136be5e72b58b4

Naomi Cunningham, a barrister who is one of the founders of the group Sex Matters, said: “Many will have joined Stonewall’s schemes hoping for guidance on how to make their workplaces fairer and more inclusive. What they got was encouragement to write equality, diversity and inclusion policies that are in themselves discriminatory.”

Nutshell.

Sunfriedegg · 04/08/2022 08:43

Ben you did wonders with stonewall and GCC appalling paperwork,

BernardBlacksWineIcelolly · 04/08/2022 08:42

ha! well the preparation certainly showed and paid off:

What are the best and worst elements of being a lawyer?
Best: when a cross-examination is going really well. Worst: the hours required to make a cross-examination go well.

Sunfriedegg · 04/08/2022 08:41

nauticant · 04/08/2022 08:19

The piece is short, pithy, and amusing:

What law would you enact?
Automatic costs penalties for shoddy court bundles.

That’s so funny, I mean those court bundles were like a running joke. Poor Judge having to Wade through mismatched numbering system

ErrolTheDragon · 04/08/2022 08:41

It's a bit early in the morning to be drinking toasts rather than eating it, but nevertheless 🍸🍸

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