Allison Bailey v Stonewall - Employment Tribunal hearing Thread 12

[ickky]

The Tribunal started on 25th April at 10am. If you would like to view online you need to send a request for access as early as possible.

Send an email to

[email protected]

The subject heading of the email request should read

“MEDIA OR PUBLIC ACCESS REQUEST – Case number 2202172/2020 - Ms A Bailey – 25th April 2022.

Then ask for the pin for the online access.

You will be contacted with instructions on how to observe the hearing.

When joining the live tribunal please choose a non inflammatory/offensive name, everyone can see it in the chat - This is a court room, please behave accordingly.

The court chat function is there for official court purposes, not for observers, please don't use it unless you have a technical issue.

On the first page underneath where you put your screen name, select the video and mic that are not crossed out (top option), this is the courts vid and mic.
On the next page select NONE on the drop down windows for vid and mic, these are your own video and mic.

You must be muted so as to not disturb the hearing.

There is also live tweeting from

twitter.com/tribunaltweets

Abbreviations:
AB: Allison Bailey, claimant
BC: Ben Cooper QC, barrister for AB
SW = Stonewall Equality Limited (respondent 1)
IO = Ijeoma Omambala QC, senior counsel - barrister for SW
RW = Robin White junior counsel to SW - assisting IO
GC = Garden Court Chambers Limited (respondent 2) (GCC would be a better abbreviation)
AH = Andrew Hochhauser QC, senior counsel - barrister for GC
JR = Jane Russell junior counsel to GC - assisting AH
RM= Rajiv Menon QC & SH = Stephanie Harrison QC (jointly respondent 3 along with all members of GC except AB)
EJ = Employment Judge Goodman hearing the case
Panel = any one of the three panel members (EJ and two lay members)

Thread 1 www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4529887-Allison-Bailey-v-Stonewall-Employment-Tribunal-hearing?

Thread 2 www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4542466-allison-bailey-v-stonewall-employment-tribunal-hearing-thread-2

Thread 3 www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4545725-allison-bailey-v-stonewall-employment-tribunal-hearing-thread-3

Thread 4 www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4546945-allison-bailey-v-stonewall-employment-tribunal-hearing-thread-4

Thread 5 www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4548160-allison-bailey-v-stonewall-employment-tribunal-hearing-thread-5

Thread 6 www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4550451-allison-bailey-v-stonewall-employment-tribunal-hearing-thread-6

Thread 7 www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4551757-allison-bailey-v-stonewall-employment-tribunal-hearing-thread-7

Thread 8 www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4552521-allison-bailey-v-stonewall-employment-tribunal-hearing-thread-8

Thread 9 www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4553181-allison-bailey-v-stonewall-employment-tribunal-hearing-thread-9

Thread 10 www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4553754-allison-bailey-v-stonewall-employment-tribunal-hearing-thread-10

Thread 11 www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4555145-allison-bailey-v-stonewall-employment-tribunal-hearing-thread-11

Allison Bailey - claimant (4-9, 11-13 May)

Witnesses for the claimant:

Dr Nicola Williams - Fair Play for Women (29 April)
Dr Judith Green - A Woman's Place (29 April)
Kate Barker - LGB Alliance (3 May)
Lisa-Marie Taylor - FiLiA (4 May)

Witnesses for the respondents:

Stephen Lue - barrister for GCC (3-4 May)
Zainab Al-Farabi - ex Stonewall (10 May)
Kirrin Medcalf - head of trans inclusion Stonewall (10 May)
Leslie Thomas - barrister at GCC (13 May)
Sanjay Sood Smith - Stonewall (16 May)
Shaan Knan - LGBT consortium - on STAG (16 May)
Rajiv Menon - joint head of chambers (16-17 May)
Maya Sikand - barrister at GCC (17-18 May)
Mia Hakl-Law - HR senior for GCC (18 May)
Judy Khan - barrister at GCC (19-20 May)
Charlie Tennent - clerk at GCC (20 May)
Luke Harvey - clerk at GCC (20 May)
Louise Hooper - Barrister at GCC (20 May)
Marc Willers - Barrister at GCC (23 May)
Stephen Clark - Barrister at GCC (23 May)
Liz Davies - Barrister at GCC (23 May)
Katherine McGahy (24 May)
Tom Wainwright - Barrister at GCC (24 May)

To come:

Colin Cook - clerk at GCC (24 May)
David de Menezes - GCC, Head of Marketing
David Renton - barrister at GCC (20 May, to continue on 25th May)
Kathryn Cronin - barrister at GCC
Stephanie Harrison - joint head of chambers
Michelle Brewer - barrister at GCC at time, now left and a judge.

[Lougle]

Thank you!

[IDidntKnowItWasAParty]

Thanks for the shiny new thread ickky!

I believe the next witness is:
Colin Cook - Director of Clerking at Garden Court Chambers www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk/clerks-and-staff/colin-cook
Role in the case: My understanding is that it is alleged that CC subjected AB to detriment in terms of reduced work allocated to AB, on instructions from, in concert with and/or under the influence of other members of GCC.
Bio:
“Colin has strategic responsibility for building and maintaining client relationships across all areas of legal practice. Colin has been instrumental in growing chambers to become the largest set of barristers in London, offering services of the highest quality.
• BACKGROUND
Colin oversees the practices of 182 barristers and 27 QCs at Garden Court. Day to day, he maintains oversight of the clerking teams and is known for being available to all, both in the UK and internationally.
Colin is dynamic, approachable and determined to achieve the best possible results for clients. Under his stewardship, Garden Court has won the Legal 500 Crime Set of the Year Award 2015 in recognition of its outstanding advocacy in national and international criminal law. Chambers & Partners UK Bar Guide comments, "Senior clerk Colin Cook could not be more helpful" and describes our clerking services as “excellent across the board".
The Legal 500 (2017) described Colin as "exemplary", and noted that he has "a clear long-term business plan and is building it effectively". Having joined Chambers in 1980, Colin's values are very much tied to Garden Court's: "I am driven by social justice – everybody has a right to be heard".
Legal 500 (2020) commented, "Any clerks’ room that is led by Colin Cook is destined to success." "The set’s ‘legendary’ director of clerking is ‘an approachable and reliable person to deal with. The rest of his team follow his example."
Away from work, Colin is heavily involved in mentoring and supporting young people, and is the Chairman of the Moonshot Football Club in Lewisham, a well renowned grassroots club. He is a life-long West Ham FC supporter, and enjoys the theatre.
Colin has been recognised in the Powerlist, an annual publication that profiles some of the United Kingdom’s most influential people of African and African Caribbean heritage.
He completed his MBA with the University of Hull while working at Garden Court.”
"The best clerk a barrister could wish for." Legal 500, 2022
"Colin Cook is a real gentleman and always a pleasure to deal with." Legal 500, 2022
"Knows everything there is to know about clerking and the stresses of running a difficult case. He will solve issues without fuss and in a very diplomatic low key way." Legal 500, 2022
"Colin Cook is delightful." Legal 500, 2022
"Colin Cook is a legend – he has an innate ability to assist in choosing the right counsel for the right case." Legal 500, 2021
"Colin Cook leads an impressive team who are keen to always assist, collaborate and find good working relationships." Legal 500, 2021
"Colin Cook leads from the front and provides an excellent service." Legal 500, 2021
Chambers & Partners (2021) described Colin Cook as "a joy to work with." "He is quick to respond and very proactive." "He is extremely effective in ensuring that the relationship between instructing solicitors and counsel is a collaborative one."
Colin was shortlisted for Senior Clerk of the Year 2020 by the Legal 500.

[Birdsweepsin]

Too much to hope that CC is going to be on Allison's side, and dob the rest of the lot in?

[Gabcsika]

@Birdsweepsin

Too much to hope that CC is going to be on Allison's side, and dob the rest of the lot in?

Unlikely:

"Having joined Chambers in 1980, Colin's values are very much tied to Garden Court's: "I am driven by social justice – everybody has a right to be heard".

[Clymene]

Social justice and football.

GCC values through him like a stick of rock

[Appalonia]

Thanks for new thread. What a gobsmacking morning!

[Wimbunds]

Thank you Ickky x

[FacebookPhotos]

Just picking this up from the last thread:
I suspect what is at issue here is that this tribunal is challenging their very deeply held beliefs that they are good people. Honourable warriors of justices for the dispossessed and underrepresented.

I think this is true for some of the people involved. From what I saw of TW, though, he is a bog-standard arrogant fool who really doesn't like it when people disagree with him. I wasn't picking up "oh no, what if I'm wrong" worry vibes, I very much got "how dare she say that about me" angry vibes.

Disclaimer: I didn't see all of TW's evidence as I had to teach a lesson.

[FacebookPhotos]

Also, all this talk of everyone being friends is at odds with the idea that they only chatted about work or football / TV in the office. Friends are people you trust to discuss non-superficial issues with.

[Clymene]

I think both are true @FacebookPhotos

As lead author on The Protest Handbook, Tom specialises in upholding protestors' rights under Articles 8, 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights and challenging the excessive or unlawful use of force by police officers.

[TofuDelights]

Just catching up with this during lunch break. Thanks for the new thread and all the comments. I'm only keeping up with this on here but it all sounds pretty grim. Poor Allison having to work with this lot.

[theemperorhasnoclothes]

"I am driven by social justice – everybody has a right to be heard".

I mean I'm guessing this statement is going to apply to everyone except for boring old XX women. And particularly women such as Allison.

But I hope I'm pleasantly surprised.

[Clymene]

I also don't believe he and Allison were friends.

I thought the hug question was odd. Did Allison deny that the hug happened?

[Ameanstreakamilewide]

Ben's tone of voice when he said 'hug' was quite something!

[Lougle]

I've got to go out between 2pm and 3.30pm 😒

[WildIris]

Checking in. Thanks ickky.

I’m going to need a wheelbarrow of Twix’s this afternoon!

[Boiledbeetle]

Having had an online tribunal of my own just over a year ago I can't bring myself to physically watch this but I am following these threads and the tribunal tweets and you are all doing an amazing job of letting us that are not watching get a bloody good feel for what shit Allison had to put up with/live through. Some of these people sound odious!

I will admit with each comment /tweet I read I expect one of the witnesses to just dispense with all pretence and start shouting "burn the heretic! Drown the witch"

[Ameanstreakamilewide]

Can you dial in via audio, Lougle?

[SpringCalling]

place marking

[Gabcsika]

I've got to say I am enjoying Ben's performance.

He's so clued up on the nuances. I know that barristers often work for and against people they might disagree with, but I have to say, if ben is a fully paid up TRA (anything is possible) he deserves an Oscar😁.

[GrumpyMenopausalWombWielder]

Place mark.

[Scorched]

This case is a great argument for having televised hearings, it is really open justice. I bet reading a Guardian report of this tribunal would have a different flavour to what we are seeing.
and the incompetence of such high flying lawyers is eye opening.

[VestofAbsurdity]

@Gabcsika

Unlikely:

"Having joined Chambers in 1980, Colin's values are very much tied to Garden Court's: "I am driven by social justice – everybody has a right to be heard".

Everybody except a black lesbian women of course, or indeed any other women who disagree with the Trans/GI agenda, they are just irrational and therefore beneath contempt, that's how it goes isn't it GCC?

[theemperorhasnoclothes]

I can't wait for this afternoon to start. It's so fascinating. Awful, but fascinating.

My support pain aux raisins are at the ready. (I'm not actually sure how you write plural pain aux raisins - I have two - is it pains aux raisins?)

[MaudeYoung]

A question that hasn't been asked about the "Cotton Ceiling" issue is "Why are men even thinking about having sexual relations with lesbians?"

Surely, men knowing that some women reject men as sexual partners and trying to break down that rejection or even discussing ways to break down that rejection, is a form of pressure to which no lesbian should ever be subjected.

How dreadful must it be for lesbians to be aware that some men discuss them in this way. Horrific!