Allison Bailey vs Stonewall
The appeal
Allison Bailey, a black lesbian barrister, sued her chambers (Garden Court Chambers), members of her chambers and Stonewall, a UK charity in the Central London Employment Tribunal. Ms Bailey helped to set up a new organisation for lesbian, gay and bisexual people, the LGB Alliance, to provide an alternative to Stonewall. Stonewall allegedly had her investigated by her chambers.
Ms Bailey prevailed against her chambers in the original employment tribunal. See our previous coverage of the tribunal and related matters here: Allison Bailey vs GCC Omnibus. The tribunal found that Bailey was discriminated against by senior colleagues from Garden Court Chambers over gender-critical comments she made on social media. Allison Bailey was victimised when Garden Court Chambers published a statement that she was under investigation after it received a complaint from Stonewall, the UK’s most prominent LGBT charity. The Employment Tribunal also found that the claim that Stonewall had instructed, induced or caused, or attempted to induce or cause detriment to the claimant was not successful.
Employment Appeals Tribunal
Ms Bailey is appealed the tribunal’s decision re Stonewall. The case was heard in the Central London Employment Tribunal on 14 & 15 May 2024. The Employment Appeal Tribunal found against Ms Bailey, she was subsequently granted leave to appeal that judgment in the Court of Appeals.
Key legal documents:
AB's Appellant skeleton argument
Court of Appeals
Ms Bailey’s case against Stonewall is being heard by the Court of Appeal on 21 and 22 October. It is being live-streamed and is accessible from the judiciary’s website. A recording of the appeal is expected to be archived and accessible on YouTube after the hearing.
Live Tweet Threads
Tuesday 14th May morning session - Part 1, Part 2 - Ben Cooper KC, barrister for claimant, Allison Bailey, begins his submissions
Tuesday 14th May afternoon session - Ben Cooper KC concludes and barrister for Stonewall, Ijeoma Omambala KC, begins her submissions.
Wednesday 15th May morning (and only) session - Ijeoma Omambala KC concludes and Ben Cooper KC given right of reply.
Tuesday 21 October morning session - Ben Cooper KC, barrister for appellant makes submissions,
Tuesday 21 October afternoon session - Ben Cooper KC continues submissions
Wednesday, 21 October morning session part one, part two - Ijeoma Omambala KC submissions and follow up from Ben Cooper KC
Abbreviations - EAT
J - Judge Mr Justice Bourne
AB or C or A - Allison Bailey, claimant, appellant
BC: Ben Cooper KC, barrister for AB
SW or R - Stonewall (Stonewall Equity Limited), respondent
IO - Ijeoma Omambala KC , barrister for SW
GCC - Garden Court Chambers, Ms Bailey's Chambers at the time of the events in the case
Additional Abbreviations - Court of Appeals
RM - Rajiv Menon KC
SH - Stephanie Harrison KC
J - Judge (if unidentified which judge)
LB - Lord Justice Bean
LN - Lord Justice Newey
GCC - Garden Court Chambers
GI - Gender identity
WORIADS - Worthy of respect in a democratic society
SO - Sexual orientation
L and G - Lesbian and/or gay
ET - Employment tribunal
T - Transgender
KM - Kirrin Medcalf- Stonewall Head of trans inclusion
EA - Equality Act
Dd - Direct Discrimination
IDD - Indirect Discrimination
PC - Protected Characteristic
FWS - For Women Scotland
SC - Supreme Court
Previous Tribunal Tweets Coverage
Allison Bailey v Stonewall & Garden Court Chambers Part 1
Press Coverage
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