How far have we come? A Celebration of Women at the Bar | MTSA, MTYBA and Hall Committee [IN PERSON & ONLINE]

Master Elaine Banton

Elaine Banton (pictured right) is an experienced, highly regarded barrister practising across the whole range of employment, equality and discrimination law matters appearing regularly at all levels of tribunals and courts including the High Court and Court of Appeal.

Recognised in the Directories, Elaine is regularly instructed in high value and complex trials. Her client base includes the arts, media, global financial institutions and high net worth individuals as well as group claims. She also has experience of executive termination, restrictive covenants and injunctions.

Often appearing in high profile, impactful cases, Elaine was featured as The Lawyer’s Barrister of the Week in November 2021 regarding a widely reported discrimination case.

Elaine speaks, writes and broadcasts regularly on her specialist areas of the law for various practice publications. She is a contributor for Harvey Industrial Relations and Employment Law, co-author of Division J Family Matters and co-author of the chapter on Human Rights and Employment Law for Tolley’s Employment Law.

Elaine is the Co-Chair of the Bar Council’s EDSM Committee, is an elected member on the Bar Council’s GMC and is a member of the ICAW Committee

Ruth Kirby QC

Ruth Kirby QC (pictured left) of 4PB Chambers is a highly experienced children and Court of Protection practitioner. Ruth was commended for her expert advocacy skills in the 2021 Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 directories.  She has particular experience in representing high profile families and individuals in private law disputes and of representing very religiously-observant families.  Ruth is known for being a good judge of when cases can be settled without ever entering a court room but still achieving optimum results and when to achieve the best outcome for children by fighting proportionately and fairly, whenever court is unavoidable.

Ruth has lectured for the London Safeguarding Children’s Board, the Counter Terrorism Unit at the Met Police (SO15), Gresham College; and the Family Law Bar Association. Her academic lecturing included five years as a lecturer in human rights at the University of London and occasional lectures at LSE and other academic institutions.  She trained the Irish Judiciary on diversity and ethnic issues arising in court.

Ruth has been an Advocacy Trainer at Middle Temple for over 10 years. She joined the Hall Committee to contribute to the running of the Inn which she admired and appreciated but believed that it needed fresh energy to remain relevant and to be more utilised by its members.

Before joining the Bar, Ruth was a journalist, a cycle courier and an expert witness.