The Inns of Court Alliance for Women: Bullying at the Bar - A Diminishing or Endemic Problem?

An event by the Inns of Court Alliance for Women. This event is both online and in-person.

The Harriet Harman 2025 report for the Bar Council on bullying and harassment at and of the Bar has received a mixed reaction from the Bar.  Some say the report captured the essence of a major problem at the Bar or in certain parts of the Bar.  Others say those reporting to the enquiry on which the report was based were a self-selecting group which did not represent the Bar as a whole and led to a misrepresentation of life at the Bar.  

This session is aimed at all at the Bar - whether pupils, juniors, or silks, and of course at both men and women.  It will take place as a panel discussion led by Middle Temple's Co-Convenor Ruth Kirby KC with the panel comprised of those who have experienced bullying at the Bar and other members of the Bar who hold informed views on the issues. On registration, there will be an opportunity for attendees to suggest issues to be tackled during the discussion.

Please kindly note that the event will be held under the Chatham House Rule. For further information, please see here.

Bookings will be taken via Gray's Inn. Book here.

Confirmed speakers are:

• Charlotte Kilroy KC

Charlotte Kilroy KC is a barrister specialising in public law and human rights law at Blackstone Chambers. She has long experience of representing women who have been mistreated by various organs of the state, including women deceived into sexual relationships by undercover police officers and a woman "Beth" who has brought a claim against MI5 relating to abuse by a state-employed informant. She is currently representing three women in a claim against the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office for unlawful failure to investigate allegations of bullying by a tribunal judge. 

• Barbara Mills KC

Barrister, mediator since 2005, Recorder since 2011, arbitrator since 2016, governing Bencher Inner Temple 2021, DHCJ since 2023, Chair of the Bar 2025. Between 2020 and 2023, Barbara was co-chair of the Bar Council’s Race Working Group which produced "The Snapshot of Race at the Bar” report in November 2021- a report which is concise and data-driven. It offers a cross-sectional view of racial diversity at the Bar and highlights representation gaps, progression through the Bar, and areas requiring targeted action by stakeholders in and around the Bar.  It is the first of its kind at the Bar and pairs statistics with brief commentary on barriers to entry and progression for Black barristers, and it informs strategic decisions for improving equality and inclusion across the Bar.  As Vice Chair of the Bar Council in 2024, Barbara was instrumental in the Bar Council’s appointment of Baroness Harman and as Chair of the Bar, she led the Bar Council when it accepted and then adopted all 36 recommendations made by Baroness Harman following her review of bullying and sexual harassment at the Bar.

• Darren Howe KC

Darren Howe KC is the current chair of the FLBA Wellbeing Committee. In 2022, after increasing complaints at the Family Law Bar about bullying by both the Judiciary and other barristers, Darren and Jo Delahunty KC wrote two articles that appeared in consecutive editions of Counsel Magazine. The response to those articles led to the FLBA adopting a ‘Respectful Working Policy’, drafted by Darren and Jo, and establishing a network of Respectful Working Mentors in each FLBA area. Darren regularly receives complaints from members of the Family Bar about the bullying behaviours they endure when at work and provides advice and active support in managing these situations. That support includes speaking to the ‘offending’ judges. Darren has lectured at numerous events to solicitors and to barristers about unacceptable styles of correspondence and inappropriate conduct in court.

• Susannah Burley

Susannah is a junior family law barrister at 4PB, having been called to the Bar in 2022. She has a busy practice in international, public and private family law, including financial remedies. In her short time at the Bar, Susannah has experienced bullying and harassment from both a senior Judge and an opponent. Susannah seeks use her personal experiences (and those of other very junior members of the Bar) to shed light on the impact of bullying and harassment on those in the formative years of practice.  

• Deshpal Panesar KC

Deshpal is an employment and discrimination silk at Old Square Chambers. He is a former Chair of the Employment Law Bar Association and previously served as a Commissioner at the Institute of Directors, where he helped draft the IoD’s Code of Conduct for company directors.  He is a member of the Bar Council and sits on its Ethics and Wellbeing Committees. His work in this area focuses in particular on addressing the urgent challenges surrounding barristers’ wellbeing, tackling the persistent and varied forms of bullying at the Bar, and promoting greater accessibility and understanding of the Code of Conduct.