Source: http://www.2tg.co.uk/people/ruth-kennedy/
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 04:22:14+00:00

Document:
Ruth’s practice focuses on commercial litigation with particular interest in private international law, employment, commercial fraud, insurance and sport. She also has significant experience in public law, at both a domestic and international level. Ruth is currently instructed as junior counsel to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse for the Lambeth investigation.
Recent past cases include appearing as sole counsel resisting an application for a springboard injunction in Aquinas v Miller and others  EWHC 404 (QB) and appearing in the Supreme Court in Darnley v Croydon Health Services NHS Trust (led by Philip Havers QC and Bradley Martin QC)  UKSC 50.
She was instructed as part of the counsel team in Lungowe v Vedanta Resources plc, an important case arising out of the operation of a mine in Zambia concerning issues of jurisdiction and parent company liability, which was heard by the Supreme Court in January (awaiting judgment). She was also instructed by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office to assist with the Kenya Emergency Group Litigation, a case involving over 40,000 claimants alleging abuse arising out of the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya during the 1950s.
For the legal year 2016-2017 Ruth was Judicial Assistant to Sir Terence Etherton, Master of the Rolls. Her experience during this time included Miller and others v Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union (“the Article 50 litigation”)  EWHC 2768 (Admin) and the first appeal from the Financial List Banco Santander Totta SA v Companhia de Carris de Ferro de Lisboa SA and others  EWCA 1267.
Prior to joining chambers, Ruth was a Research Assistant to Professor Philippe Sands QC working on Public International Law, ICSID Arbitrations and Court of Arbitration for Sport cases. She also previously worked as a Research Associate at UCL’s Judicial Institute and a Teaching Fellow in Public Law at UCL.
Ruth has extensive experience of acting for claimants and defendants in contractual and tortious commercial disputes, particularly those with conflicts of laws issues, both led and unled.
During her time with the Master of the Rolls she worked on Banco Santander Totta SA v Companhia de Carris de Ferro de Lisboa SA and others  EWCA 1267, the first appeal from the Financial List.
Ruth is an experienced employment practitioner who regularly appears in the Employment Tribunal and the High Court. She has particular expertise in claims involving private or public international law elements.
Aquinas v Miller and others  EWHC 404 (QB) – sole counsel for the first and second defendants (co-defending with Stuart Benzie) successfully resisted an application for continuation of a springboard injunction.
During her time with the Master of the Rolls she worked on Pimlico Plumbers v Gary Smith  EWCA Civ 51, the landmark case on the distinction between self-employed and a “worker”.
Ruth is building a practice in conflicts of law disputes and is frequently instructed in cases involving a dispute about jurisdiction or applicable law. She has co-written a short introduction to Rome II with Charles Dougherty QC and Marie Louise Kinsler QC which is available here.
During her time with the Master of the Rolls she worked on Banco Santander Totta SA v Companhia de Carris de Ferro de Lisboa SA and others  EWCA 1267, the first appeal from the Financial List, which concerned the correct interpretation of Article 3(3) of the Rome Convention; if mandatory provisions of domestic law were to apply despite the presence of a choice of law clause.
Lungowe v Vedanta Resources plc (2018 – 2019) – part of the counsel team for the claimants in this important case concerning issues of jurisdiction and parent company liability, heard by the Supreme Court in January (awaiting judgment). The claim arises out of the operation of a mine in Zambia.
Ministry of Defence v Iraqi Civilians  UKSC 25 – assisted Marie Louise Kinsler QC in a case involving claims made by more than 600 Iraqi civilians alleging maltreatment at the hands of the Ministry of Defence. It was a complex conflicts of law case which focused on the interpretation of the Foreign Limitation Periods Act 1984.
Ruth accepts instructions from players, clubs and regulatory authorities with clients ranging from self-employed tennis coaches to the Clay Pigeon Shooting Association. She has a particular interest in employment and sponsorship disputes. She regularly appears in the High Court and Employment Tribunal, with recent highlights including acting as sole counsel resisting an application for a springboard injunction in Aquinas v Miller and others  EWHC 404 (QB).
During her time with the Master of the Rolls she worked on a number of high profile employment appeals, including Pimlico Plumbers v Gary Smith  EWCA Civ 51, the landmark case on the distinction between being self-employed and a “worker”.
Ruth is instructed in respect of all aspects of commercial fraud, including freezing and search orders and other without notice applications. She co-wrote a Practical Guide to Freezing Orders with Charles Dougherty QC which is available here.
Ruth is currently instructed as junior counsel to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse for the Lambeth investigation. She was previously instructed by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office to assist with the Kenya Emergency Group Litigation, a case involving over 40,000 claimants alleging abuse arising out of the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya during the 1950s. She has been published in many leading public law texts including Judicial Review, with her article The Scope and Effect of Purdah, Judicial Review, December 2017.
During her time working for the Master of the Rolls she worked on Miller and others v Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union (“the Article 50 litigation”)  EWHC 2768 (Admin), the landmark case which considered whether Article 50 could be triggered by use of the royal prerogative or if an Act of Parliament was needed.
Ruth also has experience in human rights issues arising in a commercial setting. She worked on Shlosberg v Avonwick Holdings Ltd  EWCA Civ 1138, where legal professional privilege was evoked by a bankrupt in resisting disclosure of sensitive documents by the trustees and Stewart and others v Watts  EWCA Civ 1247 where an almsperson was alleging discriminatory treatment following an eviction notice.
Ruth has expertise in inter-state disputes. As a Research Assistant to Professor Philippe Sands QC she assisted with the Mauritius v United Kingdom arbitration concerning the application of the Law of the Sea to the Marine Protected Area surrounding the Chagos Islands. She also worked on Croatia v Serbia, a case where both sides were alleging genocide under the Genocide Convention 1948 before the International Court of Justice in The Hague. Both cases involved collaborating as part of a large litigation team.
She has particular interest in cases involving decolonisation. She was previously instructed by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office to assist with the Kenya Emergency Group Litigation, a case involving over 40,000 claimants alleging abuse arising out of the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya during the 1950s.
Ruth is instructed by insurers and claimants in coverage related disputes. During her time working for the Master of the Rolls her experience included UK Insurance Limited v R&S Pilling t/as Phoenix Engineering  EWCA Civ 259 which concerned whether motor insurance cover extended to liability for damage to the property of third parties as a result of fire caused by repair work while the vehicle was immobilised.
Mohamud v Morrisons  UKSC 11 – Ruth assisted Benjamin Browne QC, Roger Harris and Isabel Barter, one of the leading cases on vicarious liability.
Ruth acts in all manner of professional negligence cases with clients including architects, solicitors and insurers. She was also instructed by the Government Legal Department to assist with ongoing litigation regarding the prescription of the anti-malarial drug Lariam to deployed troops. She accepts instructions as sole counsel or part of a larger team. Ruth has assisted Doré Green with a variety of high value professional negligence cases concerning construction and property damage.
She appeared in the Supreme Court in Darnley v Croydon Health Services NHS Trust (led by Philip Havers QC and Bradley Martin QC)  UKSC 50, case concerning the duty of care on NHS receptionists to give accurate wait times.
The Supreme Court’s judgment in Pimlico Plumbers: clear guidance for the gig economy?

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