Experience
Harriet has a mixed public law and civil practice. She has experience across all of Chambers’ core practice areas, with a particular focus on public inquiries and inquests, public law and personal injury law. Harriet was appointed to the Attorney General’s Civil Panel of Counsel (C Panel) in 2021. She is willing to take on pro bono instructions and in 2020, Harriet was nominated for Advocate’s Young Pro Bono Barrister of the Year in recognition of her exceptional pro bono work.
She is regularly instructed, both as sole counsel and led, in trials, inquests, appeals, CCMCs and application hearings. Alongside her busy court practice, she maintains a broad advisory practice and she is experienced at drafting a wide range of pleadings, advice and witness statements.
Harriet is often instructed in high profile and sensitive matters. Her recent instructions include:
– Junior Counsel to the Inquests (led by Jonathan Hough QC) in the ‘Bugaled Breizh’ inquests, concerning the sinking of a French fishing trawler in 2004;
– Junior Counsel for the Defendant (led by David Blundell QC) in the linked challenges to the Secretary of State’s policy of intercepting migrant boats in UK waters, stopping them and redirecting them to France;
– Junior Counsel to the Brook House Inquiry (led by Brian Altman QC);
– Junior Counsel for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry (led by Jason Beer QC).
Public Inquiries and Inquests
Harriet specialises in public inquiries and inquests. She is currently instructed as Junior Counsel for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and instructed by as Junior Counsel to the Brook House Inquiry. She was instructed as Junior Counsel to the Inquests, led by Jonathan Hough QC, in the ‘Bugaled Breizh’ inquests (concerning the sinking of a French fishing trawler in 2004). In addition, Harriet has been instructed in a number of inquests concerning deaths in prisons. This work has involved a consideration of issues such as the ACCT process, healthcare within prisons and internal prison communication systems.
Harriet also acts for bereaved families in inquests. She recently represented a family, as sole counsel, following a death in a care home where there were issues relating to medical treatment and alleged neglect by the care home staff. Harriet recently acted for a successful Claimant in a judicial review claim before challenging the conclusion of an inquest.
Harriet is an editor of the TGC Inquests and Inquiries newsletter.
Public Law
Harriet has a strong interest in public law, which she developed whilst previously working as the stagiaire to Judge Christopher Vajda at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg before coming to the Bar. Harriet has a particular interest in public law disputes involving a planning or construction law element.
Previous notable cases in which Harriet has been instructed as junior counsel or as junior junior counsel include:
- R (Frasers Riverside Quarter Limited) v Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities; R (Lett Road Management Company Ltd) v Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities: Two judicial review claims challenging appeal decisions in respect of the funding of cladding remediation work under the Building Safety Fund.
- R ((1) Public and Commercial Union (2) Care 4 Calais); R (Channel Rescue); R (Freedom from Torture) v The Secretary of State for the Home Department: three judicial review claims challenging the policy of intercepting migrant vessels in UK waters, stopping them and redirecting them to France.
- R (Sri Lalithambika) Ltd v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2019] EWHC 761: a judicial review claim regarding a decision to suspend a Tier 2 Sponsorship Licence.
- MR (Pakistan) & Anor v (1) Secretary of State for Justice (2) Secretary of State for the Home Department [2019] EWHC 3567: a judicial review claim challenging the absence of the equivalent of Rules 34 and 35 for immigration detainees in the prison estate.
- NN and LP v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2019] EWHC 1003: a judicial review claim challenging the support provided to victims of trafficking.
Personal Injury, Civil Fraud and Health and Safety
Harriet represents and advises Claimants and Defendants in all areas of personal injury work. Harriet recently acted as sole counsel in a personal injury claim before the High Court, and secured a 6-figure settlement for her client. Harriet has previously been instructed as sole counsel in an appeal against a CRU certificate.
Harriet has experience of serious personal injury litigation including fatal accidents and cases involving chronic pain conditions and subtle brain injuries. Harriet is adept at drafting complex schedules of loss relating to personal injury claims and fatal accident cases. Harriet has previously advised as sole counsel in relation to claims involving historic child abuse and sexual assaults.
Harriet is frequently instructed in cases where fundamental dishonesty has been alleged, including cases relating to low-velocity impacts, phantom passengers and staged accidents. She has successfully secured fundamental dishonesty findings as sole counsel acting for Defendant insurance companies but is also experienced at advising Claimants faced with such allegations.
Harriet also has experience in claims where accidents have occurred abroad, including claims involving the Montreal Convention and issues relating to applicable law and jurisdiction.
Costs
Harriet has a growing costs practice. She is a regular contributor to the Temple Garden Chambers Costs Update and her articles on JLE (A Child) v Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2019] EWHC 1582 (QB) and X v Hull & East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust (Unreported, Sheffield County Court, 25/02/19) were published in the Personal Injury Law Journal.
Awards
- Buchanan Prize, Lincoln’s Inn
- Eastham Scholarship, Lincoln’s Inn
- Sir Thomas More Prize, Lincoln’s Inn
- Advocacy Prize, BPP Law School
- Excellence Award, BPP Law School
- Hardwicke Entrance Award, Lincoln’s Inn
- Wilsey and Lerch Prize, Downing College, University of Cambridge
- Senior Harris Scholarship, Downing College, University of Cambridge
Appointments
Appointed to C panel.
Education
- BA (Hons) Law, Downing College, University of Cambridge: 1st class including a starred first dissertation
- BPTC, BPP Law School: Outstanding
Professional Memberships
- Personal Injury Bar Association (PIBA)
- Administrative Law Bar Association (ALBA)
- Health and Safety Lawyers Association (HSLA)
- The Female Fraud Forum
Public Access
Undertakes Public Access work
Attorney General Panel
Appointed to C panel
The Covid-19 Inquiry: what do we know?
18th May 2021
Harriet Wakeman had had an article published in Venables Legal Resources, which can be found via the link below.
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TGC Inquests and Inquiries Newsletter
18th March 2021
Welcome to the inaugural edition of the TGC Inquests and Inquiries newsletter, a twice-yearly publication containing articles on recent key legal developments in these fields, as well as a selection of recent noteworthy cases in which Members of Chambers have been involved.
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TGC Fraud Newsletter Issue XI
11th August 2020
Please see link below to the latest TGC Fraud newsletter.
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TGC Costs Newsletter Vol VI
15th July 2020
Please see link below to the latest update from the TGC Costs Team.
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Personal Injury Law Journal
5th February 2020
The February 2020 edition of the Personal Injury Law Journal includes an article by Harriet Wakeman entitled “Payments on Account of Costs: Putting the Cart Before the Horse?”.
The article examines the decision of X v Hull & East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust (Unreported, Sheffield County Court 25/02/19). The case concerned a court’s power to award interim payments on account of costs in lengthy litigation.
TGC Costs Newsletter Vol V
10th December 2019
Please see link below to the latest update from the TGC Costs Team.
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TGC Fraud Newsletter Issue X – October 2019
23rd October 2019
Issue X of the TGC Fraud Newsletter, a publication we have set up with the stated aim of facilitating the sharing of information about decided claims involving issues of road traffic fraud and related matters, can be found at the link below.
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Pick and Choose: Can a court award some but not all of the Part 36 consequences under CPR r36.17(4)?
1st October 2019
An article by Harriet Wakeman which examines the decision of JLE (A Child) v Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2019] EWHC 1582 (QB) has been published in the October 2019 edition of the Personal Injury Law Journal.
The case concerned the question of whether a court could award some but not all of the Part 36 consequences under CPR 36.17(4).
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TGC Costs Newletter Vol IV
4th June 2019
Please see link below to the latest update from the TGC Costs Team.
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9th May 2022
The Inquiry is currently hearing evidence for Module 4, examining the actions of Central Government, Local Government and the Tenant Management Organisation in the immediate aftermath of the fire. Zeenat Islam is Junior Counsel to the Inquiry, leading on the evidence relating to the bereaved, survivors, and residents, the community and faith sector, the Cabinet Office and the Tenant Management Organisation.
Read more
18th March 2022
The second phase of hearings in the Brook House Inquiry have resumed. The Brook House Inquiry was set up to investigate mistreatment of individuals detained at Brook House IRC between 1 April 2017 and 31 August 2017. The Inquiry was set up as a result of the ill-treatment shown in the BBC Panorama programme “Under-Cover: Britain’s Immigration Secrets”.
Read more
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3rd February 2022
The Claimants, the Public and Commercial Services Union and Care 4 Calais, applied for an interim injunction to suspend the Secretary of State’s policy of intercepting migrant boats in UK waters, stopping them and redirecting them to France.
Read more
14th January 2022
Harriet Wakeman, led by Rory Brown, acted pro bono for the family of Emma Fraser in a judicial review challenging the conclusion of her inquest.
Read more
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24th November 2021
Welcome to the second edition of the TGC Inquests and Inquiries newsletter, a twice-yearly publication, containing articles on recent key legal developments in these fields, as well as a selection of recent noteworthy cases in which Members of Chambers have been involved.
Our previous edition, published in March 2021, was published one year on from the first Covid-19 national lockdown, which had a huge impact on
inquests and public inquiries alike. At that time, inquests and inquiries were tentatively starting again, albeit with social distancing and additional technology measures. Now many inquests and inquiries are going ahead in person (or with hybrid in person/video link arrangements).
As such, it has been a busy few months for the Inquests and Inquiries team at Temple Garden Chambers. We were delighted to see that our recent work in this area has been rewarded with Chambers being promoted to a Band 1 ranking set for Inquests & Public Inquiries in Chambers and Partners UK Bar Rankings 2022, with a number of individuals being ranked individually, namely Andrew O’Connor QC, Cathryn McGahey QC, David Barr QC, Dominic Adamson
QC, Keith Morton QC, Nicholas Moss QC and Fiona Canby. All of these individuals were also ranked in the Legal 500 for Inquests and Inquiries, alongside Sian Reeves. We congratulate all members of the TGC Inquests and Inquiries team on this brilliant news.
Read more
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8th November 2021
The inquests into the deaths of two French fishermen, Mr Gloaguen and Mr Le Floch who died when their Vessel, the Bugaled Breizh sank in January 2004, concluded on 5 November 2021. Harriet Wakeman, led by Jonathan Hough QC, was instructed as Counsel to the Inquests.
Read more
4th October 2021
Harriet Wakeman, led by Jonathan Hough QC, is instructed as Counsel to the Inquests, in the Bugaled Breizh inquests, which started today.
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11th August 2021
TGC are delighted to confirm two new appointments to the Attorney General`s Civil Panel of Counsel with effect from 1 September 2021.
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5th July 2021
Harriet Wakeman appeared as Counsel to the Inquests, led by Jonathan Hough QC, at the second Pre-Inquest Review in the Bugaled Breizh inquests, which took place today at the Central London Criminal Court.
Read more
16th March 2021
Welcome to the inaugural edition of the TGC Inquests and Inquiries newsletter.
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7th October 2020
TGC is delighted to announce that Harriet Wakeman has been nominated for the Young Pro Bono Barrister of the Year award at the upcoming Bar Pro Bono Awards.
Read more
TGC Fraud Newsletter
11th August 2020
Please see link below to Issue XI of the TGC Fraud newsletter.
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TGC Costs Newsletter
15th July 2020
Please see link below to the 6th edition of the the TGC Costs Newsletter.
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5th February 2020
The February 2020 edition of the Personal Injury Law Journal includes an article by Harriet Wakeman entitled “Payments on Account of Costs: Putting the Cart Before the Horse?”.
Read more
TGC Costs Newsletter
10th December 2019
Please see link below to the 5th edition of the the TGC Costs Newsletter.
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7th October 2019
The October 2019 edition of the Personal Injury Law Journal includes an article by Harriet Wakeman which examines the decision of JLE (A Child) v Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2019] EWHC 1582 (QB).
Read more
TGC Costs Newsletter
4th June 2019
Please see link below for the 4th edition of the the TGC Costs Newsletter.
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TGC Welcomes New Junior Tenants
3rd October 2018
Temple Garden Chambers is delighted to announce that Juliet Wells and Harriet Wakeman have accepted invitations to join chambers after successfully completing pupillage.
Privacy Notice
This document describes the information that Harriet Wakeman, in her professional capacity as a barrister, collects about data subjects, how it is used and shared, and the data subjects’ rights regarding it.
Introduction
Thank you for choosing to instruct me in your case. I will need to collect and hold your personal information in order to represent you. I will take all reasonable steps to protect your personal information. I will do all that I reasonably can to ensure that I do not infringe your rights or undermine your trust. This Privacy Notice describes the information I collect, how it is used and shared, and your rights regarding it.
Data Controller
I am registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) as a Data Controller for the personal data that I hold and process as a barrister. My registered address is Temple Garden Chambers, 1 Harcourt Buildings, London and my registration number is ZA321289.
Data Collection
All the information that I hold about you is provided to or gathered by me in the course of your case and/or proceedings.
My Lawful Basis for processing information
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requires all organisations that process personal data to have a Lawful Basis for doing so. The Lawful Bases identified in the GDPR are:
- Consent of the data subject
- Performance of a contract with the data subject or to take steps to enter into a contract
- Compliance with a legal obligation
- To protect the vital interests of a data subject or another person
- Performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller.
- The legitimate interests of ourselves, or a third party, except where such interests are overridden by the interests, rights or freedoms of the data subject.
Examples of legitimate interests include:
- Where the data subject is a client or in the service of the controller;
- Transmission within a group of undertakings for internal administrative purposes;
- Processing necessary to ensure network and information security, including preventing unauthorised access;
- Processing for direct marketing purposes, or to prevent fraud; and
- Reporting possible criminal acts or threats to public security.
My Lawful Basis is Legitimate Interest; namely the provision of professional services to you and the proper exercise of my professional obligations and responsibilities. My Lawful Bases may also include: consent and / or performance of a contract or steps to enter a contract and / or compliance with a legal obligation.
In so far as I process sensitive personal data, I do so where necessary for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims or where courts are acting in their judicial capacity.
Use of Data
I use your information:
- To provide legal advice and representation;
- For the efficient and professional management of my practice as a barrister;
- To investigate and address any concerns you may have;
- To investigate or address legal proceedings relating to your use of my services, or as otherwise allowed by applicable law;
- To assist in training pupils and mini pupils.
I do not use automated decision-making in the processing of your personal data.
I collect and process both personal data and special categories of personal data as defined in the GDPR.
This includes:
Client data:
- Name;
- Email;
- Phone number;
- Address;
- Payment or bank details;
- Date of birth;
- Location details;
- Device IP address;
- Financial information;
- Medical Records;
- Criminal Records (and associated probation records);
- National Insurance Numbers;
- Employment History;
- Bank records;
- Ethnic Origin;
- Immigration status;
- Religious Background;
- Trade Union Membership;
- Pension details.
I may share your personal data with:
- My Instructing solicitors;
- A Court or other Tribunal;
- Opposing Counsel and Solicitors, for the purposes of your case;
- My Chambers management and staff who provide administrative services;
- Pupils or mini pupils, under my training;
- My regulator or legal advisors in the event of a dispute or other legal matter;
- Other third parties where necessary to meet legal obligations;
- Any other party where I ask you and you consent to the sharing.
Transfers to third countries and international organisations
I do not transfer any personal data to third countries or international organisations.
Retention
I retain your personal data while you remain a client and/or for as long as is necessary for me to meet my legal and professional obligations. My Retention and Disposal Policy (copy available on request) details how long I hold data for and how I dispose of it when it no longer needs to be held.
Your Rights
The General Data Protection Regulation gives you specific rights around your personal data. For example, you have to be informed about the information I hold and what I use it for, you can ask for a copy of the personal information I hold about you, you can ask us to correct any inaccuracies with the personal data I hold, you can ask me to stop sending you direct mail, or emails, or in some circumstances ask me to stop processing your details. Finally, if I do something irregular or improper with your personal data you can seek compensation for any distress you are caused or loss you have incurred. You can find out more information from the ICO’s website http://ico.org.uk/for_the_public/personal_information and this is the organisation that you can complain to if you are unhappy with how I dealt with you.
Accessing and Correcting Your Information
You may request access to, correction of, or a copy of your information by contacting me in writing at my registered address.
Marketing Opt-Outs
You may opt out of receiving emails and other messages from my Chambers by following the instructions in those messages.
Cookies
Cookies are small text files that are stored on your browser or device by websites, apps, online media, and advertisements. The Chambers website use cookies to:
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Updates
I may update my Privacy Notice. When I make significant changes to my Privacy Notice, I will publish the updated Notice on my website profile.