Isabelle Knight

Year of Call:

2019

Areas of Expertise

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Overview

Isabelle has a busy practice in all of Chambers’ practice areas, with a particular emphasis on personal injury, public and administrative including professional discipline, and police law.

Isabelle is personable and approachable, putting clients at ease, and takes care to explain matters clearly while striving to secure the best outcome. She has been commended for her ability to cut through vast quantities of documents to get to the issues in the case with seeming ease.

In personal injury matters, Isabelle regularly receives repeat instructions on behalf of both Defendants and Claimants. She is very experienced in small claims, and fast track matters, and is increasingly instructed in multi-track claims. She has experience of public liability, employers’ liability, injuries abroad and occupiers’ liability claims. She is willing to accept instructions on a CFA basis where appropriate.

Isabelle has worked extensively for the Nursing and Midwifery Council as a case presenter and has been instructed on increasingly complex cases. She has dealt with substantive hearings with allegations of sexual misconduct and cases involving large numbers of witnesses.

Isabelle regularly appears on behalf of police forces in the Magistrates and County courts, in matters ranging from disclosure in family proceedings, dangerous dog matters, closure orders, Domestic Violence Protection Orders (both order applications and breaches), Proceeds of Crime Act matters and Sexual Harm Prevention Orders.

Isabelle has a busy immigration law practice, regularly appearing in the First and Upper Tier Tribunal.

Isabelle has a particular interest in encouraging young people from a diverse range of backgrounds to enter the legal profession and has worked with Cardiff University and the Lord Edmund-Davies Legal Education Trust to further this aim. Isabelle is currently the Mini-Pupillage Officer for chambers.

Having grown up in Cardiff, Isabelle was educated at Llanishen High School before reading French and Italian at Oxford University. She returned to Cardiff to complete her legal studies. She previously worked in the NHS Continuing Healthcare Department at Hugh James Solicitors and brings that experience together with a strong academic background to her practice.

Isabelle is a member of the Government Legal Department Junior Junior scheme.

Education:

BA French and Italian, Oxford University, 2.i

Graduate Diploma in Law, Cardiff University, Distinction

Bar Professional Training Course with Masters in Law, Cardiff University, Outstanding
Articles:

Personal Injury Law Journal: May 2020 #185, Court of Appeal decision in Cowley v LW Carlisle Ltd [2020]

Awards and Prizes:

Middle Temple Baron Dr Ver Heyden de Lancey Prize for the highest mark achieved on the BPTC by a Middle Templar at Cardiff University

Middle Temple Astbury Scholarship, Major Award

Administrative and Public

Isabelle has a busy and broad practice in administrative and public law. She has dealt with a range of matters and is particularly keen to develop her practice in these areas.

She has appeared in Magistrates’ and Family Courts on behalf of Chief Constables in proceedings relating to closure orders, applications for detention and forfeiture of cash under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, civil applications pursuant to the Sexual Offences Act 2003, domestic violence and protection orders and applications for disclosure of family law proceedings.

She has been instructed to act as legal clerk to the Independent School Appeals Panel.

Isabelle is regularly instructed by the Secretary of State for Transport in relation to DVLA license appeals and has particular experience of dealing with cases involving alcohol misuse and/or dependence.

Isabelle has also assisted Care Inspectorate Wales, providing advice and support to decision makers relating to proposed enforcement action.

Isabelle has experience of advising on Data Protection Act claims. She has also been instructed on behalf of a police force to advise on liability and quantum in respect of a claim for unlawful arrest and detention.

Under the GLD Junior Junior Scheme, Isabelle has advised and completed drafting in relation to breaches of the GDPR, claims for false imprisonment, and claims of harassment.

Clinical Negligence

Isabelle accepts instructions in clinical negligence as she seeks to develop this area of practice.

Isabelle was recently instructed to provide advice on merits of a clinical negligence claim.

Company, Commercial and Insolvency

Isabelle accepts instructions in company, commercial and insolvency law and wishes to develop this area of practice.

Examples of her work in this area include pursuing applications to set aside statutory demands for both individuals and companies. She has also been instructed in winding-up proceedings and contractual claims.

Isabelle has experience in credit hire litigation in small claims and fast track trials, arguing matters of enforceability and misrepresentation along with need, period, rates and impecuniosity.

Education

Isabelle has been instructed to act as legal clerk to the Independent School Appeals Panel on admission appeals. She is keen to develop this area of her practice.

Housing

Isabelle has a busy practice in housing law. She regularly advises and advocates on behalf of social landlords in all aspects of anti-social behaviour injunctions, possession proceedings and committal proceedings. She also has experience with unlawful eviction claims, the public sector equality duty under the Equality Act 2010, Article 8 and proportionality defences.

Isabelle has experience in Welsh housing legislation and the changes brought in under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016. She has advised private and social landlords of their obligations under the new Act and has provided training sessions on a range of matters under the new legislation, including written statements, contract conversion and supported accommodation. Isabelle is part of Civitas Law’s Renting Homes (Wales) team.

Isabelle also has substantial experience acting for Claimants and Defendants in the civil enforcement of housing disrepair claims in both small claims and fast track claims. Her practice also includes a wide range of advisory tasks, including drafting statements of case and advises on liability, evidence and quantum.

Immigration, Asylum and Nationality

Isabelle regularly appears in the Immigration Tribunal and has experience in a broad range of matters including asylum appeals, bail hearings, EUSS appeals, deportation, Article 3 medical cases, and human rights appeals.

Isabelle has also had experience representing Appellants in the Upper Tribunal on points of law.

Inquests and Inquiries

Isabelle is keen to develop this area of her practice and accepts instructions for inquests and inquiries.

She has recently been instructed to represent the families of Gareth Delbridge and Michael Lewis at the upcoming inquest.

Personal Injury

Isabelle has gained a wide variety of experience in personal injury representing both Claimants and Defendants at both fast track and multi-track level.

She also has experience dealing with claims under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.

Isabelle has experience of advising on liability in many areas of personal injury, including negligence, occupier’s liability and employer’s liability including stress at work claims. In addition, she has wide experience advising on quantum. She has experience of dealing with claims involving allegations of fundamental dishonesty.

She is willing to accept instructions on a CFA basis where appropriate.

Isabelle has also prepared and delivered seminars on fundamental dishonesty and interim payments.

Police law

Isabelle is instructed by Force solicitors of police forces across Wales in various civil hearings such as dangerous dog matters, closure orders, Domestic Violence Protection Orders (both order applications and breaches), Sexual Harm Prevention Orders, Proceeds of Crime Act matters and disclosure applications in family law proceedings.

Isabelle is keen to develop this area of her practice.

Professional Discipline

She is keen to develop this area of her practice and to appear for both regulatory bodies and individuals.

Property and Land

Isabelle accepts instructions in property and land law. She has a range of experience in this area having acted in mortgage possession hearings, appearing on behalf of parties in possession claims involving housing disrepair, rent arrears, breaches of tenancy, claims for injunctive relief, anti-social behaviour injunctions and Article 8 and proportionality defences.

Contact

For further information please contact our clerks, who will be able to help you with any questions.

+44 (0)2920 375020

clerks@civitaslaw.com

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