Helen Compton
Year of call
2011
Instructing Helen Compton
For more information please contact our clerks by calling +44 (0)20 7242 3555.
Helen has recently narrowed her practice to focus and specialise in family law, employment law and inquests and inquiries. During her first ten years of practice Helen developed a broad mixed common law practice, which reflected the multidisciplinary ethos of chambers. Helen therefore has significant experience of criminal, commercial and clinical negligence work. The skills she developed in these diverse areas complement her current practice.
Clients have described Helen as ‘calm, collected and focussed’, she ‘quickly gets to grips with complex facts’ and is a ‘fierce and tenacious advocate’. Helen has successfully appeared alone in the High Court, Employment Appeal Tribunal and the Court of Appeal.
In all areas of Helen’s practice she advises in legally complex and challenging cases. She provides strategic insight at all stages and gives clear and tactical advice. She is frequently asked to consider novel points of law. Helen applies the same conscientious and thorough approach to all her cases. Helen’s considerable experience in the criminal and family courts has honed her advocacy skills. She is a formidable cross-examiner and her submissions are persuasive and realistic. Her written advocacy is regularly praised by judges as being ‘clear and concise’.
Helen’s experience in personal injury and clinical negligence has ensured that she is able to assimilate large amounts of material and quickly get to grips with expert reports.
Helen represents both individual and corporate clients. She tailors her approach to best suit the needs of each client and the particular case. In her employment and family work she often represents very vulnerable clients and is sensitive and re-assuring.
Outside of her work in chambers Helen gives talks and offers training. Most recently Helen provided training to twenty newly qualified police officers at the Old Bailey. In her personal life Helen takes an interest in the education system, acting as a school governor. Helen is committed to promoting and advocating for the most disadvantaged in society.
Helen is qualified to accept instructions directly from clients and is registered under the Bar Council’s Public Access Scheme, meaning that members of the public who seek specialist advice can come direct to her. In addition, she welcomes instructions from solicitors, in-house law departments, qualified foreign lawyers, and clients licensed by the Bar Council to give instructions direct to barristers under the Bar Council’s Licensed Access Scheme. For more information please visit our Direct Access page here.
Legal Expertise
Family Law
Family Law
Helen is regularly instructed in both public and private Children Act proceedings. Helen has considerable experience of lengthy care proceedings which investigate allegations of physical, sexual or emotional abuse. As a result of her clinical negligence and inquest work Helen is able to assimilate large amounts of complex medical information and conduct incisive cross-examination. Helen’s client base includes parents and guardians, as well as intervening grandparents or other family members.
Helen is an extremely approachable advocate who builds a good rapport with those she represents. She is aware that all proceedings involving children are distressing for the parties and require great sensitivity. She is able to provide robust advice whilst being sympathetic to the issues raised. Helen frequently works with vulnerable clients, often with learning and mental health difficulties. Helen fearlessly defends their interests. Helen is a calm and thorough advocate. Her regular instruction in both family and criminal cases makes her a fearless cross-examiner and persuasive advocate.
Helen recently succeeded in the Court of Appeal on behalf of the Appellant mother in G (Children: Fair Hearing), Re [2019] EWCA Civ 126. The case raised a number of important legal principles and reminders; including addressing the circumstances where Judges go beyond robust case management and stray into improper pressure such as to overbear a party’s will to consent.
Notable Family Law cases
G (Children: Fair Hearing), Re [2019] EWCA Civ 126
2019
Helen successfully represented a grandmother in a nine day case where the Local Authority alleged that the grandmother, with whom the children were residing, were at risk of harm. Case resolved with children remaining in her client’s care.
2019
Helen represented the children in a High Court case involving multiple experts and allegations of fabricated illness.
Employment
Employment
Helen is very experienced in Employment Law. She has acted in many lengthy Tribunal hearings on behalf of Claimants and Respondents. Helen has been instructed to appear in the EAT on a number of occasions. Helen is very familiar with the Equality Act 2010 and has acted for both Claimants and Respondents. She has undertaken work involving all aspects of equality legislation and is attune to equality and diversity issues. She has been involved in claims against service providers under the Equality Act and has provided advice in such matters.
Helen has considerable experience representing local authorities. She recently represented Nottingham Council in a five day reasonable adjustments and unfair dismissal claim. Helen succeeded in the EAT for Leicester City Council and also recently worked for the council for two days a week. This role involved advising and managing a wide range of cases from the earliest stages, affording her practical experience in case preparation and negotiation. She was frequently required to review and draft settlement agreements and contracts.
Helen’s recent cases include successfully representing a Claimant in a nine-day direct race discrimination and victimisation trial. She secured damages in excess of £55,000, a large proportion represented the Claimant’s injury to feelings and psychiatric harm following his treatment at work.
Helen successfully represented the Claimant in her claim against an accountancy firm for automatically unfair dismissal and unlawful deduction from wages. The Claimant received over £40,000 following a contested remedy hearing.
Helen successfully represented two Respondents in a claim for sex discrimination. Helen also secured costs due to the Claimant’s conduct.
In March 2020 Helen succeeded in a five-day case representing a forensic scientist in her claims for constructive unfair dismissal and sexual orientation discrimination. The Claimant secured over £80,000 in compensation. This case was reported in the national press.
Notable Employment cases
Helen successfully represented the Respondent in a two day unfair and wrongful dismissal claim.
Helen represented the Respondent in five day pregnancy discrimination and victimisation claim.
Helen represented the Claimant, a postal worker, in a three day unfair dismissal and disability discrimination claim.
Helen successfully represented a forensic scientist in her claims for constructive unfair dismissal and sexual orientation discrimination. The Claimant secured over £80,000 in compensation.
Helen represented the Respondent in a five day trial which concerned allegations of pregnancy discrimination and automatically unfair dismissal.
Helen successfully represented a teaching assistant in a five day case alleging direct disability discrimination.
Helen successfully appeared on behalf of the Respondent in a sex, age and race discrimination claim and secured costs due to the Claimant’s unreasonable conduct.
Helen successfully represented the Claimant in a six day unfair dismissal and unlawful deduction of wages claim.
Helen successfully represented the Claimant in a nine day direct race discrimination and protected disclosure case against a major hotel chain. The Claimant secured over £55,000 in respect of injury to feelings, personal injury and aggravated damages.
Inquests & Inquiries
Inquests & Inquiries
Helen has represented families in a number of inquests. She recently represented a family in a potential medical negligence case. Her experience in clinical negligence means she quickly gets to grips with the medical issues and is comfortable cross-examining experts.
Her family work means she takes an empathetic and reassuring approach.
Helen has experience working in a team, she has acted as disclosure counsel in a number of investigations. She has also been on secondment to law firms and to local authorities and acted as a consultant to Dechert LLP on a deferred prosecution.
Instructing Helen Compton
For more information please contact our clerks by calling +44 (0)20 7242 3555.
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Frequently asked questions
Do you have an out of hours number?
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As a direct access client, please visit our direct access page and complete the initial form, a member of the clerking team will then be in touch to discuss the next steps.
Will my barrister deal with all the correspondence?
Some barristers have the ability to “conduct litigation” for direct access clients. Our clerks will be able to assist you as to which of our members are trained and accredited to do so.
How do I instruct a barrister?
Please visit our direct access page for the initial steps on instructing a barrister, or contact our clerks on +44 (0)20 7242 3555.