Areas of Expertise

Camilla Whitehouse

Year of Call: 2010

Camilla was called to the Bar in 2010, having graduated from Kings College, London with a Joint Honours degree. She then obtained a distinction in her LLM in Professional Legal Practice, coming top of her cohort.

In 2014, whist practising from chambers in Inner Temple, Camilla became one of the most junior barristers in England and Wales to qualify under the public access scheme. In 2017, she set up Gainsborough Law and in 2018 she was authorised by the Bar Standards Board to conduct litigation.

Camilla’s work, both advising and litigating, covers all areas of traditional and commercial chancery law with a particular emphasis on property, landlord and tenant, bankruptcy and insolvency, company and commercial and wills and probate. Camilla also has a thriving employment law practice and a growing reputation as a leading expert in HMOs.

Camilla regularly represents clients in the High Court, County Court and Tribunals.

Camilla accepts direct access instructions and is able, where required, to conduct litigation on behalf of her clients.

Cases

Company and Commercial
Successfully advised and represented the Claimant (C) in the High Court against two solicitor’s firms (D1 and D2) for professional negligence and breach of a warrant of authority. C claimed that D1 had negligently advised her regarding the signing of a second legal charge during a transaction in which she provided her 99% beneficial interest in her property as security for a commercial loan used as litigation to her ex-husband. C further claimed that D2 breached its warranty of authority by purporting to represent C in subsequent possession proceedings initiated by the lender.
Advised and represented the Claimant in fraudulent misrepresentation and breach of contract claim against estate agents, securing substantial damages.
Instructed by leading London chambers to represent them in their claim against one of their former barristers. At trial, successfully examined-in-chief and cross-examined a leading silk and junior, winning the claim and costs.
Represented Defendant pedigree breeders in prohibitory injunctive claim preventing sale of pedigree puppies. Won with costs.
B v K & AS Ltd (F.K.A. AS Plc) – Instructed to advise and draft pleadings on behalf of the First and Second Defendants (a director and his company respectfully) in a complex counterclaim of just under £500,000.
Instructed to represent a solicitor’s firm in breach of contact claim, winning claim.
Dr L v C – Represented the Defendant in restitutionary claim of goods, specific performance and compensation.
Instructed to advise US Claimant in $500 million settlement in a multi-national employment dispute involving US, French and UK companies.
Advised and represented Hong Kong based director of a company such supplying goods to the U.K. in unfair prejudice and shareholder dispute against a fellow director.
Construction
Successfully defended Defendants in breach of contract claim by building firm subcontracted to undertake construction works at leading central London department store. Recovered entirety of solicitors and counsel’s fees and significant sums for litigant in person and witness expenses and successfully resisted attempts to delay payment of the same.
Represented construction firm in breach of contract claim.
Advised and represented Defendant construction firm in claim for breach of contract following alleged negligence.
Advising a solicitor Claimant in a professional negligence claim against her former barrister in respect of representation provided in the solicitor’s defamation claim against her former employer.
Professional Negligence
PTP v SP – Representing a financial and accountancy partnership in respect of breach of contract claims for supply of accountancy and consultancy advice to reclaim £6,000,000 in respect of an international bank’s interest rate hedging product, where illegality and professional negligence are raised as a defence.
T v S – Represented the Claimant against a leading international silver circle law firm in professional negligence claim.
Instructed by a solicitor’s firm to defend professional negligence claim by former client.
Instructed by client in professional negligence claim against former solicitors for breach of contact.
Instructed by freeholder in professional negligence dispute against surveyors and solicitors over underinsurance in respect of subsidence.
Insolvency
K, P & M v L v T – Successfully represented 3 Claimant bridging finance companies in complex £1.6million claim in which the First Defendant company entered into liquidation just prior to the trial. Secured findings that the mortgage was a fraudulent scam and obtained costs on an indemnity basis against both Defendants.
K & L – v – D, C, B and A – Represented husband and wife in an application for restitution in a case involving a property transaction at an undervalue under rule 339 Insolvency Rules.
C v G & G – Defended the managing director of an accountancy firm against the Trustees in Bankruptcy’s application for an order for sale jointly owned property following his failed IVA and subsequent bankruptcy.
LB v M – Advised Respondent in bankruptcy proceedings brought by London Borough for substantial Council Tax arrears.
M v S – Represented Claimant bridging finance company in £770,000 claim secured against 5 separate properties.
HMRC v X – Advised managing director of optician’s in respect of bankruptcy petition by HMRC for outstanding arrears.
H v L – Advised and represented L in complex multi-track proceedings involving two now insolvent companies: C that had agreed to supply high value and unique goods to S. At the material time, L had been a director in C and S and had personally guaranteed and indemnified S in respect of its lease purchase agreement with H for the goods, which C had failed to supply to S.
Re: DSD – Instructed to represent DSD against winding up petition.
Employment
R v VB – Instructed to advise Respondent care home in appeal to the EAT over National Minimum Wage dispute.
NS v AT – Represented Claimant in pregnancy, sex discrimination and unfair dismissal claims in interesting point in respect of when the protected period commences.
Re: OA – Advising and drafting for multimillion turnover City company on all policies and training, misconduct dismissals.
Re: CC – Advised CEO and finance director of company as to seeking respect of injunctive relief and breach of confidence and Non-Disclosure Agreements against former employees.
MW v A, B and C – Represented First Defendant company against a well-known beauty brand against a leading employment QC in a multi-party restrictive covenant and breach of confidential information in the High Court. Successfully resisted springboard injunctions and damages, and reduced client’s costs liability from £45k to £12k.
Y v B – Represented Claimant in unfair dismissal claim where the Respondent alleged gross misconduct, namely theft.
T v NHS Trust X – Represented Claimant in unfair dismissal claim where the Respondent NHS Trust alleged gross misconduct, namely an assault against a doctor.
DS v WS – Instructed by insurers to advise a claimant teacher on a complex constructive dismissal case against her former school in respect of allegations spanning over 11 years.
Re: X – Advised a London chambers on a sex discrimination and harassment claim.
LH v AB – Advisory, drafting and negotiations in constructive dismissal claim against a Californian based company.
TJ v HCG Ltd – Representing a whistleblower Claimant in her claims of automatic unfair constructive dismissal and whistleblowing claim against a Care Home.
A Ltd v B – Instructed to represent Care Home employer over allegations over failure to pay the National Minimum Wage
LP v FA Ltd – Represented Claimant in claim for misconduct and unfair dismissal after the Respondent printing company alleged breaches of restrictive convents, winning against Respondent’s limitation challenge and subsequent negotiation.
A v X TV – Won Claimant’s unfair dismissal claim against TV company where correct identity of employer was challenged and allegations of fraudulent documents were made.
B v G, L and others – Successfully represented a claimant as sole counsel in complex claim against 17 Respondents for unfair dismissal relating to TUPE and sexual harassment. Secured substantial settlement award from 15 Respondents and succeeded at trial in respect of the remaining two Respondents.
Z v Y– Represented the appellate employee in the Court of Appeal in respect of her capability dismissal case.
F v B – Represented the respondent (a luxury jewellery company) in the Employment Appeal Tribunal for a case regarding the Tribunal’s duties to a disabled litigant in person, for which the Ministry of Justice were interveners.
A v H – Represented the respondent (a well known car manufacturer) in the Employment Tribunal.
Appeal Tribunal and Employment Tribunal against the claimant’s costs claim on the basis of the respondent’s alleged unreasonable conduct, which included covert surveillance. Successfully reduced costs award by 87% from the £45,000 claimed to £6,000.
Property
KN v A and others – Led by Shaun Esprit in representing 1^stintervener, a wife, in multi-handed TOLATA where Applicant ex-wife sought a share of £45 millions of her former husband’s assets.
M v M – Represented intervener mother in TOLATA dispute over her rights to her divorcing son’s assets;
W v A – Instructed by mother in TOLATA dispute where son was seeking to sell property in which she occupied and claimed an interest.
RBC v X Agents – Defended the Managing Director of a property agency in interesting House in Multiple Occupation prosecution that raised issues as to what extent a Managing Director could lawfully delegate HMO due-diligence matters to a Senior Director of the company.
X v HA – Represented Landlord Housing Association in possession dispute against Defendant claimed rights of succession following an alleged marriage to the deceased secure tenant.
N v B – Represented bridging finance company in possession and money judgment, winning £2.2 million judgment against ex-solicitor Defendant.
X v Y (by way his litigation friend) – Successfully defended a tenant said to have significantly breached his secure tenancy agreement by failing to occupy it as his principal or only home.
A v BV – Successfully dismissed claim against leaseholder client for unpaid service charge and successfully defended a s.46 notice
C v X – Represented Claimant bridging finance company and won £4.5 million judgement in bridging finance company’s claim against Y.
H v SC – Representing leaseholder Claimants in complex misrepresentation, breach of contract, disrepair and breach of trust claim against managing agent company where special and general damages, specific performed, decision and declarations are sought.
A v B & S – Instructed to represent bridging finance company in their possession and money claim in circumstances where the Second Defendant alleges her signature was forged by the First Defendant on some but not all the documents pertaining to the mortgage agreement and deed.
A & H v EBC – Instructed to represent elderly leaseholder tenant and her friend in complex claim spanning 20 years of disrepair, which included an issue of civil restraining orders.
G Ltd v K – Successfully defended a leaseholder in the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal in the Claimant’s substantial unpaid service charges, successfully extinguishing all her liability to pay arrears accrued over 6 years.
H v G – Representing one of the UK’s largest property management companies in a historical rent estate charge dispute against a freeholder involving substantial allegations of breaches of covenant by both parties.
M v LA – Successfully represented an appellant in the Valuation Tribunal in a ground-breaking case in which it was successfully argued that his buy-to-let property did not qualify as a hereditament within the meaning of the General Rate Act 1967. Secured the property’s retrospective deletion from the list and recovered compensation for wrongfully paid Council Tax.
A v A – Successfully represented landlord in his possession claim in case involving allegations of unlawful eviction and a disrepair claim.

Testimonials

Camilla was extremely knowledgeable regarding HMO law – and all letting property procedures. I am sure she knows a great deal in other areas of the law also. Camilla knew the court system and process, and advised us of all courses of action. She offered what she thought best course of action but never pressured me to choose. She was very clear, and fair – and gave me a great deal of confidence in her ability to represent me. She communicated quickly and efficiently – and in a friendly respectful manner. She explained the law in a clear and effective way – she made it easy to understand what was going on, and the options I had. I never felt like I was kept in the dark or misrepresented in any way. She is very personable, and very professional. I would highly recommend her services to anyone needing help with an HMO or rental issue.

Client

You came highly recommended to us by a respected solicitor and we were very satisfied with the service you provided in dealing with our daughter’s unfair dismissal case. You represented her at the Tribunal hearings providing advice, legal know how but most importantly your support. You were tenacious, thorough and professional. We won the unfair dismissal case and were awarded the maximum compensation and we could not have done that without your help. I would not hesitate to recommend your services”

Client

Camilla’s tenacity, expertise and genuine interest in achieving client objectives is second to none. She has helped our clients in both the Employment Tribunal and the EAT, and not only provides total quality service, but has proved to always be great value for money and delivers results. She is a pleasure to work with and is without a doubt our Counsel of choice. I would highly recommend her services to other firms not only for employment law, but also for personal injury, property and commercial law”

Instructing Solicitor

Thank you for all the hard work you have done for us, we are extremely grateful and wish to thank you so much. You are an amazing barrister”

Client

Hope you’re enjoying your bank holiday or are you working on your next victory?! I would like to sincerely thank you for everything you did regarding the case against [redacted] and the successful outcome, I really did enjoy the day in court as you said we would. It was a pleasure to work with you and the way you and Judge liaised made the whole process flow towards the victory!”

Client

I want to compliment Camilla Whitehouse for the outstanding work on a case… she successfully challenged one of the leading solicitor firms [redacted] who were quite intimidating, aggressive and ruthless. Camilla remained professional in her approach and maintained high standards…I value your mission to challenge landlords for wrong doing and appreciate your outstanding work”

Client

Careful and thorough arguments”

Judge

Thank you very much for your assistance this morning in my time of crisis!”

Solicitor

Camilla is my barrister of choice”

Instructing Solicitor

Testimonials

Client

Instructing Solicitor

Thank you for all the hard work you have done for us, we are extremely grateful and wish to thank you so much. You are an amazing barrister”

Client

Careful and thorough arguments”

Judge

Thank you very much for your assistance this morning in my time of crisis!”

Solicitor

Camilla is my barrister of choice”

Instructing Solicitor

Articles

Members of Gainsborough Law secure discontinuance of charges

Gainsborough Law were instructed by a high net worth individual who faced a serious assault allegation. A conviction would have impacted upon his employment, travel and charity commitments. Camilla Whitehouse and Colin Witcher worked together to offer a reassuring and comprehensive representation of the defendant. The same culminated in detailed representations, which persuaded the Crown

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“Gainsborough Law leading the way on wellbeing”

Gainsborough Law have been congratulated by the Bar Council and joined seven other chambers in receiving a Wellbeing at the Bar Certificate of Recognition for their work on wellbeing. The Bar Council's Wellbeing at the Bar Working Group stated 'Gainsborough Law has clearly worked hard to create a supportive environment where people are comfortable in […]

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Camilla Whitehouse succeeds in complex TUPE, discrimination and unfair dismissal claims

In a procedurally and substantively complex case, Camilla Whitehouse successfully advised and represented a claimant who had been subjected to sex discrimination, sexual harassment, victimisation and dismissal.

Background

The claimant worked at the bar of a private members club. During her employment, the club concluded a franchise agreement with the second respondent, who made frequent […]