MTSA, MTYBA and the Hall Committee invite you to join us for an evening to celebrate the current generation of women at the Bar.
About this event
2022 marks 100 years since the first women were called to the Bar. To mark that anniversary and International Women’s Day MTSA, MTYBA and the Hall Committee invite you to join us for an evening to celebrate the current generation of women at the Bar on 10th March 2022 from 6:30pm to 8pm.
Our panel will include women at all stages of the profession, from Bar students to judges, who will discuss their own careers, how far women have come in the last 100 years, and how far we are from achieving equality. There will also be an opportunity to network and view a small exhibition of items from the Inn’s archive which showcase the journey of women members of the Inn in the last 100 years.
Speakers will include HHJ Khatun Sapnara, (Middle Temple Bencher and Co-Convenor of the Inns of Court Women's Alliance); Eleanor Tack (Head of Marshalling for Bridging the Bar ) and other speakers TBC.
About the Panellists:
Master Khatun Sapnara
Her Honour Judge Khatun Sapnara is a Circuit Judge and Deputy High Court Judge. The Times described her as judge who is “seen in the profession as commanding, authoritative and compassionate”. Her career has also seen her break new ground.
15 years ago she became the first person of Bangladeshi origin to reach a senior judicial position when she was appointed a crown court recorder. She was instrumental in the creation of the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007.
Eleanor Tack
Eleanor is a GDL student at BPP. Before beginning the GDL, Eleanor worked with the French Red Cross reuniting families separated through conflict and migration. In August 2020, along with a group of young barristers, she launched Bridging the Bar and has since pioneered the first UK Supreme Court Internship.
Christina Warner
Christina Warner is a family and animal protection barrister at Goldsmith Chambers. Having been described by her clients as a “powerful” advocate with a “human touch”, Christina has raised awareness of the needs of LGBTQ+ people, Latinx communities and disabled people accessing the family courts as well as promoting their rights generally through pro bono contributions to charities and projects. Having also been recognised as a “pioneer” in the field of animal protection law, Christina has fought to bring attention to the link between violence towards animals and children and domestic abuse.
Master Elaine Banton
Elaine Banton is an experienced, highly regarded barrister practising across the whole range of employment, equality and discrimination law matters appearing regularly at all levels of tribunals and courts including the High Court and Court of Appeal.
Recognised in the Directories, Elaine is regularly instructed in high value and complex trials. Her client base includes the arts, media, global financial institutions and high net worth individuals as well as group claims. She also has experience of executive termination, restrictive covenants and injunctions.
Often appearing in high profile, impactful cases, Elaine was featured as The Lawyer’s Barrister of the Week in November 2021 regarding a widely reported discrimination case.
Elaine speaks, writes and broadcasts regularly on her specialist areas of the law for various practice publications. She is a contributor for Harvey Industrial Relations and Employment Law, co-author of Division J Family Matters and co-author of the chapter on Human Rights and Employment Law for Tolley’s Employment Law.
Elaine is the Co-Chair of the Bar Council’s EDSM Committee, is an elected member on the Bar Council’s GMC and is a member of the ICAW Committee.
The event is open to all members of the Inn. Please note this is a hybrid event!
The venue is The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, Parliament Chambers if attending in person. However, the event will also be streamed online and recorded. A copy of the footage will be made available on the middle temple website afterwards.
