Katie Lines

Katie has extensive experience in public law, particularly cases involving human rights and civil liberties. She has expertise in homelessness, drawing upon her specialist pupillage focussed on social housing and homelessness. She also has experience in seeking civil orders to prevent harassment and anti-social behaviour.

Key cases include:

• Luton Community Housing Limited v Durdana [2020] EWCA Civ 445, which concerned the public sector equality duty in the context of housing possession claims (led by Toby Vanhegan).

Between 2019-2020 Katie practised as an employed barrister at Liberty, where she developed specialisms in fair trial rights, freedom of expression, national security and discrimination. She had conduct of high-profile cases including:

• Liberty’s intervention in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court in Shamima Begum v Special Immigration Appeals Commission [2020] EWCA Civ 918 and [2021] UKSC 7, which concerned the fair trial rights of an individual stripped of their citizenship after joining ISIS (Richard Hermer KC and Ayesha Christie instructed as counsel).

• Liberty’s intervention in Lisa Smith v The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and others [2021] EWHC 1650, which was a challenge brought against the definition of “Gypsies and Travellers” in government planning policy (Sarah Sackman KC and Merrow Golden instructed as counsel).

Katie’s practice is supplemented by her work as a Senior Fellow at the Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law. She leads the Bingham Centre’s work on the rule of law in emergencies, including leading the Independent Commission on UK Public Health Emergency Powers project, which was chaired by Sir Jack Beatson FBA. She has also written briefings for policy-makers and parliamentarians on:

• Restrictions on protest rights in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 and coronavirus legislation.

• The appropriateness of ouster clauses.

• The impact of proposals to replace the Human Rights Act 1998.

Katie is developing a practice in public international law, focussing on human rights and civil liberties. She is currently instructed in relation to the Independent Inquiry relating to Afghanistan, which is investigating allegations of unlawful killings by British Special Forces deployed to Afghanistan between 2010-2013.

Katie is a member of the Bar Council’s International Committee and was recently appointed Vice-Chair of the Rule of Law Sub-Committee.

Before coming to the Bar, Katie worked in supported accommodation for homeless individuals, which gave her a practical understanding of homelessness. Katie has also worked for a number of organisations on a pro bono basis. She provided legal advice to members of the public on human rights and equality law with Liberty, and conducted research for lawyers working on asylum claims with Asylos. She has also drafted legal documents in immigration cases with Haringey Migrant Support Centre and has represented individuals in employment tribunals.

In the summer before pupillage, Katie spent three months as a legal intern with the Lebanese Foundation for Permanent Civil Peace. Her internship was supported by a Gray’s Inn Internship Award.  Katie’s work with the Foundation included conducting research for draft laws, and researching and writing reports on international and domestic legal issues.

• ‘Resolving Electoral Disputes in England and Wales’, published in the 2018 yearbook of Lebanon’s Constitutional Council.

• ‘The 2019 Budget: Economic and Constitutional Perspectives’, a report on a conference concerning Lebanon’s parliamentary budget for 2019. Published in the 2018 yearbook of Lebanon’s Constitutional Council.

• ‘Redefining Access to Justice’, City Law School Journal (January 2017)