Maria Roche

Profile

Between September 2011 - July 2012, Maria was Judicial Assistant to Lord Wilson and Lord Sumption at the Supreme Court assisting in cases such as AB v MoD ~~[2012] UKSC 9~~ on limitation in personal injuries actions; RT (Zimbabwe) and others v SSHD ~~[2012] UKSC 38~~ concerning refugees with no political views or affiliations and Solihull v Hickin ~~[2012] UKSC 39~~ on housing rights.

Maria aims to develop a broad practice in all the main areas of Chambers' work, with a particular interest in clinical negligence, public law, human rights and personal injury. She undertakes a wide range of court work including small claims hearings, inquests and High Court applications.

Maria has a First Class degree in Politics, Philosophy & Economics from the University of Oxford. Maria graduated second in her year in the Graduate Diploma in Law at City University and was marked outstanding for her bar examinations at BPP. She was a Princess Royal Scholar of Inner Temple.

Before coming to the Bar, Maria worked for the Financial Times in journalism and strategic business management. She subsequently was a Consultant Director for Spotlight, a media company She is a Free Representation Unit employment representative, an independent custody visitor and a trustee of a local Law Centre. She has previously worked as a pro bono legal advisor at the Golden Lane Legal Clinic. Maria regularly contributes to human rights articles, and has had her articles re-published on Inforrm, the International Forum for Responsible Media blog, as well as in the Guardian newspaper''s Best of the Blogs web links.

Cases include

Paolo Nzili and others v Foreign & Commonwealth Office ~~[2012] EWHC 2678 (QB):~~ Assisted Henry Witcomb, who was led by Richard Hermer QC and Philippa Kaufmann QC as one of a number of counsel acting on behalf of the claimants.
Whiten v St George's Healthcare NHS Trust ~~[2011] EWHC 2066 (QB):~~ Led by Philippa Whipple QC in a case concerning the quantum of damages following a negligent birth injury, instructed to quantify judgment sums.
GSM Export (UK) Ltd & Anor v Revenue & Customs ~~[2012] UKFTT 744 (TC) (05 December 2012)~~ Led by Jeremy Benson QC and Robert Wastell for HMRC in respect of Missing Trader Intra-Community Fraud valued in excess of £5m.

Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury

Whiten v St George's Healthcare NHS Trust ~~[2011] EWHC 2066 (QB):~~ Led by Philippa Whipple QC in a case concerning the quantum of damages following a negligent birth injury, instructed to quantify judgment sums.
Claim for damages arising from cerebral palsy caused during birth, led by Robin Oppenheim QC.
Claim for damages arising from cerebral palsy caused by the failure of a GP to diagnose suspected Group B Streptococcal meningitis in a child, led by Gerwyn Samuel.
Claim for wrongful selection of embryo, led by Robin Oppenheim QC.

International Law

Paolo Nzili and others v Foreign & Commonwealth Office ~~[2012] EWHC 2678 (QB):~~ Assisted Henry Witcomb, who was led by Richard Hermer QC and Philippa Kaufmann QC as one of a number of counsel acting on behalf of the claimants.
Recent and ongoing cases include:
Representing a senior Libyan figure and his wife in respect of their rendition to Libya during the Gaddafi regime (led by Dinah Rose QC, Richard Hermer QC and Ben Jaffey);
Representing Peruvian miners in respect of their claims for damages for unlawful imprisonment and assault (led by Richard Hermer QC);
Representing Iraqi detainees civilian victims in civil proceedings (led by Richard Hermer QC and Phillippa Kaufmann QC)

Inquiries and Inquests

~~Recent and ongoing cases include:~~

Inquest touching on the death of Conal Browning: inquest of a young man with a serious and enduring mental illness who was transferred between mental hospitals shortly before his death;
Inquest into the death of a vulnerable disabled adult receiving care in the community;
Inquest into the death of a diabetic patient from septic shock;
Inquest into the death of a patient from septic shock during care by an ambulance service

Administrative and Public Law

Mental Health and Court of Protection

Actions Against the Police and Public Authorities

Equality and Discrimination

Education

Bar Vocational Course, Outstanding - BPP Law School, London

Graduate Diploma in Law, Distinction - City University, London

BA (Hons) in Politics, Philosophy & Economics, First Class- Jesus College, Oxford

Awards

Princess Royal Scholarship, Inner Temple
Maitland Advocacy Prize
Major Exhibition, Inner Temple
Jesus College Dean's Prize for Performance in Final Examinations

Memberships

Constitutional and Administrative Bar Association
Human Rights Lawyers Association
Professional Negligence Bar AssociationPersonal Injury Bar Association