Catherine Stock
Barrister
Joint Head of Kings View Chambers
Year of call 2007
Practice Areas:
- Healthcare Regulatory and Disciplinary Law
- Community Care Law
- Care Home Law and Care Standards
- Coroner’s Inquests
- Criminal Defence
After a career spanning two decades in various senior positions in the Health Service, Catherine expanded hare career and was called to the Bar in 2007.
Over the last decade Catherine has become one of the most respected barristers to clinicians working in the NHS and in private healthcare.
She brings a depth of experience to the representation of professionals that few other Barristers can match.
Catherine is one of the few Barristers who has operated in a Direct Access capacity for most of the last 10 years.
She is also Joint Head of Kings View Chambers, Head of Management and Compliance, and the Equality and Diversity Officer.
Healthcare Regulatory and Disciplinary Law
Catherine has a vast amount of experience before a wide variety of tribunals and courts including, the General Medical Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council, Health and Care Professions Council, General Dental Council and General Chiropractors Council. She has successfully defended large numbers of healthcare professionals before disciplinary and regulatory tribunals for issues including; lack of competence, misconduct, negligence and issues of fitness to practice relating to conduct and competence and ill health. She has represented all levels of clinicians from all areas of healthcare including doctors, nurses, midwives, dentists, paramedics, physiotherapists, speech therapists, physiotherapist, occupational therapists, operating department assistants, social workers and chiropractors.
Community Care Law
Catherine regularly represents families in challenging decisions made by the NHS and Social Services about the provision of and funding for health and social care. These challenges can range from internal discussions through to judicial review of the decision made by the relevant public body.
Care Home Law and Care Standards
Catherine regularly represents nursing and care homes and registered managers before the care standards tribunal.
She provides an provides advisory and consultancy service in all Care Quality Commission matters including assistance and advice on registration, reviews and inspections and compliance.
Coroner’s Inquests
Catherine regularly represents bereaved families and healthcare professionals during the inquest process.
She provides advice to families and other interested persons on issues raised as a result of an unexpected death.
Criminal Defence
Catherine was successful at obtaining pupillage at one of the biggest criminal chambers in the UK and developed her practice quickly. She has prosecuted for the CPS, Customs and Excise, The Department of Work and Pensions and The Child Support Agency.
She also has a large criminal defence practice and has successfully defended clients charged with a manner of offences such as assault, ABH, GBH, robbery, armed robbery, attempted murder, rape and other sexual offences, drug importation and other drug related offences child cruelty and fraud. She specialises in representation of doctor and nurse charged with criminal offences.
Other Roles
From 2007-2017 Catherine worked as a freelancer at BPP University, CPD Law School and School of Health. She has also worked as an advocacy trainer for a number of legal 500 firms including Norton Rose Fulbright, Simmons and Simmons, Clifford Chance, Freshfields, Allen and Overy and Jones Day.
She held a variety of part-time roles including Lead Assessor for Criminal and Civil Higher Rights and as an exam writer for Criminal Higher Rights and the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test. As a lecturer she lectured in the following areas:
Professional Skills Courses -Advocacy and Communication Skills and Client Care;
Higher Rights of Audience Criminal Evidence and Litigation;
Higher Rights of Audience Criminal and Civil Advocacy;
Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test Criminal litigation and advocacy;
Witness Familiarisation Training and Expert Witness Training for a variety of organisations including The Metropolitan Police, Trading Standards, Financial Conduct Authority, Computer Aided Modelling Bureau and Sexual Offences Referral Centres;
CPS External Assessor
From 2012-2017 Catherine carried out numerous assessments for the CPS of their advocates both in the Magistrates and Crown Courts
Specialist Prosecuting Authority
Catherine provides training to all three forces on assessing in house advocates.
She worked with specialist prosecutors on development of a comprehensive assessment tool.
Previous Career
Catherine qualified as registered nurse in 1988 and worked in a variety of areas such as general surgical, intensive care, neurology and neurosurgery.
She became a ward sister in 1992 and then moved into general management. She has held a variety of posts including practice development, deputy director of nursing and clinical director.
Professional Qualifications
BA degree in Health and Nursing Studies
BSc in Medical Law and Ethics [first calls honours] CPE [commendation] BVC [very competent]
