Rebecca Henshaw-Keene
Rebecca joined Chambers in October 2023 following the successful completion of her pupillage.
Rebecca accepts instructions in all of Chambers’ practice areas. She is instructed in fast track and small claims personal injury matters, applications and interim hearings. Rebecca is also developing a growing paperwork practice across Chambers’ core areas.
During pupillage she gained experience in high-value personal injury, industrial disease, international and military claims, fraud, and costs.
Prior to pupillage, Rebecca worked for eighteen months as a paralegal to a personal injury silk specialising in catastrophic injury.
Before coming to the Bar, Rebecca worked in the NHS and local authorities on health service planning and management, experience she brings to her practice. She was also an Honorary Lecturer at The Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction, University College London, where she taught contract administration and law.
Rebecca studied History at Newnham College, Cambridge, where she graduated with a first-class degree. She was awarded a postgraduate scholarship from Newnham College to undertake the MPhil in Economic and Social History. Her MPhil thesis explored women’s political participation.
She is a recipient of the Haldane and Lord Denning Scholarships from Lincoln’s Inn and won the BPP GDL Mooting Cup in 2018.
Personal Injury
Rebecca accepts instructions in all areas of personal injury and appears in Court several times a week alongside her paperwork practice.
Rebecca’s experience has given her a comprehensive understanding of serious personal injury. She has a particular interest in employers’ liability and has acted for a range of public bodies including the NHS and MOD.
Download sectionIndustrial Disease
Rebecca is keen to build her disease practice. She is currently instructed as junior counsel on a mesothelioma claim involving an international dimension, and in a solvents case.
Download sectionCredit Hire
Rebecca appears regularly in credit hire hearings and is well-versed in the case law.
She has had recent success in disproving impecuniosity for self-employed Claimants, and in limiting the amount recoverable for taxi claims following Mehmood v AIG Europe Ltd & Anor [2023] EW Misc 1 (CC).
Download sectionFraud
Rebecca has experience assisting with claims (for both Claimants and Defendants) which involve allegations of fundamental dishonesty and assisting with extensive disclosure reviews.
Download sectionInquests
Rebecca is keen to build an inquest practice and has experience of preparing for prison and healthcare inquests as a paralegal in a public law firm.
She is able to work quickly and accurately with large amounts of disclosure.
She has experience of working in the health, adult social care, and prison systems.
Download sectionEmployment
Rebecca has been instructed to undertake preliminary hearings on behalf of Claimants and Respondents.
This includes a preliminary hearing for a case remitted to the Tribunal from the Employment Appeal Tribunal (through Advocate).
Download sectionQualifications & Awards
BPTC, City Law School (2021)
GDL, BPP (2019)
MPhil, Economic and Social History, University of Cambridge (2014)
BA (First-Class Honours), History, University of Cambridge (2013)
Lord Denning Scholar, Lincoln’s Inn
City Law School Scholarship
Winner, BPP GDL Mooting Competition 2018
Haldane Scholar, Lincoln’s Inn
Career Guarantee Scholarship, BPP
MPhil in Economic and Social History, jointly funded by the Newnham College Graduate Support Studentship and the Ferguson Trust
Creighton Memorial Prize (Newnham College)
Dr Ethel Williams Prize (Newnham College)
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Appointments & Memberships
- Personal Injury Bar Association
- Attorney General’s Junior Junior Panel
Publications
Rebecca is assistant editor of the 12KBW Asbestos Blog https://asbestoslawblog.uk/
Jennison v Jennison & Anor [2022] EWCA Civ 1682, dealing with grants of probate and letters of administration, available here: https://asbestoslawblog.uk/2023/02/07/jennison-v-jennison-anor-2022-ewca-civ-1682/
Discussing the appeal in R (Morahan) v HM Assistant Coroner for West London, available here: https://inquestsandinquirieslawblog.com/2022/11/22/morahan-v-hm-assistant-coroner-for-west-london/
Indirect Discrimination – Strike Out dismissed on Appeal to EAT, available here: https://12kbwemploymentlaw.wordpress.com/2023/03/21/indirect-discrimination-strike-out-dismissed-on-appeal-to-eat/
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