Direct Access Barrister
Amy Sloan-Thomas
Direct Access Barrister
Amy Sloan-Thomas
Amy was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 2009 and to the Bar of Northern Ireland in 2012. She is a member of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple and is qualified to accept instructions on a Direct Access basis.
Amy began her practice in Commercial Law before undertaking a role in Immigration law, representing the Home Office. Amy then moved on to develop a practice in Public Law, beginning with representation for the Department of Health. Thereafter, she continued her Commercial practice while also developing expertise in more specialist areas, including Professional Regulation and Discipline, Media and Entertainment Law and Equine Law.
In addition, Amy accepts instructions in Employment and Personal Injury matters.
Amy is a mother of six young children with a passion for horses and prides herself on being highly professional but remaining personable and approachable.
Area of Law
Commercial
• Advising on, drafting, and reviewing business contracts, shareholder agreements, joint ventures, and licensing deals
• Preparing and Representing in County Court and High Court litigation, including breach of contract, misrepresentation, and debt recovery claims
• Handling interim remedies such as freezing injunctions, disclosure applications, and enforcement proceedings
• Advising directors and shareholders in partnership disputes and unfair prejudice petitions
• Working with businesses on internal governance, compliance, and risk management
• Challenging or defending agreements under the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 and the Consumer Rights Act 2015
Education
• Representing students in internal and external appeals relating to disciplinary and academic/sexual misconduct matters including fitness-to-practise hearings
• Advising and representing clients in complaints to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA). Issues typically include breaches of regulations, policy and contract by a university; mitigating/extenuating/exceptional circumstances, discrimination and breaches of the Equality Act 2010; fitness to study/practice; academic misconduct proceedings; and procedural unfairness/irregularity.
• Acting in Judicial Review proceedings against schools, universities, examination boards, and local authorities
• Representing parents and pupils in school exclusion appeals and SEND Tribunal cases
Employment and Pensions
• Representation in Employment Tribunals for unfair dismissal, redundancy, whistleblowing, equal pay, and discrimination claims
• Drafting pleadings and skeleton arguments, conducting cross-examination, and handling remedy hearings
• Advising on employment contracts, restrictive covenants, and confidentiality clauses
• Negotiating settlement agreements and advising on exit strategies for both employees and employers
Immigration, Asylum and Nationality
• Advising on visa and asylum applications, human rights appeals, and judicial reviews of Home Office decisions
• Representing individuals, families, and businesses before the First-tier and Upper Tribunals
Media and Entertainment
• Advising on, drafting and negotiating agreements for writers, directors, producers, actors, and crew in relation to film, television, and commercial production contracts (Executive Producer Agreements, Writer Agreements, Option Agreements, Distribution Agreements etc)
• Representing in contractual disputes between creatives, investors, and production companies
• Advising on regulatory issues, including Ofcom complaints and advertising standards compliance
Personal Injury
• Acting for claimants and defendants in road traffic, workplace, and occupiers’ liability claims
• Advising on liability and quantum in fast-track and multi-track cases, including those involving complex medical evidence
• Drafting pleadings, schedules of loss, and advising on expert evidence
• Representing at case management hearings, interim applications, and trials
Public and Administrative Law
• Planning & Environmental: Acting in planning appeals and judicial review challenges to NIEA and local authority planning decisions
• Advising farmers, landowners, and rural businesses on DAERA schemes, subsidy disputes, and environmental compliance
• Representing in disputes over environmental permits, waste management regulation, and rural development schemes
Regulatory
• Representing professionals (teachers, healthcare practitioners, accountants, and others) before disciplinary panels and tribunals
• Defending allegations of misconduct, incompetence, or fitness-to-practise concerns
Sport
• Advising on horse sale and purchase disputes, including misrepresentation and breach of contract claims
• Representing in negligence claims arising from equestrian accidents and personal injury
• Advising on livery, loan, grazing, and stable lease agreements
• Advising riders, trainers, and owners in disputes with governing bodies, sponsorship, and disciplinary proceedings
• Representing in competition and sports regulatory hearings, including doping and eligibility disputes
• Advising on equine insurance claims, including mortality, veterinary, and liability policies
• Drafting and advising on stud and breeding contracts, bloodstock transactions, and syndicate disputes
• Advising equestrian centres and riding schools on compliance, health and safety, and commercial agreements
What sort of work do I do?
Commercial/Commercial Chancery and Contract Law
Public and Administrative Law (including Education, Planning and Environmental Regulation)
Professional Regulation and Disciplinary
Immigration
Media and Entertainment Law
Equine Law
Who do I work for?
Amy will take instruction directly from Clients on a Direct Access Basis, or from Solicitors. Clients are usually members of the public, public authorities, elected officials/membership bodies, students and professional persons (Doctors, Surgeons, Pharmacists, Accountants etc)