Newcastle born employment lawyer Nadia Motraghi makes history as she’s appointed King’s Counsel

Nadia has had a successful career championing women, workers and whistleblowers.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Gosforth-born barrister Nadia Motraghi has been appointed as King’s Counsel, the first woman of Iranian descent to achieve this at the Employment Bar.

Known for her success championing women, workers and whistleblowers, Nadia acted for the politician Nadia Whittome when she was sacked for speaking out about a lack of PPE at the care home she worked at during the pandemic.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Nadia was also the go-to barrister for employment related Covid and furlough issues, appearing on The Martin Lewis Money Show to answer the public’s questions.

On the appointment, she said: “I am immensely pleased and proud to have been appointed as King’s Counsel, the first British born woman of Iranian descent to achieve this at the Employment Bar. It’s great to reach the apex of my profession, and I look forward to seeing many more women and those from minority backgrounds joining the ranks of Kings Counsel in the near future.

© David Jensen© David Jensen
© David Jensen

“I have always been deeply interested in the issues around equality, inclusion and diversity. Growing up in Newcastle, and today, as a mother of two girls, I feel compelled to confront the unfair barriers people face, and to help create a better, fairer society for all.”

A King’s Counsel is an extremely senior barrister who is recognised as an expert in their legal field. It also puts them in line for the most complex cases due to their experience and seniority.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Less than two percent of barristers are appointed at KC’s cementing Nadia as one of the country’s finest.

However, only 19% of these lawyers are women.

Throughout her career Nadia has advocated for workers rights, representing city lawyers and bankers facing sex and maternity discrimination to cleaners and catering assistants fighting for equal pay.

She has also acted in numerous cases on behalf of the British Medical Association, including successfully injuncting an NHS hospital in North Wales from closing its consultant-led maternity unit and challenging the imposition of the junior doctors’ contract.

Nadia was born in Gosforth to an English mother and Iranian father and attended a local comprehensive school.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She graduated with a law degree from Oxford University before obtaining a master’s degree from Harvard Law School.

Read Newcastle’s news on the go with our free email newsletters - bringing the headlines to your inbox. Catch up on the day’s news and sport and enjoy even more from the NewcastleWorld team. Visit our website here to find out more and sign up.