Hayley is a highly experienced Associate in the Abuse Team dedicated to representing survivors of abuse and assault across a wide range of institutional settings. Her practice spans religious organisations, care homes, educational institutions, and youth organisations such as the Scouts and Sea Cadets.
Hayley has a particular focus on abuse within religious settings having successfully acted in claims against the Church of England, the Catholic Church and the Jehovah’s Witnesses. She has experience of obtaining financial compensation, but also non-financial remedies such as formal written apologies and changes in institutional procedures. As a practising Christian she understands the unique impact of religious abuse; she has written in both the press and academic journals about spiritual abuse and its effect on victims and recently advocated for survivors in relation to the Church of England Redress Scheme’s breach of their personal data.
Hayley also has expertise in online abuse, having spent a year as a Legal Fellow with the anti-trafficking charity International Justice Mission (IJM), working on prosecuting perpetrators of online sexual exploitation of children. There she received training about how to utilise digital evidence and how these cross-jurisdictional offences are prosecuted. She is also experienced in bringing civil claims arising from the unlawful release of personal data online.
Prior to joining BBK, Hayley spent over five years at a London-based law firm where she acted for survivors of abuse and trauma in compensation claims, judicial reviews and inquests involving the police, prison service, educational institutions, local authorities and healthcare bodies. She holds a History degree from Cambridge University, followed by a Graduate Diploma in Law and the Legal Practice Course both completed with scholarships at London-based law schools.
Hayley is known as a tenacious litigator and a compassionate advocate. She has appeared as an advocate in successful appeals in the First Tier Tribunal and before judges in the civil court hearings, consistently striving for the best outcomes for her clients. Her trauma informed approach has earned praise from clients navigating complex emotional and legal challenges.
Media Commentary and Advocacy
Hayley is regularly invited to provide legal commentary in the media, and has also been published in academic legal journals. Her publications and appearances include:
- Spiritual abuse: a new type of claim? Journal of Personal Injury Law 2025, 3, 148-154
- The Hunts Post – “Former Catholic Priest Dennis Finbow child abuse sentencing”
- The Sheffield Star – “Bishop of Sheffield makes ‘unreserved apology’ to victims of ex-priest Chris Brain – 30 years on from offences”
- Premier Christianity – “Chris Brain has been brought to justice. The Church must now confront spiritual abuse”
- The Guardian – “Mental health patient died of heroin overdose due to NHS Trust neglect, inquest finds”
- ITV news – “Severe asthma sufferer died after ‘begging police for help’ in Brixton”
- The Standard – “London NHS Trust failures contributed to woman taking her own life, inquest concludes”
You can also read Hayley’s recent open letter to the Church of England Redress Scheme.
