Freeing our speech: The Kristie Higgs case

We’re excited to launch a new series of legal seminars focusing on assisted suicide, freedom of speech and transparency.

Join us on Tuesday 6 May as we delve into the where the law now stands in light of the Kristie Higgs’ Court of Appeal judgment.

We will examine the ruling’s implications for freedom to express Christian faith freely and its intersection and impact within employment and professional settings.

Tickets cost only £10 and include drinks and nibbles.

While these events are primarily aimed at legal professionals, they are open to all.

You can get your ticket to this seminar by clicking this link.

Speakers

Richard O’Dair (Barrister)

Richard O’Dair specialises in employment law and Human Rights, representing both employers and employees with a particular interest in the law of religious freedom. He has been working with Christian Concern over the last four years.

Richard has appeared in a number of important cases including the case of Seldon v CJW in in the Supreme Court [2012] and more recently the cases of Randall v Trent College (ET) and Higgs v Farmor School (EAT). Both cases concern religious freedom. He appeared in an NHS Whistle Blower case where the damages were more than £1 million.

Richard is a skilled Court room lawyer. One judge saw the need to direct himself not to accept too easily the arguments of such a persuasive advocate. Mr Justice Langstaff spoke of “advocacy of the highest quality” when Richard appeared in front of him in the EAT in the case of Swansea University v Williams.

As an employment lawyer, Richard has appeared in the Employment Tribunals, the Employment Appeal Tribunal, the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. He has been involved in making an application to the ECHR.

Pavel Stroilov (Consultant, Christian Legal Centre)

Pavel Stroilov is a political exile of Putin’s Russia, having fled to the UK after his research as a historian put his life and liberty at risk. He then studied law at King’s College London and University of Law. He works as a legal consultant for Christian Legal Centre.

Spencer Keen (Barrister, Free Speech Union)

Spencer Keen is an advocate with a broad practice. His main specialisms are employment, commercial law and European law. He appears regularly in the High Court, Employment Tribunal and appellate courts and tribunals.

Kristie Higgs (Christian Legal Centre client)

Kristie lost her job as a school pastoral assistant for sharing her concerns about RSE on a private Facebook post. Kristie Higgs, a mother of two, had been working for six years as a pastoral assistant at her local secondary school with an exemplary record. After one anonymous person saw two of Kristie’s personal Facebook posts sharing her concerns about sex education lessons at her child’s primary school, she was reported to her headteacher. Kristie was told that her private posts could “[bring] the school into disrepute” and was subsequently sacked from her position.

In the Court of Appeal Kristie finally won her case. The judgment, handed down on 12 February 2025, reset the legal landscape on freedom of speech and religion in the workplace.

Other seminars

End of Life Bill: Legal View Through a Christian Lens (31 March 2025)

Shining a Light: Transparency in the Courts (19 May 2025)