Karolina Zielinska
Call 2022
Telephone 020 7831 0222
Email karolina.zielinska@42br.com
Karolina Zielinska
Call 2022
Telephone 020 7831 0222
Email karolina.zielinska@42br.com
Karolina joined chambers following the successful completion of her pupillage in October 2023. She is committed to developing a broad practice across Chambers’ main areas of expertise.
Karolina has a particular passion for pro bono work and access to justice, having previously volunteered at the Free Representation Unit, Commons, Advocate and Amicus UK, amongst other charities.
Employment Law
Karolina represents both claimants and respondents in a variety of employment matters, including unfair dismissal, discrimination, whistleblowing, breach of contract and redundancy cases.
She has experience working with a range of clients, from inexperienced claimants to larger corporate bodies including supermarkets.
Recent cases include:
- Cross-Padden v Kitrinos Healthcare & Ors – successfully secured a judgment by consent for the full sum sought by the Claimant, as well as an additional preparation time order for £6,485.88.
Housing Law
Karolina regularly acts for landlords (private and social) and tenants from the initial drafting of pleadings to representation at hearings in a broad range of proceedings, including possession, injunction (including anti-social behaviour) and disrepair matters.
Recent cases include:
- Clarion Housing Association Limited v Marshall – obtained an ASB injunction on behalf of the Claimant in a case involving allegations of, inter alia, arson and threats of violence.
- Briggs v Bhatti – successfully defended a section 21 possession claim on the basis that the property did not have a necessary HMO licence at the time of service.
- Carter v Midland Heart - acted for a Claimant in a 1.5 day disrepair claim; various remedies awarded including damages, specific performance and a declaration that the Claimant be permitted to carry out certain repairs herself.
Karolina will be co-presenting an upcoming webinar with Iris Ferber KC on 13th December 2023, entitled ‘Disability Discrimination Law for Housing Lawyers’.
Business & Property Law
Karolina accepts instructions across various areas of business and property law. Since joining chambers, she has advised on matters including restrictive covenants and forfeiture of leases.
Karolina also acts in cases combining property/education and criminal law, including planning prosecutions (and subsequent confiscation proceedings), prosecutions for statutory nuisance and education prosecutions.
Recent cases include:
- London Borough of Lewisham v Noel – successfully secured a conviction under the Education Act 1996.
Further, Karolina accepts instructions to advise and represent individuals, companies and partnerships in a variety of commercial and contractual disputes, including breach, misrepresentation and Consumer Credit Act claims.
She has acted for both debtors and creditors in personal and commercial insolvency matters, including bankruptcy and winding-up petitions.
Recent cases include:
- Copperfields (2015) Limited v House of Yoga (London) Limited – acted for the petitioning creditor and successfully obtained an order for winding up.
- Barnes Solicitors v Linehan – acted for the petitioner, successfully obtained a bankruptcy order notwithstanding difficulties with service.
Personal Injury
Karolina regularly advises and represents both claimants and respondents in a variety of personal injury matters, including claims arising from road traffic accidents, claims involving infants and claims proceeding on the fast-track.
Karolina accepts instructions on the basis of conditional fee agreements where appropriate.
Recent cases include:
- McDonagh v UK Insurance Ltd – acted for the Claimant in a Stage 3 hearing, successfully defended a last-minute application dismiss proceedings after alleged non-compliance with the relevant Pre-Action Protocol.
Family Law
Karolina accepts instructions in private (children and financial) and public family law.
She regularly represents parents in contested residence and contact disputes, including cases involving serious allegations of domestic and child sexual abuse.
Recent cases include an application to enforce a child arrangements order, acting on behalf of the landlord in a transfer of tenancy case and appearing at a Young Person’s Day Appointment (a hybrid procedure to encourage settlement in contested CAO cases, involving a same-day interview between the subject child(ren) and a Cafcass officer).
Recent advices include consideration of domestic enforcement of a foreign financial order and amendment of a financial order to include backdated contributions.
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Karolina is a trained Civil and Commercial mediator and a member of the Society of Mediators, having undertaken accredited training at 218 Strand Ltd.
She accepts instructions to mediate a variety of civil and commercial disputes.
Areas of Expertise
Scholarships & Awards
- Middle Temple - Nicholas Pumfrey Memorial Scholarship
- St Catharine’s College, Cambridge - Gooderson Memorial Fund Scholar
- Cambridge Law Faculty - Award for the Munich University Summer Training Programme
Memberships/Committees
- The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple
- Employment Law Bar Association
- Family Law Bar Association
- Free Representation Unit (Volunteer)
- Society of Mediators
Education
- University of Cambridge (St Catharine’s), BA Law
- Inns of Court College of Advocacy, Bar Training Course
Interests
Outside of law, Karolina enjoys embroidery, reading science fiction/horror novels and watching Doctor Who.
