Shereener Browne is no longer in full time private practice. She now spends her time acting, theatre producing and fundraising. She retains an interest in all aspects of equality and diversity law, youth justice and freedom of expression; with these areas dominating her creative and charitable work.
EQUALITY AND DISCRIMINATION
Following her return to practice from parent leave, Shereener undertook a secondment with Leigh Day in their employment department working closely with the team representing Miriam O’Reilly in her landmark age discrimination claim against the BBC.
Shereener was Chambers' equality and diversity officer until 2012. Shereener has since moved away from strict employment law practice but continues to focus on equality and diversity law. She was a member of the Bar Council's retention committee until 2017; delivering workshops on behalf of the Bar Council, training barristers and barrister's clerks in equality and diversity best practice.
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MEDIA LAW
Shereener has undertaken placements in the legal departments of the Guardian and The Times. She was a night lawyer with the Guardian newspaper until 2014. She then commenced a role as legal adviser to the Guardian's complaints review panel until 2017. She was a libel reader for The Times, The Sunday Times and The Sun newspapers until 2020.
Shereener has delivered workshops on freedom of expression particularly as it relates to art, in conjunction with Index on Censorship. She continues to advise on equality & diversity law and contributes to seminars in her capacity as a board member to two charitable organisations.
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Pro Bono Work
Shereener won the 2011 Sidney Elland Goldsmith Bar Pro Bono Award. Commenting upon Shereener's award, Lord Goldsmith, who led the judging panel, said:
"This year's winner exemplifies my belief that pro bono is part of being a barrister. Despite existing personal commitments and the challenge of moving to a completely new practice area at the Bar, Shereener Browne has worked tirelessly on pro bono cases with little fanfare. Testimonials emphasise Shereener's willingness to go far beyond her original instructions in order to achieve the right outcome for her clients and this dedication has not gone unnoticed by colleagues and contemporaries. Shereener's ongoing commitment to pro bono work undoubtedly influences those around her to take on their own pro bono work."
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Background
Shereener did pupillage at the chambers of the late Sibghat Kadri QC, undertaking work in family, housing and criminal defence.
Once she moved to Garden Court Chambers, Shereener focused on crime. She regularly appeared in Crown Courts across the country, becoming counsel of choice to firms representing young defendants charged with serious gang-related violence. Shereener single-handedly built a reputation for herself in the area of youth crime and regularly spoke on the topic at seminars and lectures.
Before leaving crime to specialise in employment law, Shereener defended in a multi-handed conspiracy to rob and possession of firearms trial. Shereener was first on the indictment and the Crown were represented by QC and junior counsel.
Publications
Legal
Editor (with David Renton, between 2009 and 2012) of Chambers' Employment Law Bulletin, published fortnightly.
Contributor to 'Human Rights in the Investigation and Prosecution of Crime' published by Oxford University Press.
'Crime, Rehabilitation and the Right to Private Life: where should the "Bright Line" fall?' published in the Discrimination Lawyers Association Newsletter "Briefings" and in Counsel magazine.
'Kill Drill - the death of freedom of expression?' published by Index on Censorship.
Other
Co-author along with Julia Farrington of: Theatre Censorship: A Black Perspective (working title) to be published by Palgrave Books.
Contributor to ‘Still Breathing: 100 Black Voices on Racism – 100 Ways to Change the Narrative’ published by Harper Collins.
'A confession on choosing to challenge'
Training and Seminars
Shereener has delivered careers talks within Chambers and to schools and Colleges across London. .
She delivered a well-received lecture to Lincoln's Inn in February 2010 entitled "Reviews, Recession and the Rise of Pro Bono Advocacy" following her award of the Pro Bono Lawyer of the year.
Shereener was an advocacy teacher for the Inner Temple from 2010 to 2016. She regularly speaks to law undergraduates and has a close working relationship with Goldsmith's School of Law.
An accomplished public speaker, Shereener welcomes requests to speak on equality, diversity & freedom of expression, and to educational establishments in her legal and creative careers.
Other Activities
Shereener started an acting career in 2016. She has appeared in a number of fringe theatre productions including playing the female leads in Macbeth, Miss Julie, The Good Person of Scheschwan and in Sankara for the Cockpit Theatre. She has appeared in a number of short films and in 2019 appeared as co-lead in her first feature, still in post production. In 2021 Shereener appeared, to rave reviews, in Debbie Tucker Green’s Hang for Alphabetti Theatre. At the start of 2022 she started a three week run at the Greenwich Theatre multi-rolling in Micheal Frayn’s Alarms & Excursions. For acting enquiries click here.
Shereener co-founded, along with her friend the late Seun Shote, Orísun Productions, a platform for Black creatives.
Shereener was Chair of Trustees at New Cross Gate Trust until 2017. She was a trustee at One World Media until 2020. She is now trustee at the Albany Deptford and sits on the board of Goldsmith’s University Equity Awards Campaign.
Education
- LLB (Hons), SBU (London)
