Catriona Virden

Catriona qualified as a solicitor in September 2023 after completing her training at Janes Solicitors and works in the firm’s civil department, primarily focusing on Contempt of Court cases in the civil courts.

Catriona has a wealth of experience beyond her years, both as part of a team and as the sole or main fee earner.

Recent cases in which Catriona has acted as the sole or main fee earner include:

• Successfully obtaining a suspended sentence for a contemnor despite the client being found by a High Court Judge to have advanced a “cock and bull story” in a personal injury case
• Acting as the main fee earner the Court of Appeal (Cooper v Ignite International Brands (UK) Ltd & Ors [2024] EWCA Civ 807 (12 July 2024))
• Obtaining the successful dismissal of a Contempt Application in Bradford County Court following an interesting discussion about whether recitals can be the subject of contempt proceedings.
• A high profile High Court contempt case arising from a personal injury claim against the NHS that was found to be fundamentally dishonest.

Additionally, Catriona has a number of ongoing instructions, including further High Court personal injury contempt proceedings, High Court contempt proceedings arising out of allegations of false statements in the Employment Tribunal and family contempt proceedings.

Catriona has also assisted as part of a team on a number of notable and reported contempt cases including Solicitors Regulation Authority Ltd v Khan & Ors [2023] EWHC 302 (Ch) & [2023] EWHC 525 (Ch), Frain & Anor v Reeves & Anor [2023] EWHC 73 (Ch), QRT v JBE [2022] EWHC 2902 (KB), Hamilton v Jones [2023] EWHC 1216 (Ch), Isbilen v Turk & Ors [2024] EWCA Civ 568 (22 May 2024).

Catriona also has experience attending court on a number of criminal trials at Southwark and Isleworth Crown Courts, assisting Counsel and works with Partners on various criminal matters at Janes.

Catriona has also advised on pre-litigation and helped a client settle a claim, thus avoiding court proceedings. She is assisting the Partner with a cross-jurisdictional claim concerning service abroad in accordance with the Hague Convention on Service and has worked with a Partner in securing a Norwich Pharmacal Order.