Naomi Cunningham | |
|---|---|
| Alma mater | University of Reading |
| Occupation | Barrister |
| Employer | Self-Employed at Outer Temple Chambers |
| Organization | Sex Matters |
| Known for | Equality and employment law |
Naomi Cunningham is a British discrimination and employment lawyer. [1] She is also the chair of the Sex Matters advocacy group. [2]
Cunningham was born to Charles and Ann Cunningham, both of whom worked for GCHQ. At the end of her father's career at GCHQ, when he was 57, he took a sabbatical to train as a barrister. He returned to GCHQ, where he worked until he was 60 and earned his pension, then began practising law. Cunningham was raised in Gloucestershire, England. She had a brother, Giles, who died from suicide. [3]
Cunningham attended the University of Reading, where she studied mathematics before switching to the law programme. [3]
Cunningham began practising employment law in 1994. [3] She is self employed working at Outer Temple Chambers. [4] She has said her practice litigating cases involving women's rights "reignited" her interest in law and her career. [3]
Cunningham was named The Times Lawyer of the Week in May 2024 for her work representing social worker Rachel Meade in a case finding that Social Work England and the Westminster City Council had discriminated against Meade based on her gender-critical beliefs. [4] Cunningham also represented Ros Adams in her successful 2024 employment tribunal claim against the Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre, [5] and social worker Lizzy Pitt in a 2024 employment tribunal claim against the Cambridgeshire County Council alleging harassment related to her sexual orientation-related and gender-critical beliefs. [6] Cunningham counselled 'Sarah Summers' against The Survivors Network to secure the single sex services for women after trauma sustained from sexual abuse [7] [8] . Cunningham represented nurse Sandie Peggie in Peggie v NHS Fife, filed in 2024, in which Peggie has alleged sexual harassment and belief discrimination against NHS Fife and Dr. Beth Upton, a trans woman and doctor at Victoria Hospital. [9]
Cunningham has described herself as "broadly 'gender critical'". [10] In 2021, Cunningham co-founded Sex Matters, an advocacy group opposing transgender rights in the United Kingdom. She serves as board chair. [2] [11]
In 2021, Cunningham's inclusion in a panel discussion on conversion therapy hosted by the Middle Temple LGBTQ+ Forum was the subject of controversy, with more than 100 members of the Inn, other barristers, and law students signing an open letter describing Cunningham as "anti-trans" and calling for the event to be postponed. [12] [13] The event proceeded as planned, although Middle Temple offered refunds to those who no longer wished to attend. [14]
Cunningham is married to Tim Pitt-Payne, who is also a lawyer. [4]