Kate Corby

Baker McKenzie

Kate Corby is a partner in Baker McKenzie’s Dispute Resolution team in London. Kate has substantial experience of representing clients in complex litigation and arbitration, with a focus on construction and engineering disputes. She also has significant experience in advising on product liability, safety and regulatory compliance. Kate is a member of the firm's EMEA Dispute Resolution Steering Committee, and various of the firm's diversity related working groups at a local and global level.

Kate is ranked as a Next Generation Partner in Legal 500 UK, noted for her "strategic thinking”, as being “excellent, smart, focused and very adaptable” and "highly regarded". Kate has also been ranked in Chambers UK and described as an adviser "who has impressed both clients and peers. Sources say: "She has great business acumen in addition to great legal knowledge. This was a tremendous help in maintaining and improving our relationships with our strategic partners in a very delicate moment."

Practice Area

Commercial

Panel

Contributing Author

Qualified Year

2004

Membership

Society of Construction Law
International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA)
Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors - Honorary Solicitor and Affiliate Member

Education

2001 Nottingham University
2000 University of Exeter
2000 University of the Saarland, Germany

2 Contributions by Kate Corby

PRACTICE NOTES

UK consumer product safety notifications, risk assessment, recalls and other corrective actions: GPSR 2005 duties, OPSS/BSI guidance, enforcement, and reform under the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025

Introduction This Practice Note sets out the UK framework for corrective action on consumer product safety, in particular covering: when and how to notify the relevant authorities about a product safety concern the applicable guidance for undertaking risk assessments the remedial steps that should, or must, be taken when a product is found to be unsafe Traditionally, product safety authorities in the UK have not been especially proactive. The enforcement landscape is, however, continuing to shift: recent years have brought heightened political and public attention to product safety, for example after multiple house fires, culminating in the tragic Grenfell Tower fire in January 2018, the government created the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), the UK’s national product regulator. Its core purpose is to protect people and places from product-related harm, while enabling trade and growth by ensuring consumers and businesses can buy and sell products with confidence ...

Commercial

CHECKLISTS

UK product safety incidents and recalls: legal checklist on corrective actions, OPSS notifications and BSI PAS 7050/7100 alignment

Checklist This Checklist outlines the key considerations when addressing a product liability or consumer safety issue that calls for corrective action, such as a product recall. When assessing corrective measures connected to a product liability or safety matter, it is prudent to consult the government-backed BSI standards—PAS 7050:2022, Bringing safe products to the market—Code of practice, and PAS 7100:2022, Product recall and other corrective actions—Code of practice. Although the guidance in the Codes is not legally binding, they are supported by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS)—OPSS/market surveillance authorities are likely to refer to the recommendations in the Codes when dealing with product safety issues. Pinpoint the specific products implicated (and, if feasible, whether only particular batches or date codes are in scope) and confirm the jurisdictions to which the affected products were shipped Activate the company’s Product Safety Incident Plan (PSIP), if one exists. See Precedent: Product safety incident plan (PSIP) Identify all applicable laws (eg Sale of Goods Act 1979, Sale and Supply of Goods Act 1994, Consumer Protection Act 1987, General Product Safety Regulations 2005 SI 2005/1803, Consumer Rights Act 2015), and the relevant standards and codes of practice that apply...