R(Z) v Hackney LBC and Agudas Israel Housing Association

Sam Grodzinski QC acted for the main respondent in this appeal, which concerned the law of positive action under s.154 of the Equality Act 2010; and the exemption for charities under s.193.  The Supreme Court rejected the appellants’ challenge to a charitable housing association’s policy of providing housing only to members of the orthodox Jewish community.  It held that the charity had acted lawfully under both sections 154 and 193 of the 2010 Act.  The case is the first time that the law of positive action has been considered by the Supreme Court, and the judgment will also be of significant interest to charities generally.

Please find the full judgment here.