Experience
I advise commercial, social enterprise and charity employer clients in connection with employment-related issues from recruitment through to termination and beyond.
I advise in relation to general issues such as statutory and contractual rights and obligations, as well as managing the tricky practical issues that can arise within the employer-employee relationship. I also advise on undertaking complex disciplinary and grievance processes, as well as managing employee exits and post-termination issues.
I frequently advise businesses about the issues that crop up when they’ve won (or lost) a service contract, or when they’re thinking of acquiring or merging with another business, or disposing of part of their operations. I also have particular experience in advising on redundancies, restructures and large-scale consultation exercises.
My clients ask me about a whole range of other things besides employment law. They may just want to run something past me as a ‘sense check’, or they might need me to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team on a particular project. Or they might need putting in touch with one of my specialist colleagues in another area of law.
I am interested in environmental issues.
Highlights
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Advising a large social care provider on implementing substantial changes to its terms of employment and staff pension arrangements across its 5000+ workforce.
This involved drafting a suite of consultation and contractual documents and communications to staff members, working closely with the client on the planning and timing, and anticipating and advising on the legal and practical issues involved in the collective and individual consultation exercises. The client’s objectives were achieved within the desired timescale and without any claims being received.
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Advising a charitable organisation on post-termination issues
This involved managing the potential litigation risks and regulatory issues arising from a disciplinary investigation and subsequent termination of an individual’s employment after the employer was made aware of information relating to the individual’s conduct in their previous employment, which raised safeguarding concerns.
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Advising on a complex consultation exercise involving collective redundancies
The exercise resulted from the proposed restructure of several teams alongside the inward TUPE transfer of staff from a former service provider.
- I advised a housing group on handling complex grievance and capability issues relating to an underperforming senior employee and which resulted in the negotiated exit of the staff member on terms favourable to my client.
- I advised numerous former local authority services on ‘spinning out’ to become independent organisations, which often involves substantial numbers of transferring employees, and working collaboratively with specialist pension lawyers.
- I’ve advised a national disability charity on undertaking pre-transfer collective redundancy consultation relating to its merger with another disability charity.
- I’ve advised a social development company on exiting a very senior employee, negotiating terms of departure and drafting associated contractual documentation.
- I’ve advised overseas employers engaging individuals working in the UK and UK employers engaging individuals to work overseas.
- I’ve advised an international charity about staff transfer issues involving multiple overseas jurisdictions.
- I’ve successfully conducted lots of employment tribunal cases, including defending a large healthcare provider at a multi-day tribunal hearing against allegations of whistleblowing, unfair dismissal, and race, sexual orientation and disability discrimination.
Areas of expertise:
Qualifications and career
- I qualified as a solicitor in 2001
- I joined Bates Wells in 2004
- In 2018 I was appointed by the High Court as a Supervising Solicitor
Pro bono, memberships, and appointments
- Member of the Employment Lawyers Association and the Industrial Law Society
- I am interested in environmental issues and a member of Bates Wells’ Environment group
- Supervising solicitor
- Previously a volunteer adviser at a Citizens' Advice Bureau and at Blackfriars Law Centre
Insights
