I am a solicitor in the Dispute Resolution & Litigation team at Bates Wells. I advise both for-profit and not-for-profit clients on a range of contentious matters, including contract and grant disputes, fraud and asset recovery, governance disputes, IP disputes, legacy disputes and issues relating to reputation. My practice has a particular focus on assisting clients to deal with complaints and claims alleging discrimination under the Equality Act 2010.
I also advise clients on how to avoid disputes, for example, by assisting them in handling particularly sensitive complaints to resolution; reviewing their existing policies and procedures; highlighting where they are currently at risk and assisting them in reducing this risk.
As well as advisory work, I have extensive litigation experience, including injunctive relief proceedings and judicial review.
- I assisted a high-profile membership organisation in relation to a number of alleged discrimination claims relating to gender critical beliefs and gender reassignment
- I advised a charity on its obligations under equality law in relation to providing services to individuals and/or organisations whose beliefs do not align with its values.
- I acted for a college in a dispute concerning an allegation of disability discrimination made by a student.
- I assisted a multi-academy trust in responding to a potential claim for Judicial Review relating to the impact of the use of a particular sanction on pupils with SEND and an alleged failure to make reasonable adjustments.
- I acted for a global relief charity in a dispute against an executor who acted dishonestly in his management of an estate of which the charity was the main beneficiary, causing significant losses to the estate.
- I acted for a number of major UK charities, who were joint beneficiaries of an estate, in responding to a threatened claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act.
- I assisted two charities in responding to a challenge to the validity of a will under which they were both beneficiaries.
- I assisted a leading UK charity after solicitors instructed to carry out the administration of an estate, of which they were the residual beneficiary, failed to make any timely progress.
- I advised major UK charities on intervening in proceedings for the purpose of assisting the court in respect of how funds being held on trust could be applied for the national benefit.
- I advised and assisted a leading UK charity in putting a stop to infringements of its intellectual property rights.
- I advised a major UK charity on recovering significant losses suffered following a failed overseas event.
- I advised an international development charity in relation to recovering its losses following a partner failing to adhere to the terms of a grant agreement.
- I advised a charity in relation to the enforceability of a grant agreement with a grantor seeking to withdraw its promise to donate funding.
- I assisted a UK regulator in managing the fall out of issues experienced during one of its key assessments.
- I assisted an awarding organisation in negotiating its early exit out of a contract.
- I advised an awarding organisation in relation to its handling of a learner complaint.
- I advised a charity in relation to its response to a complaint made by a member raising governance issues.