Thérèse Rankin

'Thanks again for your meticulous work towards achieving [a successful] outcome

Client feedback
Your advice worked very well…it was much easier for me with your straightforward help and support

Client feedback
Thank you for your very calm approach

Client feedback
Sensible and practical…thank you for hard work turning around the documents so quickly…and for your help throughout the process

Client feedback
Very clear and very helpful…many thanks for responding so speedily

Client feedback
Thank you for offering to "go the second mile"

Client feedback

Experience

I trained as a solicitor at Mills & Reeve in Cambridge, and joined the Employment team at Bates Wells as a newly qualified solicitor in September 2012. After taking a sabbatical in 2014 to spend some time travelling and setting up a small business, I returned to the team in June 2016.

I advise predominantly employer clients in relation to a broad range of employment law matters, including terms and conditions of employment, pregnancy and maternity rights, equality and discrimination issues, grievances, disciplinaries, performance management and redundancies. I also undertake a broad range of contentious work on cases in the Employment Tribunal, Employment Appeal Tribunal and Court of Appeal, including in relation to claims for unfair dismissal and discrimination; as well as drafting and negotiating settlement agreements.

I assisted an employer with successfully defending claims of unfair dismissal and marriage discrimination

This included assisting with an appeal to the Court of Appeal in respect of a novel point of law regarding whether a marriage breakdown falls within the protected category of marital status

I drafted guidance for a professional body in relation to dealing with and avoiding sexual harassment in the workplace
I assisted a large healthcare sector client with an internal investigation into allegations of harassment, race discrimination and disability discrimination
I advised an education sector client in relation to the election of a women’s officer and Equality Act implications
I successfully defended a regulatory sector employer in respect of disability discrimination claims brought by a current employee
I advised an education sector client in relation allegations of gender segregation and sex discrimination
I advised an international organisation in relation to their statutory maternity / paternity leave and pay obligations, and applicable statutory immunities
I advised a charity in relation to sleep-in shifts, working time and National Minimum Wage obligations