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 drafted guidance for a professional body in relation to dealing with and avoiding sexual harassment in the workplace
- 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 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