Darren Finlay

Year of call:

1994

Education:

1993 - Keele University, BA (Hons) Law, Management Studies (Joint Honours) & Computer Science (First)

1994 - Inns of Court School of Law BVC

Career:

1992 - Wilde Sapte, New York

1993 - University of Oxford, Delegacy of Local Examinations

1994 - Head of Civil Team at Sovereign Chambers

2015 - Sovereign Chambers becomes Park Square Barristers

2015 - Head of Civil Team at Park Square Barristers

Appointments:

Local Accountability Board Governor - White Rose Academies Leeds

Awards:

1991 - Joint Winner Keele University Knight & Sons Mooting Competition

1991 - Law Departmental Prize

1992 - University Principal Year Prize

Darren Finlay is the head of our civil team.

Darren deals with unfair dismissal and discrimination cases and has experience of long trials and group litigation. Darren also has experience in professional disciplinary hearings, health & safety prosecutions and defences/mitigation, and partnership and commercial disputes including restrictive covenants.

Darren has advised major local authorities and public clients on redundancies and restructuring and appeared at tribunal and EAT on discrimination, redundancy and unfair dismissal claims for claimants and respondents.

Notable cases

  • (2017) D v West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Authority – representing the respondent. The claim involved a constructive dismissal allegation and allegations of disability discrimination with particularly sensitive issues relating to the Claimants’ mental health and suicide attempts – The tribunal ruled against the claimant and in favour of the respondent but added that given the tricky issues involved the matter had been handled in an ‘exemplary’ way
  • (2017) F v West Yorkshire Fire Authority – A firefighter was dismissed for inappropriate comments.  There were also allegations that the firefighter had been subjected to less favourable treatment because of protected disclosures made and data protection issues raised in relation to tracker and video evidence used on fire appliances. The case involved a great deal of public scrutiny on social media and sensitivity given the presence of lots of active and former firefighters at the hearing (to watch) or as support witnesses.  There were also allegations of bullying against a senior officer.  All claims were successfully defended
  • (2017) TE v 3 other parties – the claim involved a dispute within a family company over issues of disability and disability discrimination and an unfair dismissal that was alleged to have resulted. After a preliminary hearing on disability the matter proceeded before an economic settlement was reached part way through the trial.
  • (2017) Multiples v RLC : The case involved allegations of a TUPE transfer upon the insolvency of a rugby club and multiple claims for protected payments back pay and pay for failure to consult before redundancy and a transfer.. counsel was able to give advice that there probably was not the transfer of an economic entity and that the liquidation and following asset purchase was of a new entity.
  • (2014) 44 claimants in a multiple action – successful settlement against a national media company on behalf of cable box collectors who alleged that they had been underpaid as they should have had worker status

Public Access

Darren Finlay may accept Public Access work, where he can be instructed directly by a member of the public rather than a solicitor.

Contact Darren’s clerks

Senior Clerk – Andy Reeves on 0113 213 5252

Talia Webster on 0113 202 8609

Joshua Duree on 0113 213 5246

Mike Alexander on 0113 2135268

Ben Ellison-Tope on 0113 2135207

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