Employment

Discrimination and Employment

PSQB has a dedicated specialist discrimination and employment team who can provide expert advice and representation across the full spectrum of this constantly evolving area of law.

Approach

Employment law requires specialist, flexible and approachable barristers, and we pride ourselves on meeting these requirements. Our barristers have well-deserved reputations within the field of discrimination and employment law both for their “down to earth attitude” and also their ability to advise tactically and represent robustly.

“The team at Park Square Barristers has expertise across the ambit of employment law; members represent individuals and companies in unfair dismissal, discrimination and TUPE claims, among other areas.” – The Legal 500 (2017)

The Team

We have a great employment team here at PSQB which is currently headed up by Chelsea Brooke-Ward.

By working as a team and in close communication with our other specialist teams, our members can ensure that cases run smoothly and continuously, and can offer a range of expert opinions when required. Our cross-team working is ideal whenever a multi-disciplinary approach is needed, such as with aspects of commercial, regulatory and/or disciplinary law.

We have a dedicated team of 14 members including one KC. We have real strength in depth and are confident that we can accommodate our client’s needs.

Our devoted Employment Clerks will assist you every step of the way in choosing the right team member for your case.

“Park Square Barristers’ specialist team appears at employment tribunals nationwide, as well as the Employment Appeal Tribunal. It acts for both individual and collective employees, and diverse employers.” – The Legal 500 (2015)

Specialisms

The team has experience across the full range of discrimination and employment matters. Our barristers have acted in claims involving:

  • Unfair dismissal (including automatic unfair dismissal and constructive unfair dismissal)
  • All forms of discrimination (direct and indirect discrimination, failure to make reasonable adjustments, and harassment)
  • Whistleblowing
  • Equal pay
  • Unlawful deduction from wages
  • Worker status
  • Redundancy
  • National Minimum Wage
  • Breach of contract (in the Employment Tribunal and County Court)
  • TUPE
  • And more

Our employment barristers provide advisory and advocacy services for Claimants and Respondents across all spectrums of employment law from individual claims to collective disputes.

We represent individuals at every level. The PSQB Employment Team accept instructions to appear in the High Court, County Courts, Employment Tribunals, the Employment Appeal Tribunal and the Higher Appellate Courts.

Members are instructed by a wide range of clients including individuals large and small private sector organisations, Police Forces, NHS Trusts, Local Authorities, Trade Unions and individual employees. Our team is routinely involved in complex and high-profile litigation such as whistleblowing, discrimination, victimisation and the “Landmark” employee status claim. Our team have successfully represented Claimant’s against the House of Commons.

We also offer a mediation service.

“Recommended for its broad expertise in areas such as discrimination, unfair dismissal and redundancy.” — The Legal 500 (2015)

Park Square HR

Our team can provide quick and efficient HR support. We are able to advise or assist at any stage of the employment relationship. Members are able to provide support with recruitment, drafting employment contracts and policies.

The team can assist in both fact finding and, where appropriate, advice and guidance in conducting robust and reasonable investigations. Our members are

regularly instructed to carry out workplace investigations such as disciplinary or grievance procedures. Workplace investigations will always require a careful and sensitive approach which our members can provide.

Lecturing & training

The employment team regularly provide training & seminars. We have regularly been instructed to provide training on:

  • Disability Discrimination
  • Flexible working
  • Investigation Training
  • Social Media and Employment Law
  • Keeping your team mentally strong
  • Unconscious bias
  • Diversity and inclusion
  • And more

Our members can provide training sessions to support both solicitors and businesses. We can accommodate an array of sessions on any desired topic from a short virtual or face-to-face session to a full-day team event. Whatever the need our specialist team of barristers can produce bespoke, engaging training for any situation.

Public Access

Please contact us if you would like to instruct a barrister directly, without a solicitor as an intermediary.

Memberships

We are active members of the Employment Law Bar Association and Employment Lawyers Association.

Contact the clerks

Senior Civil 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

 

The team