Partner, Employment
Client testimonials:
Your advice was “sensible and without fault” and I found you “very easy to work with”
“Thanks for all your help, advice and support …I had real confidence in you”
“Thank you for your help…I appreciate now much more than ever before the reason behind your persistence” ….”If we had not followed your advice all along the outcome of this case would not have been as favourable”
“I really appreciate the care you took in explaining everything and the support you gave me”
*For confidentiality reasons we are unable to disclose client names
Expertise:
I have over fourteen years’ experience as an employment lawyer and advise both employers and employees across a hugely diverse range of industries. I have a particular interest in education, healthcare and the voluntary sector and also regularly advise legal firms on employment issues where those firms do not have their own employment department.
In advising both employers and employees, clients have ranged from small to medium- sized companies to senior or junior employees; law firms to individual lawyers; medical and dental practices to individual doctors and nurses; and schools to teachers.
I advise on all aspects of employment law and regularly deal with disciplinary and grievance issues, redundancy, employment tribunal litigation, discrimination, restrictive covenants, and settlement agreements. As well as providing solutions, I advise on how to prevent problems arising.
The close relationship I build with my clients is important in understanding how I can best find the most suitable solution for them and make the process as smooth as possible. Clients regularly comment on my practical, common sense approach and, when negotiating, my perseverance in delivering favourable results.
I have a genuine desire to provide the best solution for my clients’ needs and always take a personal hands - on approach, providing whatever support is required.
I am a regular speaker on employment issues and host a variety of informative employment seminars throughout the year.
Recent notable experience:
- Advising a senior employee in respect of the termination of his employment under a settlement agreement and obtaining, through negotiation, a compensation sum of over three times the amount that was originally offered by his employer.
- Acting for a respondent medical practice in a claim against it by a former employee for constructive unfair dismissal and disability discrimination. The employee took her claim all the way to a full hearing in the employment tribunal but at the tribunal agreed to accept a nominal financial settlement. My client’s legal expenses insurer was so pleased with the proposed settlement value that it agreed to pay it on our client’s behalf.
- Acting for a respondent hotel in a claim by a former employee for unfair dismissal, wrongful dismissal, unauthorised deductions from wages arising from non-payment of the NMW and breach of the Working Time Regulations. My client offered the claimant a commercially sensible sum in settlement that was refused and the case went to a full hearing in the employment tribunal. The employment judge found in favour of my client on every count and the claimant’s case was dismissed.
- Acting for a respondent children’s residential care home in a claim brought by the former house manager for constructive unfair dismissal, wrongful dismissal, automatic unfair dismissal by reason of a public interest disclosure and unauthorised deductions from wages. Following a Case Management Discussion at which the claimant was ordered, at my request, to provide additional information, the claimant withdrew his claim in its entirety.
Career:
I qualified as a solicitor in 1979 and specialised in corporate law at a major City law firm. When my children were small, I took a career break and worked as a volunteer at the Citizens Advice Bureau where I developed a successful employment law niche, acting on behalf of employees. This diverse background has given me a unique understanding of both employers and employees and is the basis of my reputation for giving sound practical advice and being a good negotiator. I joined Osmond Gaunt & Rose (now part of OGR Stock Denton LLP) as an employment solicitor in 1999 and was made a partner in 2005. As well as advising clients, I provide employment seminars and legal updates on the ever - changing field of employment law.
Memberships:
Employment Lawyers’ Association
Publications:
Author of the firm’s Employment newsletter and of articles in various in-house journals
Personal background:
Outside work, I enjoy spending time with my family and every now and then, holidaying in far-flung places. To keep fit, I love yoga and dance and walking on Hampstead Heath with our dog, Daisy.
