Employment and Discrimination

View Barristers

At a time when the law concerning employment and discrimination has developed a high political profile and an increasingly complex statutory framework, Outer Temple Chambers provides a service which combines first class knowledge with an accessible and flexible approach.

Outer Temple is notable amongst barristers' chambers in being at the forefront in the development of discrimination law. Our practitioners can justifiably claim to have played a pre¬eminent role in moulding disability discrimination law with members of Chambers having appeared in the first cases to reach the higher appellate courts both in housing disability discrimination - Manchester City Council v Romano [2005] 1 WLR 2775 - and in goods and services disability discrimination - Roads v Central Trains [2004] EWCA Civ 1541.

Chambers is also unusual in having acknowledged expertise in representing Claimants and Respondents in employment cases. Our Employment and Discrimination team provides a comprehensive and integrated service covering all aspects of employee rights. As well as appearing regularly in the civil courts, tribunals, the Pensions Ombudsman, the Central Arbitration Committee and all appellate courts, we routinely advise in connection with directors' severance arrangements, partnership disputes, TUPE transfers, European compliance issues, human resource policies and risk management. We also act and advise in relation to professional disciplinary matters. We appreciate the commercial sensitivities in litigation and advisory work concerning employee rights and provide advice and expertise in mediation, arbitration and other methods of dispute resolution.

Our clients include major commercial organizations, directors, professionals trustee companies, lay beneficiaries, trade unions, local and central government, NHS Trusts, actuaries, brokers, auditors, accountants and individual employees.

Notable Cases include:

  • British Airways Plc v Williams [2008] ICR 779
  • Airbus UK Ltd v Webb [2008] ICR 561
  • Kimberley Group Housing v Hambley [2008] IRLR 682
  • Harris v Towergate London Market Ltd [2008] IRLR 536
  • Dynamex Friction Ltd v Amicus [2008] IRLR 515
  • Robinson v Tescom [2008] IRLR 408
  • Bleuse v MBT Transport Ltd [2008] ICR 488
  • Unison v Allen [2008] ICR 114
  • Grundy v British Airways Plc [2008] IRLR 74
  • Arthur v London Eastern Railway Ltd [2007] ICR 193
  • Hay v Surrey CC [2007] EWCA Civ 93.
  • Robins and others v. Department for Work and Pensions [2007] IRLR 270, ECJ
  • Draper v Mears Limited [2006] IRLR 869

 

For further information relating to our Employment & Discrimination team, please contact Chris Gittins, Team Leader on, 020 7353 6381.

 

What the directories say 

Legal 500, 2009

Outer Temple Chambers has a stable following of instructing solicitors that value the set's 'solid practitioners'. Richard Lissack QC is 'seriously talented' and possesses a 'strong litigation style'. Noted for 'exceptional judgement and excellent values', Andrew Short is a 'pleasure to work with' and appeared in British Airways v Williams in the High Court.


Chambers and Partners 2010
Outer Temple Chambers continues to grow and impress clients with its "friendly outlook and authoritative advice." Among the talented members providing "thorough, detailed and measured advice," Richard Lissack QC stands out for his strong litigation abilities. He acted in R v LFEPA ex parte FBU, a case looking at pension entitlement when a fireman has the medical reason for his discharge reviewed adversely by a medical board. He is the only silk from the set featured in the tables but a number of juniors make the grade. Naomi Cunningham, for example, has a "great depth of intellect and refuses to just accept the obvious interpretation of a piece of legislation," according to solicitors. She comes highly recommended for her expertise in discrimination, and recently handled a sensitive sex discrimination and sexual harassment case brought by a former teacher at an Islamic school.

Andrew Short exercises "exceptional judgement, is excellent value for money and is a pleasure to work with," while Andrew Allen "is a brilliant cross-examiner." Allen is fully informed on a wide range of employment issues and has lately been handling TUPE and discrimination matters. Jill Brown is lauded by union and claimant big-wigs as an "extraordinary advocate who is exceptionally calm." She is well sought after as is Keith Bryant, "a diligent and hard-working lawyer who is definitely one to watch." Others to catch the eye here include the "composed and amiable" Benjimin Burgher, who is popular among union clients and individuals, and Lydia Seymour who impresses with her "detailed and measured advice."