Andrew Short KC, Paul Livingston & Victoria Brown successful in equal value stage of Asda’s equal pay claim

The Employment Tribunal handed down judgment on Friday 31st January 2025 in the landmark equal pay claim for Asda workers. Andrew Short KC, Paul Livingston and Victoria Brown, instructed by Leigh Day, acted for the Claimants.

The ET found in favour of 12 female lead claimants, represented by Andrew, Paul and Victoria, determining that they have established equal value with at least one of the male comparators.

Asda’s female workers launched their claim in 2014 against their employer based on the fact that the predominantly female retail workforce is paid less than the predominantly male depot workforce per hour.

The recent decision means tens of thousands of Asda shop floor workers have now established their work was of equal value to the depot workers.

Andrew, Paul and Victoria were instructed by Michael Newman, Lauren Lougheed, Linda Wong, Claire Burton and Sophie Greenwood of Leigh Day. The claim will now progress to its final stage: material factor defence.

To read more on the case, click here.

Find out more

Andrew Short KC’s practice centres on pensions, employment, and general commercial work. Andrew’s employment practice covers everything from complex or sensitive dismissal and discrimination cases through TUPE to high value contract, restrictive covenant, fiduciary duty and equal pay claims. He has acted in many of the leading cases relating to discrimination in pay and pensions, including Abdulla v Birmingham City Council, Brierley v Asda, McCloud v Lord Chancellor, and Sargeant v LFEPA.

Paul Livingston is a civil practitioner specialising in Employment & Discrimination/Harassment and Public Inquiries. Paul regularly acts and advises in a range of Employment Tribunal claims and other employment matters. He is regularly instructed to advise or represent large companies, SMEs, local authorities, individuals, charities and trade unions across a variety of sectors – including telecommunications, transport, healthcare, housing, retail, energy and education.

Victoria Brown is a civil and commercial practitioner with a particular focus on pensions and employment who regularly acts in professional negligence and public law cases across her areas of specialism. Victoria’s employment practice spans both advisory and contentious work in the Tribunals and High Court. She regularly represents clients across the breadth of statutory employment law, with particular experience in complex discrimination and whistleblowing matters. Her High Court work includes acting for individuals and current & former employers in respect of team moves, breach of confidence and springboard relief.

To find out more about Andrew, Paul or Victoria contact Matt Sale on +44 (0)20 7427 4910 or Andy Hunter on +44 (0)20 7427 4905.

News 6 Feb, 2025