Jessica specialises in employment law.
She is ranked in the Legal 500 as a Rising Star in employment law (2025 and 2026). She is particularly experienced in discrimination and whistleblowing claims. She is routinely instructed as sole counsel in multi-day employment trials, and in preliminary hearings covering issues such as interim relief, worker status, jurisdiction and time limits. Jessica appeared in the EAT as junior counsel for the successful claimants in the case of British Airways plc v Rollett & Others [2024] IRLR 891, in which it was established that claimants without the relevant protected characteristic could bring claims under s19 Equality Act. She appeared in the Court of Appeal as junior counsel for the appellants in Abel Estate Agent Ltd & Ors v Reynolds [2026] ICR 239, the leading case on the implications of failure to comply with ACAS early conciliation.
Jessica also specialises in personal injury – particularly employer liability and occupational illness claims (asthma, mesothelioma and other asbestos-related disease). She has a particular interest in group litigation and is currently instructed as junior counsel on behalf of multiple South African claimants suffering from asbestos-related diseases as a result of living near asbestos mines. Jessica was junior counsel in the Court of Appeal in Cuthbert v Taylor Woodrow [2024] EWCA Civ 244, a leading case concerning the employer’s duty of care in relation to asbestos exposure pre-1965.
Jessica graduated from the University of Cambridge with First Class honours. She achieved a Distinction in the GDL and BVS. She was awarded scholarships by Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, the City Law School and the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple.
Jessica was junior counsel for the successful claimants in British Airways plc v Rollett & Others [2024] IRLR 891, in which the Employment Appeal Tribunal found that it had jurisdiction to hear claims brought under s19 Equality Act by claimants who do not themselves have the relevant protected characteristics. This type of claim is now preserved in s19A Equality Act. Jessica is very happy to advise on S19A claims and this novel area of the law.
Other examples of her work:
Securing the strike out of an entire discrimination claim on the basis of time limits.
Jessica was junior counsel in the Court of Appeal in Cuthbert v Taylor Woodrow [2024] EWCA Civ 244, a case concerning the employer’s duty of care in relation to asbestos exposure pre-1965.
She is building a strong asbestos disease practice.
Other examples of her work:
Jessica Franklin is regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) and holds a current practising certificate. If you are not satisfied with the service provided, please click here.
To find out more, contact Nick Levett on +44 (0)20 7427 4908 or Sura Mustafa on +44 (0)20 7427 4883 for a confidential discussion.
● ELBA
● ELA
