Naomi Cunningham awarded The Lawyer’s ‘Barrister of the Week’

Naomi Cunningham has been awarded The Lawyer’s ‘Barrister of the Week’ in recognition of her role as part of the team acting for 35,000 claimants in an equal pay claim against ASDA at the Supreme Court earlier this month.

The Lawyer, in their article, explored Naomi’s employment law career, starting over 20 years ago when Naomi thought that representing 42 low paid workers in a case against Cromwell Hospital was a formidable logistical challenge. Fast forward to today and Naomi is currently part of a team acting for 35,000 claimants in an equal pay claim against ASDA, most recently landing a noteworthy triumph in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court unanimously rejected Asda’s appeal and held that the Claimants (35,000 predominantly female retail employees) can use male distribution employees as comparators for the purposes of an equal pay claim.

Naomi recounts that her career so far has seen her act for many individuals in emotionally charged cases, and that she savours the challenge of taking on powerful organisations. “I really like feeling like David up against Goliath.” she tells interviewer Luke Barr.

The article explores Naomi’s motivations for practising in employment law and how litigation can bring clients a sense of closure or answerability. It also explores memorable moments of her career and cases that have stuck with her for the injustice she managed to put right.

Read the full article on The Lawyer.com

The full article can be read on the Lawyer’s website here.

Find out more

Naomi Cunningham has specialised in employment and discrimination law throughout her career. She acts for a mix of public and private sector employers, large and small, and individual employees and trade unions. Over the last couple of years, she has developed a niche expertise in the interaction between the Equality Act and the Gender Recognition Act, the single-sex exceptions in the Equality Act and the Public Sector Equality Duty, and as a result has a growing interest in public law in these areas.

To find out more or to instruct Naomi, please contact Nick Levett on +44 (0)20 7427 4908 or Adam Macdonald on +44 (0)20 7427 4906 for a confidential discussion.

News 13 Apr, 2021