News & Events
News & Events
The Court of Appeal has today handed down judgment in the case of Abel Estate Agent Ltd & Ors v Elizabeth Reynolds [2025] EWCA Civ 1357, clarifying the consequences of failure to comply with ACAS Early Conciliation. Outer Temple Chambers’ Employment Law Team acted on both sides in the Court of Appeal in the case of Abel Estate Agent Ltd & Ors v Reynolds. Gus Baker and Jessica Franklin, instructed by Kilgannon & Partners LLP, represented the appellants/respondents. On the other side were Will Young and Chevan Ilangaratne, who were instructed pro bono through Advocate to represent the respondent/claimant. The Court of Appeal has confirmed that section 18A of the Employment Tribunals Act 1996 sets a strict precondition for the presentation of Employment Tribunal claims. Where a claimant has not invoked the ACAS…
News 27 Oct, 2025
Gus Baker and Jessica Franklin will today contend with their chambers colleagues Will Young and Chevan Ilangaratne, as members of Outer Temple Chambers’ Employment Law team represent both parties in the Court of Appeal in the EAT case of Abel Estate Agent Ltd & Ors v Elizabeth Reynolds: [2025] EAT 6. This appeal brings into the spotlight a number of questions which, among other things, relate to the correct statutory interpretation of s.18A Employment Tribunals Act 1996. This provision requires, save for limited exceptions, a Claimant to engage in ACAS Early Conciliation before lodging a claim in the Employment Tribunal. The appeal covers an important procedural point given the EAT judgment introduced a significant amount of uncertainty about the effect…
News 12 Jun, 2025
Outer Temple Chambers is delighted to invite you to our upcoming Asbestos Litigation Conference on Thursday 10th July 2025 at Glaziers Hall, London. Our team of experienced industrial disease barristers will be joined by leading experts to provide in-depth analysis on recent legal developments. The event will also offer practical guidance on complex issues such as causation and disclosure. This event is accredited by APIL Training. Topics will include: Assessing the future of low-level Asbestos exposure claims Revisiting evidence on commission hearings Panel: a comparative view of Product Liability claims in the UK and in the US Causation in Peritoneal Mesothelioma claims Panel: Claims arising from business loss We will be joined on the day by a selection of expert…
Martina Murphy and Jessica Franklin have been published in the Discrimination Law Association Briefings paper dissecting the case of British Airways Plc v Rollett & Others [2024] EAT 131. Martina Murphy’s and Jessica Franklin’s article titled ‘A new class of claimant in discrimination law’ was included in the DLA March 2025 Briefing Paper (Volume 84, 1113-1126) following the decision of the EAT in British Airways Plc v Rollett & Others (where they acted for the claimants). The claimants, who numbered 49 at the time of the original preliminary hearing, were Heathrow-based cabin crew. Their claims arose out of restructuring and scheduling changes undertaken by BA in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The claimants alleged that the scheduling changes put those (predominantly non British nationals)…
External Publications, News 3 Apr, 2025
Outer Temple’s Employment Law barristers Martina Murphy and Jessica Franklin have been published in the April 2025 ELA Briefing in an article titled ‘Section 19A of the Equality Act: a new chapter in discrimination legislation.’ Martina Murphy and Jessica Franklin of Outer Temple Chambers have written an article with Clare Armstrong of the Equality and Human Rights Commission for the April 2025 ELA Briefing. In this article, Martina, Jessica and Clare discuss the decision of the EAT in Rollett and the new s19A Equality Act, and its implications for practitioners. Martina and Jessica acted for the claimants in the case of British Airways Plc v Rollett & Others, Minister for Women and Equalities intervening. To read the full article ‘Section 19A…
External Publications, News 1 Apr, 2025
Jessica Franklin successfully represented the Claimant, a dog handler, in a claim against the SoS for Justice for indirect discrimination and victimisation. The Claimant is a drug-detection dog handler at HMP Pentonville. The Claimant was granted partial retirement to care for her elderly father. The Tribunal found that the decision to grant the Claimant partial retirement was met with “disappointment and irritation” by the Claimant’s managers and that they tried to make “the practical application of [her partial retirement] as difficult as possible for the Claimant”. Following her partial retirement, the Claimant applied to work a shift pattern with fewer weekends so that she could meet her caring responsibilities. This was repeatedly refused by her managers. The Tribunal upheld all the…
News 6 Jan, 2025
We are delighted to welcome Jessica Franklin and Sapandeep Singh Maini-Thompson to Outer Temple Chambers as new junior tenants. Jessica Franklin and Sapandeep Singh Maini-Thompson joined the Outer Temple team in October, further bolstering our junior cohort of specialists to fulfill ever-growing demand. Jessica Franklin joined the Bar in 2021 after a successful career in advertising and marketing. She now specialises in personal injury law and employment law. Jessica’s employment practice is particularly focused on discrimination, unfair dismissal and whistleblowing claims. She has a particular interest in personal injury claims brought in the Employment Tribunal and she has been instructed in claims involving not only psychiatric injuries but also physical injuries arising out of discrimination. Her personal injury practice extends to…
News 22 Oct, 2024
