About
Provided by Outer Temple Chambers
Our Employment & Discrimination team continue to be a leading authority in many of the recent groundbreaking cases. The team is at the forefront of developments in various areas of employment law, including equal pay, working time and holiday pay, disability discrimination and whistleblowing. Many members are appointed to the Attorney General's list of approved counsel and act for Government departments in employment matters.
We are the preferred port of call where specialist expertise in pensions or financial services law is required, or where large equal pay claims are pursued through the civil courts.
We prioritise commercial sensitivities in litigation and advisory work concerning business protection and employees rights, and provide advice and expertise in mediation, arbitration and other methods of ADR.
Examples of work;
- Mass claimant equal pay claims against ASDA, Sainsbury’s, Next Retail, Morrisons and Tesco.
- The highest award for Disability Discrimination (£4.7 million) for a claimant; Royal Bank of Scotland PLC v AB.
- Public sector pension reforms brought by 100s of Judges and 1000s of Fire Fighters, Police Officers, Doctors, Prison Officers and MOD workers.
- Northern Ireland ‘gay cake’ case, Lee v Ashers Baking Company Limited & ors [2018] 3 WLR 1294
- The first appellate case to consider the meaning of ‘unfavourable treatment’ in the Equality Act 2010, Williams v The Trustess of Swansea University Pension and Assurance Scheme & Anr
Chambers Review
Outer Temple Chambers continues to impress with its involvement at the epicentre of ground-breaking mass equal pay litigation. The go-to barristers are highly experienced in all manner of discrimination claims and whistle-blowing matters, as well as employment cases with crossover pensions elements. One source praises "the breadth in the team that enables them to pick up all types of work." The chambers regularly represents significant clients in the public and private sectors, including in retail. Among recent highlights, members represented various claimants in Element & ors v Tesco, a key matter concerned with equal pay in the workplace.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"The clerks at Outer Temple are excellent, especially Practice Director Nicholas Levett."
"The clerks are excellent. Nick Levett in particular is my go-to."
"The clerks are always extremely helpful and prompt in their responses on matters."
"The clerks are excellent, with Nick Levett being the standout. If I ever need anything I go to Nick."
"The clerks are excellent. Responses are nearly instantaneous."
"The clerks at Outer Temple are excellent, especially Practice Director Nicholas Levett."
"The clerks are excellent. Nick Levett in particular is my go-to."
"The clerks are always extremely helpful and prompt in their responses on matters."
"The clerks are excellent, with Nick Levett being the standout. If I ever need anything I go to Nick."
"The clerks are excellent. Responses are nearly instantaneous."
Notable Practitioners
Andrew Short KC has come to be regarded among the legal profession as one of its foremost experts on equal pay. This is thanks to his involvement in a number of landmark cases in the field with potentially transformative ramifications for the retail sector. His practice also takes in important cases concerning discrimination claims, notably in the context of public sector pensions.
"Andrew is amazing and a go-to counsel on equal pay and group actions."
"He is the country's best equal pay KC. He is absolutely amazing. He explains the law so clearly, clients love him, and judges respect him. He's just the complete package"
Naomi Ling is repeatedly instructed by clients to appear in complex tribunal and appellate cases across the whole gamut of employment law. She has extensive knowledge of age and disability discrimination as well as holiday pay disputes, with additional experience of pension-related claims.
"Naomi is technically excellent and always delivers."
"Naomi is just incredibly measured and I value her judgement."
Naomi Cunningham focuses her employment practice on discrimination matters, supported by extensive knowledge of working time cases and mass equal pay litigation. She is experienced in cases concerning allegations of wrongful and unfair dismissal.
"Naomi is a real fighter who cares for her clients."
"Naomi is a master in discrimination cases."
Andrew Allen KC has a multifaceted practice, complementing his extensive knowledge of employment law with expertise in both partnership and discrimination law issues. He is regularly instructed by employers and employees from the legal sector and has notable specialism in injunctive relief, whistle-blowing and disability discrimination cases.
"Andrew is a powerhouse and an absolute delight to work with."
"Andrew gets to grips with the most complex of cases with absolute ease."
"Andrew's communication and preparation is excellent. His advocacy is exceptional."
Keith Bryant KC handles a wide employment practice, enhanced by his extensive knowledge of pensions law. He regularly takes on high-profile discrimination cases and issues surrounding employment and national security vetting protocols.
"He is very user-friendly and easy to get on with, with amazing attention to detail."
Lydia Seymour is a talented employment specialist barrister who is experienced in high-profile cases taking in discrimination, whistle-blowing and other issues.
"Lydia is my first choice for EAT claims."
"Lydia fully understands the interaction between employment and pension issues.She demonstrates great technical ability and is able to explain incredibly complicated legal issues."
Martina Murphy is an employment specialist barrister who is commended for her substantial experience in unfair dismissal, discrimination and victimisation cases. She also possesses expertise in whistle-blowing matters, including those arising in the medical profession.
"Martina is as sharp as a tack. She's very technical, really strategic in her thinking and is friendly with a real team focus."
"Martina is really firm, doesn't take nonsense, but you know she's got your back. She's able to moderate her style well to the environment and is smooth and able to deal with whatever comes up."
"Martina is very tactical and experienced in ET and is good at knowing what will work with a judge."
"Martina's advocacy is brilliant."
Saul Margo is a broad employment specialist with particular expertise in complex discrimination claims, equal pay and cases with an employment and pensions cross-over. He acts regularly in the ET, EAT and Court of Appeal.
"Saulis always very thorough and forensic on the law."
"Saul is an excellent junior."
Will Young brings his knowledge of personal injury to employment disputes and he has carved out a particular niche in work-related psychiatric claims. His client base is broad and he is particularly well thought-of in the financial services market, with regular instructions from senior City individuals.
"Will is extremely impressive."
"Will is an exceptional barrister with extensive expertise in the crossover of personal injury and employment discrimination claims.He is clever and this shines through in his first-class advocacy."
Daniel Barnett acts for both employers and employees across a wide range of employment matters, with specific attention to restrictive covenants and discrimination issues. He has impressive experience in the High Court and at appellate level.
"Daniel'sadvice is always concise and helpful and his oral advocacy skills are excellent."
"He is very well-prepared, has interesting and insightful arguments and presents really well as an advocate. He is a calm yet forceful presence, and he has excellent client handling skills too."
"Daniel is passionate, detail-focused, committed to winning and incredible with clients. He is a killer cross-examiner and the master of the closing submission."
Bianca Venkata's expertise in employment law makes her a highly sought-after advocate for both claimants and respondents. She is noted for her experience in the employment tribunals and Employment Appeal Tribunal.
"Bianca is very adept at predicting the other side's arguments."
"She's very adept at predicting the other side's arguments, is very persuasive and very good on her feet. A seasoned veteran in ETs, she can predict much about a case."
Gus Baker is an accomplished junior barrister with significant litigation experience across the full spectrum of employment law matters, from discrimination and unfair dismissal claims to equal pay. He complements his court practice with advisory work, including assisting with the impact of health and safety on employment law.
"Gus's advocacy is excellent."
"Gus is brilliant on technical points of law."
"Gus is a brilliant barrister who fights for his clients and delivers exceptional results."
Stephen Butler is a tactically astute barrister who is adept at handling tribunal disputes and has experience in employment cases heard before the senior courts, including mass equal pay claims. He is instructed by both respondents and claimants.
"Stephen is technically brilliant, a master in the detail."
Victoria Brown possesses noteworthy experience acting in a broad range of employment claims brought by high-profile individuals. She has represented the government in the long-running litigation concerning judges' pensions.
"Victoria is excellent to work with; thorough, astute and technically sound."
"Victoria is one of my first choices for Counsel."
Elizabeth Grace is a barrister noted for her expertise in handling Civil Restraint Orders, as part of a wider employment law practice which sees her appear regularly in the Employment Appeal Tribunal and other tribunals.
"Elizabeth is always very well-prepared, excellent with witnesses and is a persuasive and tenacious advocate."
"Elizabeth is very, very intelligent. She always fights her client's corner and I know when I send her instructions she will have the points I want to be made immediately."
Ranked Barristers at
Outer Temple Chambers
Silks (KC)
London (Bar)
Juniors
London (Bar)
Members
Provided by Outer Temple Chambers
Head of Department
Courtney Step-Marsden
Edward Morgan
Imogen Egan
James Arnold
Jeremy Scott-Joynt
Jessica Franklin
Joshua Cainer
Lorna Badham
Monique Bouffe
Olinga Tahzib
Oliver Lawrence
Patrick Tomison
Peter Linstead
Sapandeep Maini-Thompson