Catriona Aldridge

Practice Areas

Catriona is a partner in our UK employment team. Described as “first class”, she provides employment law support on both contentious and non-contentious matters to UK-wide and international clients across a range of sectors, including construction, hotels & leisure, financial services and energy.

Catriona works with employers to advise on all aspects of the employment lifecycle and is recognised for her ability to give clear, practical advice on both day-to-day (for example industrial relations, disciplinary and grievance issues, redundancy) and more niche employment law matters (for example positive action and clash of rights). She works closely with clients on all aspects of business change, including both UK and international restructures and regularly advises on TUPE. This breadth of experience means she is adept at advising clients of all sizes, from large multi-national clients to start-up clients through the CMS equIP programme.

She is a versatile litigator, noted by the Legal 500 for her experience in representing clients at the employment tribunal. She has defended employment tribunal claims covering topics from discrimination (including disability, sex, religion & belief), whistleblowing and breach of contract and ranging from high value claims brought by senior individuals to union-backed mass claims for equal pay and holiday pay.

Catriona has a particular interest in the ESG agenda from a people perspective and speaks and writes regularly on topics such as diversity & inclusion.

Work Highlights

Managing the account of a UK-wide financial planning, investment management and advisory company, co-ordinating the employment team which supports the client on all aspects of employment related work, including disciplinary, grievance, senior exits, restrictive covenants, SMCR and IR35. Catriona has also supported this client after a number of mergers with exercises involving harmonisation of terms and policies.

Successfully defending an equal pay claim raised by three social care workers against a local authority, including carrying out the advocacy in a 18 day hearing, involving 11 witnesses and resulting in the Tribunal supporting the Council’s approach to job evaluation.

Providing a full employment law service to a key Scottish visitor attraction for close to 15 years, including advising on putting in place a furlough collective agreement, changing rota patterns and terms and conditions, complex disciplinary situations, capability processes and defending disability discrimination claims. Catriona also worked with this client to resolve a dispute with one of its unions which had been ongoing over several years.

Providing advice on changes to the off-payroll working rules to a number of construction industry clients, including a UK-wide infrastructure services company, a civil engineering company and in respect of a range of FM contractors.

Advising on the TUPE and other employment issues arising from the sale by a UK- wide asset manager of its life & pensions and wealth businesses.

Education