Katharine Robinson

Practice Areas

Katharine is an Associate in the Employment Team. She assists clients with matters ranging from defending employment tribunal claims to carrying out workplace consultations and has particular expertise in the third sector. Katharine works predominately with education and charity clients.

Katharine regularly supports HR professionals and senior leaders on day-to-day matters including disciplinary and safeguarding matters, and has been heavily involved in advising independent schools on their pension arrangements following the increase to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme employer contribution rate. Katharine’s expertise within the education sector sees her regularly advising clients on sector-specific matters such as the industrial action within maintained schools relating to teachers’ pay. Katharine was instrumental in supporting the firm’s education clients on the strikes and worked with the Employment team to produce bespoke guidance for clients to navigate the risks.

Katharine regularly represents education institutions and charities in employment tribunal proceedings on various claims, including discrimination, harassment and constructive / unfair dismissal, and has assisted clients in dealing with appeals in the Employment Appeal Tribunal. Katharine is experienced in guiding these claims through to the final hearing stage and negotiating settlements for her clients.

Katharine builds strong relationships with her clients, who value her responsiveness and clear advice, which is particularly important in employment law where clients often require urgent support.

Katharine is a regular speaker at the Academies Annual Update, hosted jointly by Stone King and Buzzacott, which provides an update to academy trusts on governance, financial and employment law, and has given talks at conferences hosted by the Institute of School Business Leaders and Optimus Education on employment law updates, safeguarding and how to manage high risk terminations. More recently, Katharine has been presenting on proposed changes to employment law and the education sector by a new Labour Government. Katharine also exhibits for Stone King at conferences hosted by the Grammar School Heads Association and the Independent Schools’ Bursars Association.

Katharine volunteers as an employment solicitor for Anglia Ruskin University’s Law Clinic and the Bath Law Clinic, which is a collaboration between Stone King, Bath Spa University and Citizens Advice B&NES which offers free initial legal advice to local residents. Katharine provides free advice to individuals at these clinics who may be unable to afford legal fees; these clinics also give law students the opportunity to develop their client relationship and advisory skills.

Career

Katharine trained at Stone King and qualified as a Solicitor in 2019. As well as specialising in the Education Sector, she also supports clients in the Charity and Business & Social Enterprise Sectors.

Experienced in working with maintained schools, academy trusts, and independent schools, Katharine advises on both contentious and non-contentious matters. She has an in-depth understanding of the Education Sector and is able to provide our education clients with sector-specific, tailored advice.

Katharine regularly supports clients in defending employment tribunal claims, including constructive/unfair dismissal, discrimination, and harassment and victimisation claims. She advises clients on day-to-day issues including grievance and disciplinary matters, contractual queries, and settlements. Katharine often speaks at events on employment law updates.

Professional Memberships

Katharine is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association.

Expert in these Jurisdictions

England and Wales.

Industry Sector Expertise

Katharine's expertise includes:

- Representing respondents in employment tribunal claims, including claims for unfair dismissal, constructive dismissal, discrimination, harassment and victimisation

- Advising independent schools on changing pension arrangements relating to the Teachers’ Penson Scheme

- Advising on safeguarding matters and the regulatory requirements under KCSIE

- Advising on disciplinary, capability and grievance matters

- Supporting clients in settlement negotiations and drafting settlement agreements

- Advising on the risks of dismissing employees and how to manage this risk

Education