3PB’s ‘go-to’ employment and discrimination group boasts ‘a broad range of technically excellent lawyers across all levels of experience’. Sarah Clarke is a ‘really strong and tenacious advocate’ with a broad practice that includes regular claimant and respondent instructions. She has recently acted for the claimant in Rajput v Commerzbank and Société Générale, a high-value sex and maternity discrimination case against two investment banks. Sarah Bowen, ‘skillful at getting to the nub of an issue’, regularly handles a wide variety of discrimination cases, while Matthew Curtis is ‘fantastic with witnesses’ and specialises in whistleblowing cases in regulated sectors – recently he appeared for the respondent in Biggs v A Bilbrough & Co & others, a widely publicised sex discrimination and whistleblowing case brought by a solicitor employed in a shipping firm.
Employment in
Regional Bar
3PB
Testimonials
‘All clerks are very helpful and polite and always willing to help- Patrick Robson in particular goes above and beyond.’
‘Matthew Scanlan is always friendly, efficient and great to work with.’
‘The 3PB clerks are responsive, flexible and helpful – Patrick Steptoe and Patrick Robson are both excellent.’
‘3PB is an excellent set. They have a broad range of technically excellent lawyers across all levels of experience and will always make every effort to meet the needs of clients.’
‘3PB is a go-to barristers chambers. They are friendly, responsive, they invest time in relationships and make you feel like their only client.’
‘The clerks at 3PB are second to none. The level of service is unparalleled and the clerks are proactive, efficient and dedicated to meeting client needs.’
Guildhall Chambers
Guildhall Chambers‘ employment team offers ‘real strength in depth, both in terms of call and expertise‘. Julian Allsop, who heads the team, is ‘forensic in his approach to litigation‘ and regularly instructed in high-value cases in the High Court, often involving director-level remuneration claims, restrictive covenants, and confidentiality agreements. He recently acted for the claimant in Macanovic v Portsmouth NHS Trust, a significant case raising the issue of whistleblowing detriment and involving the cross-examination of several medical consultants. Fergus Currie, ‘a highly competent and consistent advocate‘, has recently focused on claimant instructions, including wrongful and unfair dismissal actions, discrimination cases, and collective and individual redundancies. Debbie Grennan specialises in high-value whistleblowing and discrimination claims for public sector clients, including local authorities and health care bodies, while Douglas Leach ‘has an excellent ability to think on his feet’ and is well-regarded for his expertise in TUPE, whistleblowing, and discrimination matters as well as in employee competition cases involving breach of confidence, restrictive covenants, and injunctive relief.
Testimonials
‘Rob McDonald and Emily Webb are always on hand and happy to help with queries regarding counsel availability and fee quotes.’
‘Stephen Arnold and Rob McDonald are diligent and always helpful. A pleasure to deal with.’
‘The Guildhall employment team has excellent strength in depth – their range of call ensures that there’s always someone right for the job.’
‘Guildhall has a strong employment offering with some promising counsel coming through too.’
‘Guildhall Chambers has real strength in depth, both in terms of call and expertise.’
‘This chambers is a go-to chambers for employment work and specifically for discrimination cases. They are specialists with discrimination cases and are therefore uniquely placed in Bristol and the South West.’
‘The clerks are very good.’
Old Square Chambers
Old Square Chambers is one of the leading sets on the Western Circuit for employment law work, with several standout practitioners regularly involved in significant cases. Michael Ford KC is a ‘tour de force’ who recently acted for intervenor UNISON in the Supreme Court case Harpur Trust v Brazel, which considered whether a worker’s right to paid annual leave is accumulated according to the working pattern of the worker, or is pro-rated - the matter affects a large number of seasonal workers. Spencer Keen has recently represented the claimant in Plymouth City Council v ABC, a High Court case concerning the alleged theft of confidential information, evaluating the extent of an employee’s duty of confidentiality and the remedy for breach.
Testimonials
‘A strong set for employment work with high profile counsel.’
‘The clerks at Old Square Chambers are keen to help and quick at responding to requests.’
Work highlights
Pump Court Chambers
Pump Court Chambers’ employment team ‘boasts a number of very capable barristers at various levels of call’. Heather Platt is a ‘tenacious advocate’ with considerable experience in relation to disability discrimination claims. She acted for the claimant in Richards v Brocade Communications UK Ltd, a high-profile disability discrimination and unfair dismissal claim by a man with terminal kidney cancer whose employment was ended by the company he had worked for. Tim Dracass regularly handles respondent work, including for private sector businesses, police forces, fire services, local authorities, and universities, while the ‘excellent’ Daniella Gilbert acts for and against a wide range of clients, especially in relation to discrimination and whistleblowing claims.
Testimonials
‘The clerks are quick to respond and helpful. Dean Cunniff is particularly adept in recommending suitable available counsel.’
‘All clerks are very helpful and try to develop good working relationships with instructing solicitors. Jon Cue and Dean Cunniff are particularly helpful.’
‘Dean Cunniff is friendly, responsive and helpful.’
‘The set boasts a number of very capable barristers at various levels of call and the clerks reliably recommend suitable counsel.’
‘Pump Court is a good set with strong advocates.’
‘Good range of counsel’
Work highlights
Queen Square Chambers
Queen Square Chambers’ employment team possesses ‘excellent depth’, with members appearing in a wide range of cases across the Western Circuit. Mark Williams has considerable experience in cases involving whistleblowing, harassment, victimisation, and discrimination. In 2022 he acted for the respondent in the EAT case of Anis Ali v Heathrow Express & Others, in which a security firm was found not to have harassed a Muslim employee after a security training contractor used a dummy bomb labelled with ‘Allahu Akbar’ as a test suspicious package – Williams successfully argued that in the circumstances the use of the phrase was reasonable. The ‘unflappable and adaptable’ Jennifer Linford is often instructed in relation to claims involving allegations of sex or age discrimination. James Bromige, with a ‘tactical mind’, heads the team and specialises in whistleblowing, discrimination, and constructive dismissal claims.
Testimonials
‘The success and popularity of QSC must be attributed to the conduct of clerks Tom Cole, Sam Anibigno and Naomi Boulton.’
‘The clerks are very responsive and easy to deal with. Tom Cole in particular goes out of his way to assist.’
‘Tom Cole is the best clerk; he is helpful, very responsive to emails and incredibly friendly. He will pick up on niche points in the brief and is always willing to go the extra mile to assist. Sam Anibigno is also excellent.’
3PB
Testimonials
‘All clerks are very helpful and polite and always willing to help- Patrick Robson in particular goes above and beyond.’
‘Matthew Scanlan is always friendly, efficient and great to work with.’
‘The 3PB clerks are responsive, flexible and helpful – Patrick Steptoe and Patrick Robson are both excellent.’
‘3PB is an excellent set. They have a broad range of technically excellent lawyers across all levels of experience and will always make every effort to meet the needs of clients.’
‘3PB is a go-to barristers chambers. They are friendly, responsive, they invest time in relationships and make you feel like their only client.’
‘The clerks at 3PB are second to none. The level of service is unparalleled and the clerks are proactive, efficient and dedicated to meeting client needs.’
Guildhall Chambers
Guildhall Chambers‘ employment team offers ‘real strength in depth, both in terms of call and expertise‘. Julian Allsop, who heads the team, is ‘forensic in his approach to litigation‘ and regularly instructed in high-value cases in the High Court, often involving director-level remuneration claims, restrictive covenants, and confidentiality agreements. He recently acted for the claimant in Macanovic v Portsmouth NHS Trust, a significant case raising the issue of whistleblowing detriment and involving the cross-examination of several medical consultants. Fergus Currie, ‘a highly competent and consistent advocate‘, has recently focused on claimant instructions, including wrongful and unfair dismissal actions, discrimination cases, and collective and individual redundancies. Debbie Grennan specialises in high-value whistleblowing and discrimination claims for public sector clients, including local authorities and health care bodies, while Douglas Leach ‘has an excellent ability to think on his feet’ and is well-regarded for his expertise in TUPE, whistleblowing, and discrimination matters as well as in employee competition cases involving breach of confidence, restrictive covenants, and injunctive relief.
Testimonials
‘Rob McDonald and Emily Webb are always on hand and happy to help with queries regarding counsel availability and fee quotes.’
‘Stephen Arnold and Rob McDonald are diligent and always helpful. A pleasure to deal with.’
‘The Guildhall employment team has excellent strength in depth – their range of call ensures that there’s always someone right for the job.’
‘Guildhall has a strong employment offering with some promising counsel coming through too.’
‘Guildhall Chambers has real strength in depth, both in terms of call and expertise.’
‘This chambers is a go-to chambers for employment work and specifically for discrimination cases. They are specialists with discrimination cases and are therefore uniquely placed in Bristol and the South West.’
‘The clerks are very good.’
Old Square Chambers
Old Square Chambers is one of the leading sets on the Western Circuit for employment law work, with several standout practitioners regularly involved in significant cases. Michael Ford KC is a ‘tour de force’ who recently acted for intervenor UNISON in the Supreme Court case Harpur Trust v Brazel, which considered whether a worker’s right to paid annual leave is accumulated according to the working pattern of the worker, or is pro-rated - the matter affects a large number of seasonal workers. Spencer Keen has recently represented the claimant in Plymouth City Council v ABC, a High Court case concerning the alleged theft of confidential information, evaluating the extent of an employee’s duty of confidentiality and the remedy for breach.
Testimonials
‘A strong set for employment work with high profile counsel.’
‘The clerks at Old Square Chambers are keen to help and quick at responding to requests.’
Work highlights
Pump Court Chambers
Pump Court Chambers’ employment team ‘boasts a number of very capable barristers at various levels of call’. Heather Platt is a ‘tenacious advocate’ with considerable experience in relation to disability discrimination claims. She acted for the claimant in Richards v Brocade Communications UK Ltd, a high-profile disability discrimination and unfair dismissal claim by a man with terminal kidney cancer whose employment was ended by the company he had worked for. Tim Dracass regularly handles respondent work, including for private sector businesses, police forces, fire services, local authorities, and universities, while the ‘excellent’ Daniella Gilbert acts for and against a wide range of clients, especially in relation to discrimination and whistleblowing claims.
Testimonials
‘The clerks are quick to respond and helpful. Dean Cunniff is particularly adept in recommending suitable available counsel.’
‘All clerks are very helpful and try to develop good working relationships with instructing solicitors. Jon Cue and Dean Cunniff are particularly helpful.’
‘Dean Cunniff is friendly, responsive and helpful.’
‘The set boasts a number of very capable barristers at various levels of call and the clerks reliably recommend suitable counsel.’
‘Pump Court is a good set with strong advocates.’
‘Good range of counsel’
Work highlights
Queen Square Chambers
Queen Square Chambers’ employment team possesses ‘excellent depth’, with members appearing in a wide range of cases across the Western Circuit. Mark Williams has considerable experience in cases involving whistleblowing, harassment, victimisation, and discrimination. In 2022 he acted for the respondent in the EAT case of Anis Ali v Heathrow Express & Others, in which a security firm was found not to have harassed a Muslim employee after a security training contractor used a dummy bomb labelled with ‘Allahu Akbar’ as a test suspicious package – Williams successfully argued that in the circumstances the use of the phrase was reasonable. The ‘unflappable and adaptable’ Jennifer Linford is often instructed in relation to claims involving allegations of sex or age discrimination. James Bromige, with a ‘tactical mind’, heads the team and specialises in whistleblowing, discrimination, and constructive dismissal claims.
Testimonials
‘The success and popularity of QSC must be attributed to the conduct of clerks Tom Cole, Sam Anibigno and Naomi Boulton.’
‘The clerks are very responsive and easy to deal with. Tom Cole in particular goes out of his way to assist.’
‘Tom Cole is the best clerk; he is helpful, very responsive to emails and incredibly friendly. He will pick up on niche points in the brief and is always willing to go the extra mile to assist. Sam Anibigno is also excellent.’