Simon Shepherd > Schofield Sweeney > Leeds, England > Lawyer Profile
Schofield Sweeney Offices

76 WELLINGTON STREET
LEEDS
LS1 2AY
England
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Simon Shepherd

Work Department
Employment
Position
Partner
Simon undertakes all types of employment law work, primarily acting for employer clients, including several PLC clients. He advises of disciplinary and grievance matters, TUPE consultation procedures and on complex restructuring and redundancy issues. Simon conducts his own advocacy in the Employment Tribunals and he has successfully represented clients in proceedings involving unfair dismissal, sex, race, age and disability discrimination. On several occasions, Simon has been successful in obtaining costs awards against the Claimant.
Simon has a particular specialism in the education sector and he acts for more than 70 community schools, academies and independent schools, advising not only on employment issues (which has included advising on the dismissal of several Headteachers) but also on more specific education matters such as admissions, exclusions and parental complaints. Simon has also defended academy clients against claims of disability discrimination in the SEN Tribunal.
Career
Trained Jordans, Dewsbury, qualified 1998; partner Schofield Sweeney Solicitors 2005.
Memberships
Employment Lawyers Association.
Education
Hall Cross Comprehensive, Doncaster; Sheffield Hallam University (1994 LLB (Hons)); Nottingham Law School (1995 PG Dip in law); Leicester University (part-time) (2000 LLM).
Leisure
Badminton, swimming and reading.
Lawyer Rankings
Yorkshire and the Humber > Employment > Employment: Leeds and West Yorkshire; North Yorkshire
Schofield Sweeney fields a strong practice in the education, healthcare and housing sectors, and also assists with immigration mandates. Simon Shepherd leads the team and has a particular focus on the education sector, with strong experience defending claims in the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal. John Robinson primarily advises businesses but also has extensive experience advising senior employees on all aspects of employment law. Annie Gray offers a breadth of experience with particular knowledge of the education sector.
Yorkshire and the Humber > Public sector > Education
Praised for its ‘exceptional combination of expertise, innovation, and client-focused approach’, Schofield Sweeney‘s far-reaching practice advises across academy conversions, land acquisitions and disposals, and education health care plans. Karen Crutchley, who chairs the practice from the firm’s Leeds office, counts the drafting and reviewing of commercial documents among her practice strengths. Bradford-based Andrew Hurst‘s longstanding experience in the education sector includes assisting with development schemes for schools. ‘Outstanding practitioner’ Simon Shepherd conducts his own advocacy in Employment Tribunals in cases such as discrimination, whistleblowing and unfair dismissal. Tina Morris is well-versed in issues related to academy conversions.
Lawyer Rankings
- Education Yorkshire and the Humber > Public sector
- Employment: Leeds and West Yorkshire; North Yorkshire Yorkshire and the Humber > Employment
Top Tier Firm Rankings
Firm Rankings
- Private client > Charities and not-for-profit
- Public sector > Education
- Real estate > Environment
- Private client > Personal tax, trusts and probate
- Finance > Banking and finance
- Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: Leeds and West Yorkshire; North Yorkshire
- Real estate > Commercial property: Leeds and West Yorkshire; North Yorkshire
- Private client > Contentious trusts and probate
- Corporate and commercial > Corporate and commercial: Leeds, West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire
- Projects, energy and natural resources (including PFI) > Energy and projects
- Finance > Insolvency and corporate recovery
- Real estate > Planning
- Real estate > Property litigation
- Real estate > Construction
- Employment > Employment: Leeds and West Yorkshire; North Yorkshire
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > IT and telecoms