Littleton Chambers

Adam Solomon KC

Barrister. Practice covers employment law, discrimination, commercial law, public law and human rights, frequently appearing in the Privy Council, the Court of Appeal and also in high profile commercial and employment cases, acting both for Claimants and Respondents/Defendants. Recent cases include: Ward v Ashkenazi [2011] (the use of the Tribunal’s discretion to cap losses for unfair dismissals), Brandeaux Advisers (UK) Ltd and others v Chadwick [2011] EWHC 3241 (QB) (the return of confidential information from an employee),Glentree v Holbeton [2011](estate agents commission), Hopkin v FSA [2010], Rutherford v Seymour Pierce [2010] (unpaid bonus), Colliers CRE v Pandya [2009] ( conspiracy to defraud), Seal v Chief Constable of South Wales [2007] UKHL 31 (human rights and access to justice, House of Lords), Hanna v Imperial Life [2007] UKPC (breach of contract and employment status, Privy Council), James v Redcats [2007] IRLR 296 (leading case in the EAT on employment status), Ali v Rauf [2006] EWHC 3420 (charity dispute concerning Prince Harry). His public law cases include Leung v Imperial College London [2002] ELR 653 (university admission of overseas student, High Court); R v Newham ex p K, HC, [2002] ELR 390 (school admission and human rights, High Court) and R v Flintshire ex p Armstrong-Braun [2001] LGR 344 (democracy and local government, Court of Appeal). He appears regularly in the High Court, Court of Appeal and the Employment Appeal Tribunal. Adam has appeared in the highest courts and tribunals: he was instructed in an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights (on appeal from the House of Lords), appeared in July 2017 in the Supreme Court in the case of Michalak, and has also appeared as an advocate on a number of occasions before the Privy Council, including Adamas v Cheung [2011] I.R.L.R. 1014 which concerned variation of contract. Adam is also called to the Bar of the British Virgin Islands, and has recently (summer 2016) appeared in the BVI Commercial Court in a unfair prejudice and share dispute trial, and was successful before the BVI Court of Appeal when responding to the appeal (summer 2017).

Alex Francis

Commercial, Employment, Sports

Alexander Robson

Employment and commercial. Employment: High Court claims relating to contractual duties, employee competition, confidential information and fiduciary duties. Alexander's ET practice covers the spectrum of statutory claims, often of a high-profile or sensitive nature. Commercial: Expertise in commercial litigation covering the range of commercial contract disputes, as well as shareholder disputes, commercial fraud and disputes between directors/senior employees. Clients include major multinational corporations, public sector bodies and individuals.

Alexander Halban

Alexander practises in a broad range of commercial and civil fraud disputes – including commercial contracts, shareholders’ disputes, insolvency, civil fraud and asset tracing, and international arbitration. Many of Alexander’s cases have an international element, involving jurisdiction challenges, conflicts of laws issues, and claims brought under foreign law. He regularly appears in applications for freezing orders and other injunctive relief. He also has experiences in disputes involving cryptocurrency. Alexander is a fluent Russian speaker and has a particular expertise in Russian and CIS disputes, along with litigation in many other jurisdictions, especially the major offshore centres – the BVI, Cyprus, the DIFC and Singapore. He also speaks fluent French. Recent cases include Gorbachev v Guriev, a civil fraud claim to recover assets worth US$1 billion in a Russian business listed on the London Stock Exchange and Al-Subaihi v Al-Sanea, a £16 million claim arising out of the collapse of the Saad business group in Saudi Arabia.

Andrew Maguire

Andrew is a highly regarded chancery and commercial advocate, who has built up an impressive reputation in the ﬁelds of contractual and ﬁduciary disputes; many involving banking and ﬁnancial services claims, including civil fraud disputes involving cryptoassets. He has considerable experience in relation to international and domestic civil fraud and asset-tracing cases, often involving pre-emptive injunctions, particularly freezing and proprietary injunctions and cross-border enforcement of judgments and anti- suit injunctions. Andrew has been instructed on various cases involving mis-selling of ﬁnancial investment products and pension products; some of which have involved judicial review applications and Group Litigation Orders and cross-border claims.

Antony Sendall

Employment law: all aspects including TUPE, discrimination, whistleblowing, equal pay, working time, restraint of trade/confidential information/garden leave and industrial disputes. Commercial law: Commercial disputes of all sorts, but especially business protection injunctions as well as mediating a wide range of disputes. Sports law: especially employment, regulatory and disciplinary matters. Mediation: Commercial, workplace and community mediations and also appears as an advocate in mediations.

Ashley Cukier

Barrister specialising in commercial litigation, civil fraud and sports law. Current sports law Junior of the Year (2023). Substantial sports law practice, predominantly focused on financial disputes, and informed by his commercial litigation, arbitration and civil fraud expertise. Particularly sought after for football matters – both domestic and international – involving clubs, agents, players and managers. Recent high profile and high-value matters (as sole counsel) include two separate victories before the FIFA Football Tribunal (Hiddink v Football Association of the Maldives; Koopman v Football Association of the Maldives), successfully representing the Respondent before the FA Appeal Board in an appeal by Southend United FC against a 10-point deduction; and a multi-million-pound football agency arbitration (Rule K), containing Portuguese and English elements, which generated a highly favourable settlement shortly before trial. Also highly experienced in sports regulatory issues. Lead junior counsel on the Independent Investigation into Yorkshire County Cricket Club, commissioned in the wake of the Azeem Rafiq scandal. Frequently appointed to act in disciplinary hearings (Tennis, Football, Sailing), selection challenges and doping hearings across a variety of sports. Sport Resolutions arbitrator and mediator. FA and EFL arbitrator. Premier League panellist. For comprehensive CV, visit https://littletonchambers.com/people/ashley-cukier/

Benjamin Gray

Benjamin is an employment, public and commercial law practitioner. He acts for both Claimants and Respondents across the full spectrum of employment litigation, in the Employment Tribunals, Employment Appeal Tribunal and the High Court. His clients range from individuals, through campaign groups, to SMEs, plcs and Government Departments. He is instructed in complex and challenging cases, including interim relief, injunctions and short notice duty advocacy schemes. His experience includes complex discrimination claims, whistleblowing litigation, misuse of confidential information and complex misconduct allegations, including with a criminal crossover element. Benjamin’s public law practice is primarily but not exclusively for Government clients, and includes immigration, unlawful detention and human rights claims. His approach combines forensic and analytical rigour with the ability to step back and see the bigger picture in a case. He is equally comfortable handling both complex document-heavy matters and cases that turn on little more than witness credibility. He gives clear advice, focussed on practical, commercial solutions. He is experienced in dealing with cases involving elements of political and other reputational sensitivity. Benjamin is a member of the Attorney General’s London B Panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown, the ELA Pro Bono Committee and the ALBA Equality and Diversity Committee. He graduated from King’s College London with a First in War Studies, obtained a Distinction on the Graduate Diploma in Law, and received a Major Scholarship from Inner Temple. Benjamin is a Deputy District Judge.

Bianca Balmelli

Bianca joined Littleton in October 2019 on completion of her pupillage. She accepts instructions in all of Chambers’ core practice areas.

Carol Davis KC

A highly experienced barrister specialising in discrimination and high-value Employment Tribunal litigation, commercial employment and partnership matters in the High Court and regulatory work, with a particular emphasis on the financial services sector. She specialises in extremely confidential and sensitive matters and is highly sought after by major UK and multinational corporations, banking and other financial institutions for large-scale discrimination and whistleblowing cases and independent reviews, internal investigations, hearings and appeals.

Charlene Ashiru

Charlene has extensive experience of all aspects of statutory and contractual employment law. She is instructed by claimants and respondents at all stages of proceedings in the High Court, Employment Tribunals and Appellate Courts. She is regularly sought out for complex, multi-day unfair dismissal, discrimination, whistleblowing and/or TUPE cases, as well as business protection cases involving team moves and breach of restrictive covenants. Charlene’s commercial litigation practice covers a wide spectrum of commercial law and procedure, including international disputes involving conflict of laws, commercial contract, directors’ and fiduciary duties and commercial agency, as well as disputes involving confidential information and intellectual property. She is adept at getting to grips with complex facts quickly and finding the approach that best fits the client’s commercial interests, both legally and tactically. Charlene is regularly instructed in matters in the High Court, County Courts and international arbitrations, as well as in relation to general advisory work and large-scale disclosure exercises involving issues of privilege. Charlene obtained a first-class law degree from Oxford University and LL.M from University of Toronto. She joined Littleton in 2010 following a successful pupillage.

Charles Samek KC

Charles Samek KC is a commercial lawyer with a substantial court and advisory practice. In practice for 33 years, 14 years as a Silk, he has been involved in many leading cases and high-profile commercial disputes. Specialising in commercial litigation, civil fraud, banking & finance and shareholder disputes, he is highly experienced both as a first-instance and appellate advocate. He has been admitted to the Bars of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (BVI) and ad hoc in the Cayman Islands. He also acts as counsel in international arbitrations, and has sat as an arbitrator in the LCIA. He was educated at St Paul’s School and Oriel College, Oxford University. He speak excellent Italian, very good French and intermediate Russian.

Charlotte Davies

Charlotte specialises in employment law and commercial litigation. Her employment practice includes matters involving restrictive covenants, confidentiality and directors' duties in addition to the full range of statutory employment work. Her commercial practice covers contractual disputes, company disputes and civil fraud. Charlotte regularly undertakes appellate work, and has appeared in the Privy Council, Court of Appeal and EAT. Clients include a range of private and public sector organisations (including a number of FTSE 100 companies) as well as private individuals.

Dale Martin KC

Dale Martin KC is one of the UK’s leading specialists in employment and commercial law. He is often instructed in appeals, in business-critical injunctive cases, in long-running multi-claimant litigation, and in cases concerning high net worth individuals. With a keen attention to detail and a compelling advocacy style, Dale has a formidable reputation. Dale’s team skills, his responsiveness and his reliability to work to deadlines are also highly valued amongst instructing solicitors. Dale is a natural trial and appellate advocate but uses his strategic insight, commercial judgement and tactical nous to position cases for favourable settlement where this achieves his clients’ objectives. Ranked for a number of years by leading legal directories as a leading employment practitioner, Dale’s practice encompasses injunctions, restrictive covenant and confidential information disputes, bonuses, fiduciary duties, shareholder disputes, contractual disputes, statutory claims including discrimination, whistleblowing and unfair dismissal, TUPE, trade union litigation, internal investigations and mediation/ADR. He also specialises in class-action litigation in the fields of equal pay and working time.

Daniel Northall KC

Daniel is an advocate and adviser in his core practice areas of employment law and commercial litigation. Daniel has been praised by clients and commentators alike for his keen analytical skills, developed legal knowledge, pragmatism and client-friendly manner. Daniel has entered the legal directories after only his second year of practice and has been a regular fixture since. He has variously been described as ‘incredibly hard working’, a ‘rising star’, having ‘ability beyond his years’, offering ‘strong intellectual analysis and pragmatic advice’ and ‘excellent advocacy’ in addition to being ‘very user-friendly and very popular’. His practice has developed into areas of increasing complexity and value. He is now regularly instructed as sole counsel on multi-day litigation in the Employment Tribunal, County Court and High Court, in addition to appeals to the superior courts. He normally acts for medium to large businesses, executives, high net worth individuals, public sector bodies and government departments. He has developed a particular reputation for business migration and other TUPE related employment litigation as well as litigation involving novel or complex points of law.

Daniel Tatton-Brown KC

Barrister specialising in employment, commercial contract law and professional negligence. Notable cases include Software 2000 Ltd v Andrews [2007] ICR 825, [2007] IRLR 568 EAT (correct approach to Polkey reductions); McPherson v BNP Paribas [2004] IRLR 588 (costs orders by employment tribunals); DHL Air (UK) Ltd v Wells CA, Times 14/11/03 (successful appeal in an employment-related claim in deceit); Marlow v East Thames Housing Group Ltd [2002] IRLR 798 (High Court PHI claim considering the duty of an employer); Silvey v Pendragon [2001] IRLR 685, [2002] PLR 277 CA (wrongful dismissal); Oyinnaka v Sheffield College EAT [2001] ICR Part 7 (question of ‘detriment’).

David Lascelles

David specialises in litigation arising from the sale of shares and businesses, shareholder and LLP membership, high-value commercial contracts, commercial fraud, and director and senior employee relations.

David Reade KC

Employment: all areas of both contentious and non-contentious employment law (including EU Law). Chambers and Partners Employment Silk of Year 2015. Legal 500 Employment Silk of the Year 2016 and shortlisted for 2017. David has appeared in numerous leading decisions in the field, including Barton v Investec (EAT), Hounga v Allen (SC), NUM v UK Coal (EAT), Brennan v Sunderland (CA), Rhys-Harper v Relaxion (HofL), Rutherford v Harvest Town Circle (EAT), Foley v Post Office (CA), Chesterton’s v Nurmohamed (CA) and Mencap v Tomlinson-Blake (SC). David has appeared as an advocate at all levels from Tribunal to the Supreme Court and before the CJEU. He successfully acted for the employers before the CJEU in the collective redundancy case arising out of the collapse of Woolworths. He has wide experience of the interrelationship between insolvency and collective redundancy having acted in, amongst others, the insolvencies of Comet and Phones4You and presently in the litigation concerning Carillion. He has particular experience of urgent injunctive relief, including search orders, freezing orders and anti-suit injunctions. He has appeared in a number of leading cases in the field including Ashcroft v National Theatre (interim specific performance) QBE v Dymoke (springboard injunctions)(HC), TFS Derivatives v Morgan (restrictive covenants)(HC), Pennwell v Ornstein (confidential data and database misuse) (HC) and Standard Life v Gorman (garden leave injunctions) (CA). His has particular experience of confidentiality and privacy issues in the context of hearings recently having successfully resisted an appeal by The Times against a privacy order, A v X ( EAT). David has extensive experience of TUPE and collective redundancy claims; his appellant cases include Kavanagh v Crystal Palace. (CA), Solectron v Roper (EAT), Ferguson v Astrea Asset Management (EAT), SNR Denton v Kirwin (EAT) and CWU v Royal Mail (CA). He has acted in many protected disclosure cases including in the Court of Appeal in the cases of Day v HEE(CA) and Chestertons v Nurmohamed (CA). He has extensive experience of Equal Pay Litigation acting both on public sector and private sector claims. His practice includes collective labour law issues, acting for both Trade Unions and employers. He acted for British Airways before the Court of Appeal in the industrial action by its’ cabin crew. His collective work has included advising and acting on recognition issues and in cases involving the restraint of industrial action. He successfully judicially reviewed the CAC on its recognition decision against Boots PLC and defended that review in the Court of Appeal. He has appeared on other collective issues including issues related to domestic and European Works Councils. He acted for Uber in the litigation on the status of drivers and has advised and acted for others in the sector. Recent work has seen him advising on national minimum wage and holiday pay issues, particularly in the care sector; he appeared for Mencap in the Supreme Court. He has experience of pension and share option claims and has advised various companies on the pension and employment issues arising out of changes to final salary pension schemes. He has successfully judicially reviewed the Pensions Regulator on the issue of the transnational application of auto enrolment, R v Pensions Regulator (HC), and has experience of arguing cross border and jurisdiction issues, Walker v Wallem Shipmanagement Ltd (EAT). Commercial litigation: (including banking, financial services, insolvency and consumer credit). He has wide commercial experience including freezing and search orders. He has acted on and advised on numerous minority shareholder oppression claims. He has particular experience of banking litigation involving the sale of complex derivative and interest swap products; acting in Hockin v RBS one of the largest miss-sold derivative claims and Standish v The Royal Bank of Scotland (HC).He additionally had experience of commercial property based litigation successfully appearing in 2017 before the Supreme Court on an appeal on the correct basis for the assessment of business rates, Newbigin v SJ J Monk (SC). Partnership: His work in this field includes extensive experience of partnership disputes and LLP disputes, including LP in the private equity sector. He has acted on these issues in the civil courts, in private arbitrations and before the Employment Tribunal on those matters for which it has jurisdiction over partners Sport: David has wide experience of sport litigation and advisory work, including FA tribunals and agent and player disputes. Recent work includes acting Jess Varnish in her claims against British Cycling, acting for Sunderland FC in the defence of commission claims by a former director and advising the club on various football issues. Acting for Aston Villa in the defence of a claim. He acted for Bristol RFC in connection with the recruitment by the RFU of Steve Borthwick and has advised in connection rugby disciplinary issues. He has experience in acting in FA arbitrations. Mediation: He has worked as a mediator since 2006

Gavin Mansfield KC

Head of Littleton Chambers. Practice covers employment and discrimination law, partnership disputes and commercial litigation. Areas of practice include team moves, contractual disputes (wrongful dismissal, bonus claims, restrictive covenants and garden leave), breach of confidence and fiduciary duties, all aspects of statutory employment law, shareholder and joint venture disputes.

Georgina Leadbetter

Georgina specialises in tribunal and High Court litigation arising out of the employment relationship. She is increasingly sought after for appellate work, both led and as sole counsel, and recently appeared in two landmark employment cases in the Supreme Court: · Royal Mencap Society v Tomlinson-Blake [2021] I.C.R. 758 (entitlement to the national minimum wage during sleep-in shifts), led by David Reade KC and Niran de Silva · Royal Mail Group Ltd v Efobi [2021] 1 W.L.R. 3863 (burden of proof under the Equality Act 2010), led by David Reade KC and David Flood Georgina is also frequently instructed in significant High Court litigation arising from or relating to the employment relationship, including in the context of breach of contract and fiduciary duty, conspiracy, partnership and LLP disputes, and business protection matters concerning restrictive covenants and confidential information.

Georgina Churchhouse

Georgina practises in all areas of employment, discrimination, commercial employment law and business protection. She acts at first instance in complex, sensitive and high value multi day or week trials in the Employment Tribunal and High Court, and on appeal in the EAT and higher courts, both led and unled. She has considerable trial experience in whistleblowing and Equality Act claim disputes where she acts for both Senior Executives and Respondents working in the financial services, professional services, technology, media, insurance, NHS, higher education, and charity sectors. Georgina is also trusted to conduct complex appellate advocacy, having acted in several leading employment cases in the EAT and Court of Appeal as sole and junior counsel.

Grahame Anderson

Grahame is an expert trial and appellate advocate in employment and equalities law and related disciplines and regularly appears unled against Silks and senior juniors. He is sought out in particular for complex discrimination and whistleblowing trials, as well as business protection cases involving team moves and breach of restrictive covenants. He regularly undertakes appellate work before the EAT and Court of Appeal. Clients include a wide range of public and private sector entities (including a number of FTSE 100 companies and HM Government).

James Bickford Smith

Commercial, Employment, Partnership, Commercial Chancery. In particular: 1) commercial litigation in England and Wales and in Middle East (registered practitioner in DIFC) 2) employment litigation in England and Wales and Middle East 3) director disputes or similar disputes arising out of fiduciary relationships 3) Partnership work. James has obtained significant trial experience domestically and internationally in disputes across all his practice area. He has come to be regularly instructed in large-scale cases either to lead teams or as sole counsel. 2023/4 trial instructions have included a ten day trial in Dubai International Financial Centre (sole counsel), a five day trial in the Abu Dhabi Global Market Court (leading) and a multi-week trial in the London Central Employment Tribunal (sole counsel). Also instructed in significant team move litigation ultimately resolved without trial (leading a team of two). Shortlisted as IEL International Employment Junior of the Year. International commercial litigation also forms a core component of James’ practice. The author of the PLC practice note on Injunctions, James is familiar with Interim Applications of most descriptions across the commercial and employment field. James is the Chair of Littleton’s Partnership Group and is regularly instructed in high value partnership disputes proceeding in ET or arbitration.

James Wynne

James’ practice covers employment law in both Employment Tribunals and High Court, collective/trade union aspects of labour law, commercial disputes and injunctions. James has acted in high profile discrimination, whistleblowing, TUPE/redundancy and collective matters. James’ High Court employment expertise includes injunctions and claims regarding directors’ duties, restrictive covenants, team moves and soft IP. He has acted for a number of clients facing national industrial action. James’ commercial practice includes contractual disputes, directors' duties, agency, soft IP, copyright and passing off, insolvency and employment agency contracts. He has a growing practice in charities regulation. James’ practice regularly involves international disputes and foreign jurisdictions. He has undertaken full trials at first instance in the DIFC Court and appeared before the DIFC Court of Appeal and ADGM Court. James has a particular interest in the GDPR.

James Green

James is a specialist practitioner in employment, sports and commercial law. He has particular expertise in discrimination law, business protection disputes and investigations.

Jeremy Lewis KC

Employment law, business protection, commercial disputes and sports. Mediator. Areas of specialism include whistleblowing, TUPE, restraint of trade and injunctions, discrimination, equal pay, union recognition.

Joel Wallace

Joel Wallace is a sports law, employment law and business protection specialist. He acts across the full range of these disciplines, including arbitration, commercial and contract disputes, misconduct, doping, whistleblowing, and discrimination.

Jonathan Cohen KC

A KC at just 38 years old, Jonathan Cohen has built his reputation on being an outstanding cross-examiner and trial advocate. Jonathan has a crossover commercial dispute resolution, civil fraud, partnership and employment practice almost exclusively consisting of heavyweight High Court litigation, arbitration and claims involving breach of fiduciary duty, dishonesty or fraud. His employment experience as a junior barrister, when he was twice nominated as Chambers & Partners employment junior of the year, gives him a unique understanding of the issues raised in civil claims for breach of duty against senior executives, directors and partners. He is listed by Chambers & Partners as a leading commercial dispute resolution, partnership and employment silk.

Joseph Bryan

Joseph practises in a broad range of employment, sports and commercial disputes, as well as acting in cases at the intersection of these areas, including High Court business protection work. He regularly appears, led and as sole counsel, in the Employment Tribunals and in the civil and appellate courts. He is developing particular specialisms in employment disputes involving complex discrimination and whistleblowing claims for both claimants and respondents. These have included high-value pregnancy and maternity discrimination claims brought by senior executives. Recent appellate cases include Connor v Chief Constable of the South Yorkshire Police [2023] EAT 42, Lasdas v Vanquis Bank plc [2022] EAT 198, Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive (t/a Nexus) v National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers [2023] ICR 148 (further appeal to the Supreme Court heard in 2024) and Pubbi v Your-Move.co.uk [2022] EAT 96. He also sits as a Chair of the Football Association’s National Serious Case Panel and is a Specialist Member of Sport Resolutions National Panel. He is a contributing author of Blackstone’s Employment Law Practice (OUP, 2023).

Kieran Wilson

Kieran is an employment and equality law specialist, recognised as an “up and coming” practitioner in Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2023 and a “rising star” in Legal 500 2023. He practises across the full range of employment law matters, in both the statutory and business protection spheres, acting for clients across a wide range of sectors. He has particular experience in complex discrimination cases and other multi-day Tribunal matters engaging technical points of law.

Lucy Bone

Employment and commercial law specialist with substantial experience in complex and high value claims in the High Court, Employment Tribunal and appellate courts. Lucy has particular expertise in commercial disputes arising in an employment context, including restrictive covenant disputes, unlawful competition and confidentiality disputes. High Court work spans, breaches of directors' duties and fiduciary duties, partnership and LLP disputes, and fraud and conspiracy. Lucy’s employment practice emphasises discrimination including sexual harassment, and heavyweight employment tribunal litigation, including TUPE and equal pay, redundancy and whistleblowing.

Lydia Banerjee

Lydia practises in commercial law, sports law and employment law. In the sporting field Lydia sits as an arbitrator, conducts independent review work and advocates on equality issues, selection disputes and disciplinary proceedings. Lydia’s commercial practice encompasses disputes including contractual interpretation, partnership disputes, shareholder disputes and directors’ duties. Lydia’s employment work includes injunctive proceedings in business protection disputes, all types of discrimination, equal pay and general advisory work. Lydia is also a CEDR accredited mediator and a CEDR accredited workplace mediator. She has a strong record of successful outcomes in mediation.

Mark Humphreys

Mark specialises in Employment, Discrimination and Whistleblowing litigation, for claims brought in the Employment Tribunal and associated appeals to the Employment Appeal Tribunal, and the Court of Appeal. He has particular experience in dealing with Applications for Interim Relief in the Employment Tribunal. Mark also accepts instructions to complete Investigations for clients, and to act as a Disciplinary or Appeal officer. Mark is a member of the Attorney General’s B-Panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown, and is a contributor to Blackstone’s Employment Law Practice published by Oxford University Press. Mark has extensive business experience from his time prior to coming to the Bar. He was a Chartered Accountant with Deloitte, and a successful banker dealing in complex international financing transactions, as well as being a statutory director of a number of companies.

Martin Palmer

Transferred to the Bar after nine years practising as a solicitor, latterly as a senior associate at Allen & Overy. He is regarded by clients and solicitors as having a ‘firm commercial and practical grasp of what lay clients want’, and ‘able to understand the challenges faced by and requirements of solicitors’. Has established a busy and successful practice based around employment and related commercial litigation. This covers disciplinary and regulatory matters including acting on behalf of individuals, teams and businesses involved in sport, particularly football, rugby union and Formula One/other motorsports. Regularly advises and appears before the High Court in restrictive covenant and garden leave applications for injunctive relief. Commercial litigation practice includes: breach of employment contract claims in High Court; disputes between commercial parties; acting for firms and partners in partnership disputes; director disputes and associated fiduciary complaints. Instructed by leading City/London and regional firms as well as in-house solicitors/counsel. Has extensive experience of clients in the finance, creative/media, engineering and hospitality industries. Retains a busy paperwork practice as well as advising on the employment aspects of commercial transactions and the application of TUPE. Recent examples of work include: acting for the former chief designer of a Formula One team in the Ferrari spying litigation; successfully appearing for the transferor in the first service provision change case under TUPE 2006 to come before the EAT; acting for an employer in the first challenge under the Age Regulations to age-based vesting/termination provisions of a share option scheme; acting for a leading rugby union coach in RFU disciplinary proceedings; acting for a major vehicle component supplier in a dispute with a large European automobile manufacturer over cancellation of supply contracts; advising on a major outsourcing exercise; and successfully appearing for a major arm of HM government and its senior officers in relation to claims for race discrimination and victimisation. Provides regular training sessions (including advocacy coaching) to firms of solicitors as well as conducting disciplinary and grievance hearings on behalf of clients.

Matthew Sheridan

Matthew’s practice is heavily focused on business competition disputes in the High Court, particularly in the context of unlawful team-moves. He is frequently instructed to seek or resist interim injunctions and to act in cases involving springboard relief, misuse of confidential information and breach of post-termination covenants/garden leave provisions. Recent cases include Credico Marketing Ltd v Lambert (CA) (2022) and Guy Carpenter v Howden and others (QBD) (2023). Matthew also practices in the field of statutory employment which an emphasis on employment status, whistleblowing and discrimination.

Ming-Yee Shiu

Ming-Yee Shiu specialises in commercial litigation, civil fraud, company and employment law, with particular expertise in relation to shareholder disputes and claims involving directors and employees. She is frequently instructed in applications for injunctive relief in the High Court, including interim injunctions, freezing injunctions and search orders. She acts for both companies and senior executives in disputes at the intersection of commercial and employment law, often with an international element, including claims of breach of fiduciary duties, compulsory share transfers, unfair prejudice petitions, contract disputes, intellectual property claims, restrictive covenants, team moves, breach of confidence, breach of copyright and passing off. Ming-Yee has particular experience of civil fraud disputes, including constructive trust, breach of fiduciary duty, knowing receipt and dishonest assistance. She has considerable experience of the tracing of assets within and outside the jurisdiction. Ming-Yee has developed a leading reputation in the area of crypto assets and blockchain technology. She also acts in insolvency matters and partnership disputes and is accustomed to acting as an expert on English law matters in foreign jurisdictions. Clients include UK and multinational corporations, SMEs, individuals and public sector bodies.

Mohinderpal Sethi KC

Top Ranked trial and appellate advocate whose expertise spans the full range of commercial, employment, partnership and sport, regularly appearing at the highest levels in domestic, international and offshore courts (including DIFC and ADGM) and arbitral tribunals. He has over 25 years of experience representing clients ranging from multinational corporations, global banks, UK and foreign governments to high-profile public figures, ultra-high-net-worth individuals, and boardroom executives in often high-value, market-sensitive, or politically charged matters. Exceptionally, he was appointed by the Attorney-General ‘directly’ to the A-Panel of Counsel to the Crown to undertake the highest profile work for HM Government. He has been instructed in many of the leading cases from employee competition and team moves to whistleblowing, discrimination and bonus claims. Recent Supreme Court appearances include: the leading Supreme Court authority on state immunity under international law (Saudi Arabia v Costantine) [2025] UKSC 0061; and the only-ever case to leapfrog appeal from EAT to Supreme Court (Basfar v Wong [2023] AC 33). Reported team move cases include: obtaining Court of Appeal team move injunctions against directors and shareholders (MIMO Connect Ltd v Buley [2023] EWCA Civ 909); breaches of confidence and covenants (Quilter Private Client Advisers Ltd v Falconer [2022] IRLR 227); contempt of court for breaching injunction order (Advetec Holdings Ltd v Shaw [2020] EWHC 2660). Reported Middle East cases include: the first-ever discrimination, victimisation, and whistleblowing trial in the DIFC Courts (Mahmood v Standard Chartered Bank [2024] DIFC CFI 044/2021); and an ultra-high-value bonus claim (Kahlon v Liberty Steel Group Ltd [2024] DIFC CFI). High-profile investigations and inquiries include: being appointed to chair the high-profile independent investigation into Yorkshire County Cricket Club; and chairing the independent inquiry into anti-Semitism at Goldsmiths College, University of London. He is the former Chair of the UK’s Employment Law Bar Association. Recent awards include: Employment Silk of the Year (Legal 500 Bar Awards 2023); Senior Counsel of the Year (International Employment Lawyer Awards 2023); Civil Lawyer of the Year (Asian Legal Awards 2022); Barrister of the Year Finalist (The Lawyer Awards 2022); and shortlisted for Employment Silk of the Year (Chambers UK Bar Awards 2022). For a comprehensive CV, visit mosethikc.com.

Nicholas Goodfellow

Nick is an experienced litigator who acts in a wide variety of commercial disputes, with particular experience in civil fraud claims, disputes involving company directors and shareholders, and international commercial cases that raise conflicts of law issues. Nick works on a wide variety of disputes involving company directors and shareholders, such as claims arising out of share purchase / shareholders agreements, unfair prejudice petitions, claims for breach of fiduciary duty, and other accessory liabilities, such as dishonest assistance.

Nicholas Siddall KC

Specialises in employment and industrial relations law. His practice includes significant employment related High Court litigation encompassing injunctive relief, wrongful dismissal and high value contractual claims. He also undertakes all facets of statutory employment law including unfair dismissal, collective redundancy, NMW, TUPE and Working Time claims. He regularly appears in significant, high value and complicated discrimination and whistleblowing matters on behalf of individuals, unions and employers of all sizes. He is regularly instructed to advise on the employment issues which arise from the COVID pandemic and issues of territorial jurisdiction.

Niran de Silva KC

Niran is a leading barrister, specialising in commercial and employment law with a particular expertise in applications for interim injunctive relief. He has a reputation for robust advocacy and sound commercial judgment. Having worked as an equity derivatives broker in the City, Niran has a thorough understanding of complex financial products and financial services regulation and he is frequently instructed in disputes in the financial services sector. His extensive expertise has led to his being instructed in numerous restrictive covenant and whistleblowing cases in this area.

Niran De Silva KC

Employment law: all contentious and non-contentious employment matters, in particular in the public sector and in the city (including bonus claims and restrictive covenant injunctions). Appeared in Verdin v Harrods [2006] IRLR 339 on estoppel and abuse of process. Counsel to the Metropolitan Police in the Morris Inquiry on Professional Standards and the Resolution of Complaints in the Metropolitan Police Service. Education law: specialising in discrimination in the education field (appeared in Ahmed v Oxford University [2003] 1 WLR 995 CA on the role of assessors in discrimination claims heard in the County Court). Commercial litigation: including commercial contract and financial services, (appeared in British Telecommunications v Bell Cablemedia [2001] BLR 343 and Gwynedd v BT [2004] EWCA 942 (Independent 22 July 2004)). Election law: has acted on behalf of petitioners and Returning Officers in election petitions.

Paul Gilroy KC

Paul Gilroy KC’s reputation is principally based on his employment practice. He has for some years been recognised by Chambers & Partners, The Legal 500, and Legal Experts as a leader in this field. Paul has been recognised as a leading silk within the Employment Northern Circuit. Paul Gilroy has over three decades of experience of employment-related litigation at all levels. He has particular expertise in substantive High Court actions and proceedings for injunctive relief (including strike action injunctions) and high value/multi-party employment tribunal work. He also conducts investigations into employment law-related matters. He has a particular interest in sports-related litigation and regulatory matters, both generally and in sport in particular.

Rupert D’Cruz KC

Barrister specialising in corporate and shareholder disputes; banking and finance; fraud and asset tracing (including emergency injunctive relief); sale of goods and international trade; commodity disputes; commercial contractual disputes; equity and trusts; private international/conflicts of law issues; and international arbitration (in particular, under LCIA and ICC Rules). Extensive experience of CIS-related arbitration and litigation (including those involving issues of local substantive and procedural law).

Sam Neaman

Employment and Sports lawyer "with a strong commercial leaning". Quoted as being “an exceptional advocate” and "a real fighter", Sam is best known for his employment/commercial crossover work, and high profile sports law practice, especially boxing, Premiership football and Formula 1. Significant practice in banking and commercial litigation/international arbitration. Expertise and experience covers all courts including Supreme Court, with an especially heavy High Court injunction practice. Regularly instructed in high profile/high value cases for household names, both individual and corporate, especially in the fields of sports, media, insurance, broking, banking and finance. Specific recognised expertise in the NHS/medical sector where he acts for doctors and Trusts in the High Court, tribunals, and GMC/internal disciplinary processes. In the employment tribunal Sam specialises in high profile/complex whistleblowing claims, discrimination, TUPE, and working time issues. Numerous reported cases in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Court and EAT. Sam is also a sought-after mediator, especially in employment and medical disputes.

Selwyn Bloch KC

Selwyn Bloch KC is a leading employment/commercial law Silk, specialising in business protection (in fields of employment, commercial and partnership law) as leading counsel, arbitrator, mediator, expert witness or draftsman. He has acted in numerous leading cases at all levels of the court system, typically involving (inter alia) restrictive covenants, confidential information, fiduciary duties, economic torts and conflict of laws. Selwyn advises on drafting of covenants and other business-protective provisions in all kinds of agreements. He has substantial experience in employment tribunal disputes. He has been a part time Employment Judge since 2000.

Sophia Berry

Sophia specialises in employment and commercial law. Sophia has also been instructed on injunction applications in the High Court recently, both in her own right and as junior counsel. These include urgent applications resulting from breach of restrictive covenants and fiduciary duties and misuse of confidential information as well as an application to restrain threatened industrial action (Argos v Unite the Union [2017]). Sophia also has a keen interest in whistleblowing, equal pay and discrimination claims and has appeared in the Employment Appeal Tribunal on numerous occasions. Most recently, she successfully defended an important appeal relating to time limits in discrimination claims (Edomobi v La Retraite RC Girls School [2016] UKEAT 0180_16_1511).

Stuart Sanders

Commercial and employment law barrister

Tim Goodwin

Tim is recognised as a leading employment junior, His employment work is complemented by a personal injury practice that is focused on psychiatric injuries arising from workplace stress, harassment and bullying. Tim qualified as a solicitor in 2012 and, before being called to the Bar, practiced as a Senior Associate in a City employment firm. In that role he was responsible for cases at all levels and across the broad spectrum of employment disputes. Tim’s considerable experience of employment disputes and civil litigation has furnished him with a level of expertise and knowledge that is well beyond his year of call, meaning that he is frequently instructed on complex, difficult and high-value cases. Tim has considerable advocacy experience, appearing in tribunals and county courts on a near-daily basis. He also appears in the High Court and Employment Appeal Tribunal, often unled. Tim combines his court work with advisory and drafting work, and can be depended on to deliver results consistently, quickly and commercially. Additionally, Tim has extensive experience of alternative dispute resolution, including formal, informal and judicial mediations, settlement negotiations and arbitration.

Benjamin Gray

Legal 500

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