Lena Amartey

Employment.

Lena regularly appears in the Employment Tribunal acting for both claimants and respondents on all types of employment disputes, including: discrimination; unfair dismissal/wrongful dismissal; redundancy; breach of contract; unlawful deduction from wages; working time regulations; whistleblowing; Agency Workers Regulations 2010; costs applications; and TUPE. Lena also provides advisory and drafting services in respect of all types of employment disputes including advice on merits, quantum, procedure and appealing first instance decisions. Lena is frequently instructed in complex multi-day discrimination claims, as illustrated by her representing a respondent in a 7-week race discrimination claim in Central London Employment Tribunal (Iteshi v London Underground Ltd, Transport for London and Reed Consulting Ltd). As well as having a keen interest in discrimination claims, Lena has a wealth of experience in conducting employment Tribunal litigation on behalf of Higher Education Bodies, Local Authorities and NHS Trusts. Lena has a particular strength in dealing with evidential and tactical matters. Lena also regularly represents clients in the County Court combining her knowledge of County Court procedure and employment law to the advantage of her clients. Lena has a particular interest in matters of contractual construction and interpretation in the employment context. With regard to appellate work, Lena has recently appeared in the EAT in the following cases: Merchandising Sales Force Limited v Mrs Joanne Dawson – appeal against the Tribunal’s judgment in a claim for unlawful deduction from wages; Montracon Limited v Mr Ernest Francis Hardcastle – appeal against the Tribunal’s judgment on remedy in an unfair dismissal claim where the Tribunal made a reduction to the compensatory award on the grounds of conduct prior to dismissal without making a similar reduction to the basic award; Mr T Espie v Balfour Beatty Engineering Servies Limited – appeal against a Tribunal’s judgment on the pool of selection in a redundancy exercise and the application and interpretation of section 15 Equality Act 2010 (disability related discrimination). Lena is frequently instructed by trade unions, local authorities, police authorities, international businesses, as well as employee clients. Lena was appointed to the approved list of counsel for the Equality and Human Rights Commission in 2011 and has completed a secondment with the Commission’s legal enforcement team. During her time at the Commission Lena provided advisory services focusing on race discrimination and the provision of public services and functions, particularly members associations. Having studied Human Rights during her Masters, Lena has a particular interest in the area of discrimination both within and outside the employment context.

University of Sheffield (LLB (Hons)); University College London (LLM); Hardwick Scholar (2007); University of Sheffield Centenary Achievement Award (2005).