Edward is Head of Practice in the employment department at Slater and Gordon Lawyers, heading up the team servicing trade unions and staff associations and their members.. Edward specialises in all aspects of employment law, as well as advising on the “corporate” needs of trades unions/staff associations. His experience has a particular emphasis on collective and policy matters; including trade union and industrial law, as well as pensions, public law and human rights-related employment issues. Edward has advised on the rules and procedures governing numerous trade unions and has wide experience in advising trade unions on mergers, Certification Officer complaints, internal disputes and industrial action issues. He has conducted numerous judicial review applications relating to public sector employment rights issues, and acted for a wide range of individual workers in a wide range of industries. More recently, he has acted in a number of professional negligence claims arising from the previous handling of their employment disputes by other solicitors and advisers, and advised on the implications of GDPR for trade unions
Slater and Gordon
‘Passionate about representing employees’, Slater and Gordon acts for trade union members, private clients and staff associations with mandates such as race discrimination cases, sex discrimination and sexual harassment claims. The practice is well regarded for its handling of high-profile whistleblowing complaints. Practice head Edward Cooper has significant experience of representing employees from both the public and private sectors. Head of private employment law and ’stand out star‘ Doreen Reeves is highlighted for her bulk settlement agreement know-how. TUPE specialist Laura Thompson is the head of organisation and membership services and frequently assists clients including police officers, seafarers and retail workers on a range of employment matters. Jo Mackie departed in October 2022.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The level of service is superb and they have kept me up to date throughout the case.’
‘Doreen Reeves has been fantastic. Supportive and reassuring and always explains complex legalities in an easy to understand manner.’
‘A diverse strong team with lawyers of all levels doing leading cases across the board.’
‘Doreen Reeves is a stand out star. She is top class and a pleasure to work with. Highly recommended!’
‘Slater and Gordon solicitors are well known for their employment work representing employees and trade unions. The teams have been passionate about representing employees.’
Key clients
- FDA
- GMB
- NASUWT
- Police Federation
- Accord
- NGSU
- BALPA
- USDAW
- Unite the Union
- Trades Union Congress
Work highlights
- Representing a client in respect of her claims for indirect sex discrimination and unfair dismissal against North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust.
- Representing a client in respect of her claims for race, age, sex, and disability discrimination which she alleges she suffered during the course of her employment.
- Representing a client in respect of her claims for constructive unfair dismissal and discrimination on grounds of sex, age and disability against her former employer, Experian Limited.
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Rising stars
Doreen is an senior associate solicitor in the employment law department at Slater and Gordon in London. Doreen has specialised in employment spanning over two decades, and joined Slater and Gordon in 2016. Her experience covers the full range of employment law, including discrimination and harassment, unfair and wrongful dismissal, and whistleblowing. She regularly advises on post termination restrictive covenants, share options, contract reviews, interim injunction, bonus and contractual disputes and has represented clients in the Employment Tribunal, Employment Appeal Tribunal, High Court and Court of Appeal. She acts for senior executives within the financial services, bankers, regulated professionals, HR professionals, solicitors, healthcare professionals, NHS consultants, and directors across various sectors in media, IT, marketing, education and central and local Government. Doreen is a strategic, pragmatic and highly technical lawyer and litigator who achieves the best outcome for her clients. As a skilled negotiator, she has successfully resolved workplace disputes resulting in high value and confidential settlements and exit packages. Doreen has managed complex and multiple claims up to millions of pounds and has led the national employment law service for the RMT, Unite and CWU union where I handled high profile litigation cases in the national media. She appeared as a speaker on the BBC and more recently on Sky News discussing equal pay and has also provided legal comments in the national press.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Edward Cooper, Doreen Reeves, Laura Thomspon