'The leading employment law set in England', 11KBW regularly appears in many of the market's leading cases, whether in Employment Tribunals, the High Court or the appellate courts. In recent highlights, Jane McCafferty QC acted in the long-running, high-profile dispute over Ocado's founder and former employee setting up a competing online grocery business (allegedly using confidential information); and junior Tom Cross acted in Sir Philip Rutnam v Secretary of State for the Home Department (one of the highest profile employment disputes of 2020-21), which involved a senior civil servant's claim that he was pushed out of the Home Office for blowing the whistle on aspects of the working environment.
Employment in
London Bar11KBW
Testimonials
Set
‘11 KBW is the leading employment law set in England. The depth of talent is quite incredible.‘
‘One of the best in London. All the barristers we know at 11KBW are smart, hard-working and know the law inside out.‘
‘Top set – my go to set for restrictive covenants and team moves.‘
‘The set rightly has a great reputation, and is a go-to for us for more complex or high value/risk work.‘
‘11 KBW is, without question, the premier set for employment barristers. It has tremendous strength in depth at all levels of seniority.‘
Clerking
‘The clerks are responsive and available, and understand the importance of our relationship with the lay client and how that works. Really well connected with judges’ clerks, which especially oils the wheels of the litigation process in the High Court. Nothing is ever too much trouble.‘
‘The clerking service is very good, and this year (dealing with the impact of the pandemic) it has been particularly helpful.‘
‘The clerking team is the best in the business from joint senior clerk Mark Dann down.‘
‘Mark Dann is excellent as joint senior clerk; a notable mention goes to the ever available and highly responsive team leader Lee Cutler; and team leader assistant Martin Pownall has great working knowledge of the High Court processes, is well connected with the judges’ clerks, and gets things done.‘
‘Joint senior clerk Lucy Barbet worked extremely hard to get bundles and papers lodged at court at very short notice, which conveyed a real sense of invaluable reliability.‘
Blackstone Chambers
Blackstone Chambers‘ employment group has been at the forefront of litigation involving foreign exchange trading, zero hours workers, and cross-border enforcement of restrictive covenants. Paul Goulding QC‘s highlights include Benyatov v Credit Suisse, in which he defended Credit Suisse against a £60m claim brought by a former employee following his conviction in Romania while working there. Also in the banking sector, Diya Sen Gupta QC represented three Cantor Fitzgerald employees, who sought a stay of English High Court proceedings against them for bonus repayments. Recent growth includes senior junior Craig Rajgopaul and rising star Navid Pourghazi joining from Littleton Chambers and Cloisters, respectively.
Testimonials
Set
‘Blackstone is my go-to Chambers as the depth and quality of counsel, whether junior or senior, is the best there is.‘
‘Blackstone has an excellent reputation for employment law.‘
‘Everyone we have used from Blackstone has been of a very high calibre.‘
‘Have used them all my professional life – extremely reliable on quality.‘
‘They are a brilliant set for employment work.‘
Clerking
‘All the clerks I have worked with are friendly, down to earth, and understand my needs and those of my clients.‘
‘The clerks are great- helpful and responsive. You know you are in safe hands with the Blackstone clerks.’
‘Very good and responsive. They don’t sell me a pup, when offering me an alternative to my preferred choice, and are sensible on fees.‘
‘They get the job done without any fuss.‘
‘Clerk Daniel Compton has made sure everything has run smoothly and is a pleasure to work with.‘
Cloisters
Fielding 'a number of very big hitters', Cloisters' barristers are routinely instructed in groundbreaking cases at the leading edge of UK and European law. Key recent cases include Jason Galbraith-Marten QC and Sheryn Omeri appearing in Aslam & Farrar v Uber BV & Ors, a high-profile Supreme Court case that determined that Uber drivers are workers in a case with major implications across the private and public sector; Robin Allen QC and Sarah Fraser Butlin acting for City Sprint couriers in relation to their entitlement to holiday pay; and Paul Epstein QC representing Tesco (as appellant) in Tesco Stores v Ms K Element & Others, reportedly the UK's largest ever equal pay challenge.
Testimonials
Set
‘A great set- I rate Cloisters very highly for employment law.‘
‘Cloisters has a number of very big hitters.‘
‘Excellent set – first class barristers.‘
‘A strong set, with quality counsel and competitive pricing.‘
‘They have led the way on Covid – their free guide has been invaluable. They were also first out of the blocks with using technology for hearings, and are active with training too.‘
Clerking
‘All of the clerks are easy to work with.‘
‘Service was very good from the clerks, and there was always a clerk to talk to.‘
‘Very friendly and personable clerks – great to deal with.‘
‘First junior clerk Mark Skipp is particularly helpful.‘
‘Very good and attentive service. I have found junior clerk Frankie Beale very easy to deal with.‘
Essex Court Chambers
Essex Court Chambers is regularly instructed in high-profile, complex employment cases. In Citadel Securities v GSA Capital Partners and others, David Craig QC represented Citadel in claims for conspiracy and misuse of confidential information, which related to an algorithmic trading strategy; and in JLT & Ors v Ed Broking & Ors, Daniel Oudkerk QC and senior junior Edward Brown QC acted for the claimants in a high-value High Court claim (with related disclosure applications in the New York Courts) that arose out of a poaching raid in the insurance sector. Boosting the set's senior end, Iain Quirk QC took silk in 2021.
Testimonials
Set
‘Essex Court has some of the best barristers around and some great juniors coming through.‘
‘Essex Court Chambers is an outstanding set- full of quality from top to bottom.‘
‘Essex Court Chambers has some excellent barristers in the restraint of trade area (dealing with restrictive covenants, team moves and confidential information).‘
‘Great set of senior barristers.‘
Clerking
‘Great and very professional.‘
‘Very user friendly.‘
‘The service is very good.‘
‘Deputy senior clerk Ben Perry is excellent – hugely responsive and a pleasure to work with.‘
Littleton Chambers
Littleton Chambers is 'the pre-eminent employment set'. Gavin Mansfield QC represented the claimant in Rutnam v Home Office, a major whistleblowing case involving the constructive dismissal of the former Permanent Secretary of the Home Office and allegations of bullying by the Home Secretary Priti Patel. David Reade QC, Niran de Silva QC (who took silk in 2021 alongside Carol Davis QC) and rising star Georgina Leadbetter successfully represented the charity in Royal Mencap Society v Tomlinson-Blake, a Supreme Court case concerning the application of the National Minimum Wage to sleep-in shifts; if the claimants were successful the case would have created back pay liabilities of £400m across the care sector. Former head of chambers, Naomi Ellenbogen QC, joined the High Court Bench in November 2020.
Testimonials
Set
‘We regularly instruct members of Littleton Chambers, from the QCs to the juniors -they have real strength in depth. They are the pre-eminent employment set – due to the breadth of expertise, they are able to cover almost all types of cases.‘
‘Littleton is of course noted for its strength and depth in employment law. All its members, silks, senior juniors and junior juniors are equally accommodating, and they are fast and responsive.‘
‘We only use Littleton and this is down to the quality of the service we receive. There is always someone available who can help, and the quality of the employment team is second to none.‘
‘I have always found Littleton to offer the highest possible quality across the board. They are always my first (and last) port of call.‘
‘A very good team with many good people to choose from.‘
Clerking
‘All of the clerks I have dealt with have been excellent – highly responsive and understanding of our needs in respect of particular cases. They have been really good at identifying alternatives where a first choice might not be available – head and shoulders above other employment sets, it makes going back to them an easy decision.‘
‘Clerking is second to none – good humoured and always helpful.‘
‘Impeccable clerking across the board, but senior clerk Jason Drakeford stands out.‘
‘Jason Drakeford always takes the time to help in any way he can, and always goes over and above.‘
‘Practice manager Scott Hersey is very good.‘
Old Square Chambers
Old Square Chambers was recently particularly active in relation to Covid-19's impact on employment. Oliver Segal QC and Stuart Brittenden acted for Unite in the Carluccio's insolvency case, the first to consider the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme's application; and Ben Collins QC, and senior juniors Eleena Misra and Nadia Motraghi, appeared for the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain in the High Court, seeking to extend the furlough scheme's scope to gig economy workers. In other areas, several chambers' members (arguing on both sides), Lord Hendy QC, Ben Collins QC, Ben Cooper QC, Katharine Newton QC, Robert Moretto and Madeline Stanley, acted in the Court of Appeal in a test case on whether foster carers have worker status; and Ben Cooper QC acted for the claimant in Forstater v CGD Europe & others, a high-profile case concerning protection against discrimination in employment for expressing philosophical beliefs in the public debate about biological sex and trans rights.
Testimonials
Set
‘Good availability of counsel, and always with a range of experience and brief fees so that the client has lots of options. They also deliver regular training sessions with topical content, engaging speakers and useful insights.‘
‘A well-regarded set, with a strong range of barristers who rarely disappoint.‘
‘Very friendly, pleasant and skilled employment set with excellent juniors and QCs.‘
‘A great chambers for employment work, with a number of talented barristers on offer.‘
‘There are some brilliant counsel at Old Square.‘
Clerking
‘They always deliver a prompt response to queries, and have been willing to be flexible on fees in certain circumstances, which has been most appreciated by the client.‘
‘Good responses to requests for help, and quick and personable to deal with.‘
‘Client care and billing are always handled promptly, and the clerks are accommodating to client requests, such as providing a base to conduct hearing preparation at chambers.’
‘Senior clerk William Meade and deputy senior clerk Graham Smith offer a great service.‘
‘William Meade is very responsive and amenable. He clearly knows who has what availability and which skills to align with the work required.‘
Devereux
Routinely acting in complex and headline disputes across the full spectrum of employment law, Devereux has 'an impressive roster of employment barristers at every level of experience'. In one of the most important industrial relations cases of recent years, Andrew Burns QC (who was elected head of chambers in January 2021) recently represented the appellant in the Supreme Court in Kostal UK LTD v Dunkley, which considers the meaning of “the prohibited result” for the purpose of section 145B of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992, which was deployed throughout the pandemic by unions attempting to stop employers changing contracts. In Boillereau v HSBC, Bruce Carr QC acted for the dismissed former global head of currencies and commodities at HSBC in a high-value whistleblowing claim concerning how the bank’s foreign exchange business was conducted. Marianne Tutin, frequently unled against senior counsel (including silks), is a notable rising star in chambers.
Testimonials
Set
‘Devereux Chambers is my go-to set. It has an impressive roster of employment barristers at every level of experience, and with a list of awards and scholarships as long as your arm.‘
‘What makes them stand out is their friendliness and real-world attitude. You know they’ve got your back, and that your client will feel confident and valued.‘
‘Devereux has a really strong team that is experienced in the nuances of industrial relations and trade union law.‘
‘A very responsive, accommodating and flexible set that is always willing to go the extra mile to support ourselves and the client. Instructions will always be accommodated and matched to the appropriate counsel.‘
‘Fees are sensibly negotiable, and loyalty from blue chip clients is recognised and mutually appreciated by the client.‘
Clerking
‘The clerking team is fantastic.‘
‘The service from the clerks is first class.‘
‘They take time to understand your needs, and know the skills and experience of their barristers in depth, so you can trust their recommendations.‘
‘The clerking set is commercial and understands how effective client relationships work with solicitors firms, and the communication is open and transparent.‘
‘Senior practice manager Cyrus Biggs, in particular, is excellent and a joy to deal with – commercial and solutions focused. Fellow senior practice manager Glenn Billenness is also terrific to deal with.‘
Matrix Chambers
Matrix Chambers' barristers act in cases at all levels, from first instance proceedings in the High Court or Employment Tribunal, to appeals in the Supreme Court. In recent work, Karon Monaghan QC represented the Equality and Human Rights Commission in the Forstater v CGD Global Employment Appeal Tribunal case concerning the protection of philosophical beliefs. Within the set's senior ranks, Mathew Purchase QC, whose employment law practice includes representing individual claimants, employers and trade unions at all levels of the judicial hierarchy, took silk in March 2021.
Outer Temple Chambers
Outer Temple Chambers’ employment team is consistently involved in some of the most legally significant and high-value employment work at the Bar, including before the Supreme Court. Involved in all aspects of employment law for approximately 30 years, Keith Bryant QC, (leading Saul Margo) is acting for approximately 15,000 police officers in England, Wales and Scotland in Aarons and others v Home Secretary and others/Scottish Ministers and others, which involves claims for direct age discrimination, indirect race and sex discrimination, and equal pay. Turning to the private sector, in Brierley v Asda, Andrew Short QC represented 35,000 shop workers in equal pay claims, which seek to use as comparators the workers in the retailer's distribution centres.
Testimonials
Set
‘A good team with excellent strength in depth.‘
‘We are very pleased with the service we receive from Outer Temple Chambers- they have a number of expert counsel in employment matters.‘
‘Very strong employment and discrimination set, with talent across all levels of call.‘
‘I have had good experiences with Outer Temple. The various barristers we have used there have performed well.‘
‘A very strong set of barristers that I would always highly recommend.‘
Clerking
‘All the clerks are first rate – very helpful and responsive.‘
‘The clerks are excellent – a very good, prompt service.‘
‘I am content to rely on the clerks introducing me to new juniors, as I know they will be good.‘
‘Very efficient, user friendly and responsive.‘
‘Practice director Nick Levett is really effective and super-helpful.‘
42 Bedford Row
42 Bedford Row's 'employment team is very strong, with a wide range of counsel to suit any type of case and budget'. The set's clients include major employers, small businesses and large public and private sector organisations, as well as employees at all levels. Practicing exclusively in employment law, the set's employment group head Jude Shepherd successfully defended the Health and Care Professions Council against allegations of discrimination during professional conduct proceedings, by failing to make reasonable adjustments for the claimant's disability; and Iris Ferber recently acted for the respondent in McCarthy v Sainsbury’s Supermarkets, a sensitive disability discrimination claim that involved allegations of failure to make reasonable adjustments for the claimant, who suffered from complex PTSD and wanted to work from home.
Testimonials
Set
‘The employment team is very strong, with a wide range of counsel to suit any type of case and budget.‘
‘Very strong employment set with good availability at different levels.‘
‘The barristers I have instructed from 42 Bedford Row have all been excellent, both at preliminary and final hearings.‘
‘Flexible and pragmatic on fees – always keen to build a good relationship with instructing solicitors.‘
‘Chambers offers regular, helpful training, and is very supportive when we need their assistance.‘
Clerking
‘I have been impressed by 42 Bedford Row. The clerks are very responsive and professional.‘
‘The clerks are attentive and responsive, and try to make even urgent requests work for us.‘
‘Senior practice manager Steve Sheridan and practice manager Stuart Ritchie are very helpful and responsive.‘
‘The clerks are very friendly and helpful, especially practice manager Chris Collinson and assistant practice manager Joe Burton.‘
‘Chris Collinson always goes above and beyond. His responsiveness and approachability mean he is a pleasure to work with.’
Doughty Street Chambers
Doughty Street Chambers is 'a very steady set with several renowned barristers.' The employment and discrimination team undertakes the full range of employment cases, while clients additionally benefit from its leveraging of expertise in human rights, public law, data protection, professional discipline, immigration, personal injury, crime, and media and reputation management. In al-Qasimi v Robinson, Heather Williams QC recently successfully led David Stephenson for the claimant in the Court of Appeal, which restated the test for common law illegality in employment claims. Junior-end growth saw rising star Beth Grossman join from Ely Place Chambers, which disbanded in 2020.
Testimonials
Set
‘Doughty Street is a very steady set with several renowned barristers.‘
‘Doughty Street’s employment team has incredible strength in depth. When my barrister of choice is not available, I am spoilt by incredibly well-qualified alternatives.‘
‘Doughty Street has an excellent employment team.‘
‘A strong and very reliable set.‘
‘Training has been such a blessing during lockdown – lots of very useful webinars on hot topics in employment law.‘
Clerking
‘The clerks at Doughty Street are very co-operative and great to work with.‘
‘I have had nothing but good experiences with the clerks at this set.‘
‘Very prompt turnaround of fee quotes and availability requests.‘
‘Practice manager Callum Stebbing stands out as being helpful, informative, and prompt in dealing with enquiries.‘
‘Practice assistant Sam Cooper is particularly helpful.‘
11KBW
Testimonials
Set
‘11 KBW is the leading employment law set in England. The depth of talent is quite incredible.‘
‘One of the best in London. All the barristers we know at 11KBW are smart, hard-working and know the law inside out.‘
‘Top set – my go to set for restrictive covenants and team moves.‘
‘The set rightly has a great reputation, and is a go-to for us for more complex or high value/risk work.‘
‘11 KBW is, without question, the premier set for employment barristers. It has tremendous strength in depth at all levels of seniority.‘
Clerking
‘The clerks are responsive and available, and understand the importance of our relationship with the lay client and how that works. Really well connected with judges’ clerks, which especially oils the wheels of the litigation process in the High Court. Nothing is ever too much trouble.‘
‘The clerking service is very good, and this year (dealing with the impact of the pandemic) it has been particularly helpful.‘
‘The clerking team is the best in the business from joint senior clerk Mark Dann down.‘
‘Mark Dann is excellent as joint senior clerk; a notable mention goes to the ever available and highly responsive team leader Lee Cutler; and team leader assistant Martin Pownall has great working knowledge of the High Court processes, is well connected with the judges’ clerks, and gets things done.‘
‘Joint senior clerk Lucy Barbet worked extremely hard to get bundles and papers lodged at court at very short notice, which conveyed a real sense of invaluable reliability.‘
Blackstone Chambers
Blackstone Chambers‘ employment group has been at the forefront of litigation involving foreign exchange trading, zero hours workers, and cross-border enforcement of restrictive covenants. Paul Goulding QC‘s highlights include Benyatov v Credit Suisse, in which he defended Credit Suisse against a £60m claim brought by a former employee following his conviction in Romania while working there. Also in the banking sector, Diya Sen Gupta QC represented three Cantor Fitzgerald employees, who sought a stay of English High Court proceedings against them for bonus repayments. Recent growth includes senior junior Craig Rajgopaul and rising star Navid Pourghazi joining from Littleton Chambers and Cloisters, respectively.
Testimonials
Set
‘Blackstone is my go-to Chambers as the depth and quality of counsel, whether junior or senior, is the best there is.‘
‘Blackstone has an excellent reputation for employment law.‘
‘Everyone we have used from Blackstone has been of a very high calibre.‘
‘Have used them all my professional life – extremely reliable on quality.‘
‘They are a brilliant set for employment work.‘
Clerking
‘All the clerks I have worked with are friendly, down to earth, and understand my needs and those of my clients.‘
‘The clerks are great- helpful and responsive. You know you are in safe hands with the Blackstone clerks.’
‘Very good and responsive. They don’t sell me a pup, when offering me an alternative to my preferred choice, and are sensible on fees.‘
‘They get the job done without any fuss.‘
‘Clerk Daniel Compton has made sure everything has run smoothly and is a pleasure to work with.‘
Cloisters
Fielding 'a number of very big hitters', Cloisters' barristers are routinely instructed in groundbreaking cases at the leading edge of UK and European law. Key recent cases include Jason Galbraith-Marten QC and Sheryn Omeri appearing in Aslam & Farrar v Uber BV & Ors, a high-profile Supreme Court case that determined that Uber drivers are workers in a case with major implications across the private and public sector; Robin Allen QC and Sarah Fraser Butlin acting for City Sprint couriers in relation to their entitlement to holiday pay; and Paul Epstein QC representing Tesco (as appellant) in Tesco Stores v Ms K Element & Others, reportedly the UK's largest ever equal pay challenge.
Testimonials
Set
‘A great set- I rate Cloisters very highly for employment law.‘
‘Cloisters has a number of very big hitters.‘
‘Excellent set – first class barristers.‘
‘A strong set, with quality counsel and competitive pricing.‘
‘They have led the way on Covid – their free guide has been invaluable. They were also first out of the blocks with using technology for hearings, and are active with training too.‘
Clerking
‘All of the clerks are easy to work with.‘
‘Service was very good from the clerks, and there was always a clerk to talk to.‘
‘Very friendly and personable clerks – great to deal with.‘
‘First junior clerk Mark Skipp is particularly helpful.‘
‘Very good and attentive service. I have found junior clerk Frankie Beale very easy to deal with.‘
Essex Court Chambers
Essex Court Chambers is regularly instructed in high-profile, complex employment cases. In Citadel Securities v GSA Capital Partners and others, David Craig QC represented Citadel in claims for conspiracy and misuse of confidential information, which related to an algorithmic trading strategy; and in JLT & Ors v Ed Broking & Ors, Daniel Oudkerk QC and senior junior Edward Brown QC acted for the claimants in a high-value High Court claim (with related disclosure applications in the New York Courts) that arose out of a poaching raid in the insurance sector. Boosting the set's senior end, Iain Quirk QC took silk in 2021.
Testimonials
Set
‘Essex Court has some of the best barristers around and some great juniors coming through.‘
‘Essex Court Chambers is an outstanding set- full of quality from top to bottom.‘
‘Essex Court Chambers has some excellent barristers in the restraint of trade area (dealing with restrictive covenants, team moves and confidential information).‘
‘Great set of senior barristers.‘
Clerking
‘Great and very professional.‘
‘Very user friendly.‘
‘The service is very good.‘
‘Deputy senior clerk Ben Perry is excellent – hugely responsive and a pleasure to work with.‘
Littleton Chambers
Littleton Chambers is 'the pre-eminent employment set'. Gavin Mansfield QC represented the claimant in Rutnam v Home Office, a major whistleblowing case involving the constructive dismissal of the former Permanent Secretary of the Home Office and allegations of bullying by the Home Secretary Priti Patel. David Reade QC, Niran de Silva QC (who took silk in 2021 alongside Carol Davis QC) and rising star Georgina Leadbetter successfully represented the charity in Royal Mencap Society v Tomlinson-Blake, a Supreme Court case concerning the application of the National Minimum Wage to sleep-in shifts; if the claimants were successful the case would have created back pay liabilities of £400m across the care sector. Former head of chambers, Naomi Ellenbogen QC, joined the High Court Bench in November 2020.
Testimonials
Set
‘We regularly instruct members of Littleton Chambers, from the QCs to the juniors -they have real strength in depth. They are the pre-eminent employment set – due to the breadth of expertise, they are able to cover almost all types of cases.‘
‘Littleton is of course noted for its strength and depth in employment law. All its members, silks, senior juniors and junior juniors are equally accommodating, and they are fast and responsive.‘
‘We only use Littleton and this is down to the quality of the service we receive. There is always someone available who can help, and the quality of the employment team is second to none.‘
‘I have always found Littleton to offer the highest possible quality across the board. They are always my first (and last) port of call.‘
‘A very good team with many good people to choose from.‘
Clerking
‘All of the clerks I have dealt with have been excellent – highly responsive and understanding of our needs in respect of particular cases. They have been really good at identifying alternatives where a first choice might not be available – head and shoulders above other employment sets, it makes going back to them an easy decision.‘
‘Clerking is second to none – good humoured and always helpful.‘
‘Impeccable clerking across the board, but senior clerk Jason Drakeford stands out.‘
‘Jason Drakeford always takes the time to help in any way he can, and always goes over and above.‘
‘Practice manager Scott Hersey is very good.‘
Old Square Chambers
Old Square Chambers was recently particularly active in relation to Covid-19's impact on employment. Oliver Segal QC and Stuart Brittenden acted for Unite in the Carluccio's insolvency case, the first to consider the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme's application; and Ben Collins QC, and senior juniors Eleena Misra and Nadia Motraghi, appeared for the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain in the High Court, seeking to extend the furlough scheme's scope to gig economy workers. In other areas, several chambers' members (arguing on both sides), Lord Hendy QC, Ben Collins QC, Ben Cooper QC, Katharine Newton QC, Robert Moretto and Madeline Stanley, acted in the Court of Appeal in a test case on whether foster carers have worker status; and Ben Cooper QC acted for the claimant in Forstater v CGD Europe & others, a high-profile case concerning protection against discrimination in employment for expressing philosophical beliefs in the public debate about biological sex and trans rights.
Testimonials
Set
‘Good availability of counsel, and always with a range of experience and brief fees so that the client has lots of options. They also deliver regular training sessions with topical content, engaging speakers and useful insights.‘
‘A well-regarded set, with a strong range of barristers who rarely disappoint.‘
‘Very friendly, pleasant and skilled employment set with excellent juniors and QCs.‘
‘A great chambers for employment work, with a number of talented barristers on offer.‘
‘There are some brilliant counsel at Old Square.‘
Clerking
‘They always deliver a prompt response to queries, and have been willing to be flexible on fees in certain circumstances, which has been most appreciated by the client.‘
‘Good responses to requests for help, and quick and personable to deal with.‘
‘Client care and billing are always handled promptly, and the clerks are accommodating to client requests, such as providing a base to conduct hearing preparation at chambers.’
‘Senior clerk William Meade and deputy senior clerk Graham Smith offer a great service.‘
‘William Meade is very responsive and amenable. He clearly knows who has what availability and which skills to align with the work required.‘
Devereux
Routinely acting in complex and headline disputes across the full spectrum of employment law, Devereux has 'an impressive roster of employment barristers at every level of experience'. In one of the most important industrial relations cases of recent years, Andrew Burns QC (who was elected head of chambers in January 2021) recently represented the appellant in the Supreme Court in Kostal UK LTD v Dunkley, which considers the meaning of “the prohibited result” for the purpose of section 145B of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992, which was deployed throughout the pandemic by unions attempting to stop employers changing contracts. In Boillereau v HSBC, Bruce Carr QC acted for the dismissed former global head of currencies and commodities at HSBC in a high-value whistleblowing claim concerning how the bank’s foreign exchange business was conducted. Marianne Tutin, frequently unled against senior counsel (including silks), is a notable rising star in chambers.
Testimonials
Set
‘Devereux Chambers is my go-to set. It has an impressive roster of employment barristers at every level of experience, and with a list of awards and scholarships as long as your arm.‘
‘What makes them stand out is their friendliness and real-world attitude. You know they’ve got your back, and that your client will feel confident and valued.‘
‘Devereux has a really strong team that is experienced in the nuances of industrial relations and trade union law.‘
‘A very responsive, accommodating and flexible set that is always willing to go the extra mile to support ourselves and the client. Instructions will always be accommodated and matched to the appropriate counsel.‘
‘Fees are sensibly negotiable, and loyalty from blue chip clients is recognised and mutually appreciated by the client.‘
Clerking
‘The clerking team is fantastic.‘
‘The service from the clerks is first class.‘
‘They take time to understand your needs, and know the skills and experience of their barristers in depth, so you can trust their recommendations.‘
‘The clerking set is commercial and understands how effective client relationships work with solicitors firms, and the communication is open and transparent.‘
‘Senior practice manager Cyrus Biggs, in particular, is excellent and a joy to deal with – commercial and solutions focused. Fellow senior practice manager Glenn Billenness is also terrific to deal with.‘
Matrix Chambers
Matrix Chambers' barristers act in cases at all levels, from first instance proceedings in the High Court or Employment Tribunal, to appeals in the Supreme Court. In recent work, Karon Monaghan QC represented the Equality and Human Rights Commission in the Forstater v CGD Global Employment Appeal Tribunal case concerning the protection of philosophical beliefs. Within the set's senior ranks, Mathew Purchase QC, whose employment law practice includes representing individual claimants, employers and trade unions at all levels of the judicial hierarchy, took silk in March 2021.
Outer Temple Chambers
Outer Temple Chambers’ employment team is consistently involved in some of the most legally significant and high-value employment work at the Bar, including before the Supreme Court. Involved in all aspects of employment law for approximately 30 years, Keith Bryant QC, (leading Saul Margo) is acting for approximately 15,000 police officers in England, Wales and Scotland in Aarons and others v Home Secretary and others/Scottish Ministers and others, which involves claims for direct age discrimination, indirect race and sex discrimination, and equal pay. Turning to the private sector, in Brierley v Asda, Andrew Short QC represented 35,000 shop workers in equal pay claims, which seek to use as comparators the workers in the retailer's distribution centres.
Testimonials
Set
‘A good team with excellent strength in depth.‘
‘We are very pleased with the service we receive from Outer Temple Chambers- they have a number of expert counsel in employment matters.‘
‘Very strong employment and discrimination set, with talent across all levels of call.‘
‘I have had good experiences with Outer Temple. The various barristers we have used there have performed well.‘
‘A very strong set of barristers that I would always highly recommend.‘
Clerking
‘All the clerks are first rate – very helpful and responsive.‘
‘The clerks are excellent – a very good, prompt service.‘
‘I am content to rely on the clerks introducing me to new juniors, as I know they will be good.‘
‘Very efficient, user friendly and responsive.‘
‘Practice director Nick Levett is really effective and super-helpful.‘
42 Bedford Row
42 Bedford Row's 'employment team is very strong, with a wide range of counsel to suit any type of case and budget'. The set's clients include major employers, small businesses and large public and private sector organisations, as well as employees at all levels. Practicing exclusively in employment law, the set's employment group head Jude Shepherd successfully defended the Health and Care Professions Council against allegations of discrimination during professional conduct proceedings, by failing to make reasonable adjustments for the claimant's disability; and Iris Ferber recently acted for the respondent in McCarthy v Sainsbury’s Supermarkets, a sensitive disability discrimination claim that involved allegations of failure to make reasonable adjustments for the claimant, who suffered from complex PTSD and wanted to work from home.
Testimonials
Set
‘The employment team is very strong, with a wide range of counsel to suit any type of case and budget.‘
‘Very strong employment set with good availability at different levels.‘
‘The barristers I have instructed from 42 Bedford Row have all been excellent, both at preliminary and final hearings.‘
‘Flexible and pragmatic on fees – always keen to build a good relationship with instructing solicitors.‘
‘Chambers offers regular, helpful training, and is very supportive when we need their assistance.‘
Clerking
‘I have been impressed by 42 Bedford Row. The clerks are very responsive and professional.‘
‘The clerks are attentive and responsive, and try to make even urgent requests work for us.‘
‘Senior practice manager Steve Sheridan and practice manager Stuart Ritchie are very helpful and responsive.‘
‘The clerks are very friendly and helpful, especially practice manager Chris Collinson and assistant practice manager Joe Burton.‘
‘Chris Collinson always goes above and beyond. His responsiveness and approachability mean he is a pleasure to work with.’
Doughty Street Chambers
Doughty Street Chambers is 'a very steady set with several renowned barristers.' The employment and discrimination team undertakes the full range of employment cases, while clients additionally benefit from its leveraging of expertise in human rights, public law, data protection, professional discipline, immigration, personal injury, crime, and media and reputation management. In al-Qasimi v Robinson, Heather Williams QC recently successfully led David Stephenson for the claimant in the Court of Appeal, which restated the test for common law illegality in employment claims. Junior-end growth saw rising star Beth Grossman join from Ely Place Chambers, which disbanded in 2020.
Testimonials
Set
‘Doughty Street is a very steady set with several renowned barristers.‘
‘Doughty Street’s employment team has incredible strength in depth. When my barrister of choice is not available, I am spoilt by incredibly well-qualified alternatives.‘
‘Doughty Street has an excellent employment team.‘
‘A strong and very reliable set.‘
‘Training has been such a blessing during lockdown – lots of very useful webinars on hot topics in employment law.‘
Clerking
‘The clerks at Doughty Street are very co-operative and great to work with.‘
‘I have had nothing but good experiences with the clerks at this set.‘
‘Very prompt turnaround of fee quotes and availability requests.‘
‘Practice manager Callum Stebbing stands out as being helpful, informative, and prompt in dealing with enquiries.‘
‘Practice assistant Sam Cooper is particularly helpful.‘