Employment

Leading Juniors

Leading juniors are those with significant experience of key cases, strong market recognition from both peers and clients, and are seen as future candidates for silk.

Naomi Ling
1

Naomi Ling

Outer Temple Chambers
Naomi is a highly effective advocate whose calm, understated demeanor is underestimated by opponents to their disadvantage. Her measured and controlled courtroom style allows her to advance complex arguments with real precision and authority, and she is particularly adept at anchoring the tribunal’s focus on the issues that truly matter. Her advocacy is persuasive without being forceful, and she exercises excellent judgment in responding to judicial intervention. Naomi complements this with an unusually high level of accessibility and client-friendliness. By working closely and collaboratively with solicitors and junior counsel, she helps impose structure and clarity on complex litigation, which in turn strengthens the overall advocacy and presentation of the case. This combination of impactful advocacy and team-based leadership marks her out as operating at silk level.
Matthew Sheridan
1

Matthew Sheridan

Littleton Chambers
Matthew Sheridan is, without any qualification, the finest barrister I have ever had the privilege of working with. A phenomenon, I have instructed him since 2016 across the full spectrum of employment and commercial litigation — from high-profile employee competition proceedings in the High Court to the most demanding whistleblowing and discrimination disputes in the Employment Tribunal and Employment Appeal Tribunal — and he excels in every single arena. His intellect, his advocacy, and his sheer determination to fight for his clients set him apart from everyone else at his level. He is formidable, brilliant, and utterly tenacious, and he operates at a level that most silks would envy. He is the complete package — and he may not yet have taken silk, but instruct him and you will not notice the difference.
Matt Jackson
2

Matt Jackson

Cloisters
Technically very knowledgeable and always willing to make himself available. Very thorough.
Sheila Aly
3

Sheila Aly

4-5 Gray's Inn Square
Sinead King
3

Sinead King

4-5 Gray's Inn Square
Sinead's ability to deal with complex and very document-heavy cases, picking out the salient points, is second to none. She is meticulous in cross-examination and very good with witnesses.
Catherine Urquhart
3

Catherine Urquhart

42BR Barristers
Catherine brings a wonderful sense of calmness and assurance to the matters she handles, which is particularly valued by both clients and instructing solicitors in high-pressure and sensitive Employment Tribunal litigation. She manages relationships exceptionally well, providing clear, pragmatic advice and instilling confidence throughout the course of proceedings. Her advocacy is measured, respectful, and persuasive. She presents arguments with clarity and authority while remaining calm and composed under pressure. She is particularly effective in dealing with difficult litigants in person and witnesses and managing contentious hearings in a firm but professional manner. Catherine is a very safe pair of hands, combining excellent technical knowledge with sound judgment and strong commercial awareness.
Andrew Watson
3

Andrew Watson

Cloisters
Very clever; very well-read in the law; and very strategic. Always well prepared for conferences and for court/tribunal. Excellent work on pleadings always.
Jonathan Cook
4

Jonathan Cook

Cloisters
His greatest strengths are his exceptional attention to detail, thorough preparation, and ability to identify points that others might easily overlook. He has an excellent instinct for identifying the unexpected point which can materially change the course of a case, and he is particularly effective at developing those points into concise and persuasive submissions. I have been particularly impressed by the contribution he has made to some of my strongest results this year. His advocacy has repeatedly demonstrated that a case can turn on a point which is not immediately apparent, and he has an excellent ability to persuade the Employment Judge when that happens.
Imogen Egan
4

Imogen Egan

Outer Temple Chambers
Imogen is an excellent barrister. She is extremely knowledgeable about all aspects of employment law and is able to quickly get to the key issues in a case. Imogen is excellent at quickly building rapport with the client and is able to explain complex legal issues in a manner that can be digested by the lay client. Imogen is excellent at providing practical and sensible advice and tactics on a case and goes above and beyond on every occasion. Imogen's advocacy skills are second to none. Her manner and approach are calm and unflappable, and she secures excellent results.
Rad Kohanzad
4

Rad Kohanzad

Old Square Chambers
Rad brings a rare combination of intellectual rigor, calm authority, and commercial realism. He has sufficient gravitas to advise boards and decision-makers with confidence, yet avoids unnecessary legalism. His advice is clear, structured, and focused on practical outcomes rather than academic exposition. He is particularly strong where matters involve disability considerations, reputational risk, and procedural sensitivity, and he approaches those issues with care, balance, and sound judgment. He is an excellent advocate; his written work is first class, and he is personable, easy to work with, and able to establish rapport and instill confidence with clients.
Chesca Lord
4

Chesca Lord

Cloisters
Chesca is an excellent employment barrister and a highly effective advocate. She has a strong command of the facts and the law, identifies the key issues quickly, and presents the client’s case clearly, persuasively, and with sound judgment. Her advocacy is measured and confident, and she is particularly effective at dealing with complex or sensitive evidence without losing sight of the practical and commercial outcome for the client. She is also very approachable and responsive. Her written advice is clear, thorough, and practical, and she explains complex legal issues in a way that clients can readily understand. She is calm and reassuring under pressure and works collaboratively with both the professional client and the lay client. She is someone I trust to provide strong advice and representation in employment matters.
Laura Redman
4

Laura Redman

Cloisters
I have instructed Laura Redman on a range of employment law matters. In my experience, she is approachable and easy to work with, provides clear advice, and is thoughtful in her approach to case strategy. She is responsive to instructions and communicates effectively with solicitors and clients.
James Williams
4

James Williams

Henderson Chambers
James is my first port of call for employment law advice and support. He is technically excellent but, just as importantly, pragmatic, commercially astute, and exceptionally easy to work with. He understands the distinction between my role as an HR Consultant and that of a qualified solicitor and pitches his advice accordingly, explaining complex issues clearly and never making me feel uncomfortable about asking questions. He is approachable, down to earth, and has a great sense of humour.
Lisa Hatch
4

Lisa Hatch

1EC Barristers
Lisa is an exceptionally strong advocate who combines excellent legal knowledge with sound judgment. She is meticulous in her preparation, quickly identifies the key issues in complex matters, and provides clear, practical, and well-considered advice. Her advocacy is persuasive and measured, while her calm and composed approach inspires confidence. A particular strength is Lisa’s ability to explain complex legal and evidential issues clearly to clients. She is approachable, responsive, and highly committed to achieving the best possible outcome for her clients. She also demonstrates excellent judgment in assessing risk and identifying pragmatic solutions.
Daniel Brown
5

Daniel Brown

3PB
Daniel is really good with clients and makes them feel at ease and comfortable. His advocacy skills are excellent, and he adopts a most reassuring and persuasive style, obtaining excellent results in the most complex and difficult multi-day cases. Daniel quickly understands the key legal issues that require determination, and his technical skills are outstanding. Daniel is quick to adapt to various situations that may arise at hearings, including interlocutory and urgent applications.
Leo Davidson
5

Leo Davidson

11KBW
We have found Leo to be of sharp intellect in dealing with complicated legal issues, and he is always calm under pressure. He possesses impressive writing skills.
Timothy Dracass
5

Timothy Dracass

Pump Court Chambers
Colm Kelly
5

Colm Kelly

Devereux
Colm Kelly is a calm, considered, and intelligent barrister. He explains legal points very clearly and has a very reasoned and persuasive advocacy style.
Oliver Lawrence
5

Oliver Lawrence

4 New Square Chambers
Freddie Onslow
5

Freddie Onslow

Essex Court Chambers
Freddie is, without question, one of the finest barristers I have had the pleasure of instructing. She has never once failed to impress, whether through the force of her advocacy, her tireless efficiency, or the sharpness of her judgment. Her preparation is exhaustive and forensic; nothing in the papers escapes her, no matter how voluminous. Her memory for detail is extraordinary, and the standard and timeliness of her written work, whether skeleton arguments, advice, or pleadings, is consistently of the highest caliber, rigorous, and persuasive in equal measure. Her legal analysis always impresses. She quickly cuts through to the strongest lines of argument. Crucially, she never loses sight of what actually matters to the client, meaning her advice and strategy are unfailingly geared towards the most pragmatic and cost-effective outcome. As an advocate, she is composed and commands authority before tribunals. She adapts her approach fluidly as a hearing develops. I recommend Freddie to my team without reservation.
Emma Catia Walker
5

Emma Catia Walker

2 Temple Gardens
From my first meeting with Ms. Walker, I was impressed by her thoughtfulness, care, and capacity to quickly take in the relevant aspects of my case. My trust and admiration for her considerable skills in representing me only increased as time went on. She is intelligent, articulate, and effective in her work. I highly recommend Ms. Walker to anyone needing a very experienced and competent barrister who was on my case from the start. I was tremendously supported throughout the proceedings in my case, and my confidence in her capacities only grew throughout the time she represented me.

Rising stars

Rising stars at the Bar are defined as barristers between four and eight years’ call who are seen as up-and-coming members of the Bar in their respective practice areas by clients and peers alike. They will already be instructed in high-profile, complex, and high-value contentious and non-contentious matters, working with and opposite more experienced leading counsel.

Matthew Bignell
1

Matthew Bignell

Devereux
Grace Corby
1

Grace Corby

Cloisters
Grace is, without question, a rising star with outstanding technical knowledge and a very safe pair of hands.
Emma Darlow Stearn
1

Emma Darlow Stearn

Cloisters
Emma is just a pleasure to deal with and, in that overused term, a rising star of the Bar. On a sensitive sexual harassment case, she had a fantastic client manner: precise and forensic legal advice, but delivered clearly, accessibly, and with compassion. She has a great ability to focus on what matters and steer expertly away from what does not. Our lay clients were hugely impressed by her. Her formal drafting is superb - lucid, structured writing which persuades and wins the reader over. As instructing solicitors, she's very collaborative - hardworking, responsive, and patient through multiple drafts and queries. Emma has developed a deserved profile within the profession, through things like the Industrial Law Society and the Free Representation Unit. She brings that same engagement and commitment to the cases we've worked on together - a barrister who will get stuck in and give it her all.
Jessica Franklin
1

Jessica Franklin

Outer Temple Chambers
She is a strong and effective advocate who presents her arguments with clarity and coherence. Her submissions are well-structured and logically developed, and she delivers them with an assured and confident manner that carries real weight with the tribunal. Beyond her advocacy, she is notably thorough and well-organized in her preparation. She has an impressive command of the detail in a case, which means she is always on top of the relevant facts and legal issues. This level of preparation is evident in the quality of her written and oral work. She also has an excellent manner with clients, who clearly respect her judgment. She is able to explain complex legal issues in an accessible way and instills confidence in those she represents. Clients feel well looked after and trust her advice, which is a real asset in practice.
Helena Ifeka
1

Helena Ifeka

Cloisters
Helena is always extremely well prepared. She always ensures that she has set aside sufficient time to give proper consideration to a matter. Helena’s written advice is exemplary. It is well structured and written in clear language. Her analysis of the potential claim is replete with how the law applies to the facts, a discussion of the relevant case law, and the strengths and weaknesses of arguments that might be advanced. She is also pragmatic about what might be achieved through litigation and is very strategic in how she sets about trying to maximize a client’s position. Helena is very approachable. She is friendly and sympathetic. She listens carefully to what clients have to say and engages with their questions and concerns in an open and straightforward way. She is not afraid to express her opinion, but she does so in a way that is neither belligerent nor dismissive. When she disagrees, she always explains why. In court, Helena’s command of the facts and the law inspires confidence in clients. Her advocacy is conducted in a calm manner, even under pressure. She chooses her words carefully and expresses her thoughts with precision. Her questions are always well thought out, and it is evident that she is thinking carefully about the response. Her submissions are exemplary. Helena is a real asset to any team.
Ameer Ismail
1

Ameer Ismail

Cloisters
Ameer’s key strengths lie in his excellent advocacy and outstanding strategic judgment. He is a highly effective advocate—calm, composed, and very persuasive on his feet. He does not rely on theatrics; instead, he succeeds through meticulous preparation, intellectual rigor, and a clear command of the issues. He has a natural ability to distill complex legal and factual matters into structured, compelling submissions that resonate with tribunals and courts. His cross-examination is focused and incisive, and he consistently outmaneuvers his opponents through careful preparation and sharp analysis. He is equally impressive in conference and preparation. His written work is clear, precise, and analytically strong, and he is particularly adept at identifying the key issues early and shaping a coherent, commercially sensible strategy. He combines deep technical knowledge with a pragmatic, solutions-focused approach, which adds real value across both contentious and non-contentious matters. Ameer is very well liked by clients. He builds confidence quickly through his measured, thoughtful approach, and has a reassuring, approachable manner. He communicates advice clearly and practically, making even complex issues feel manageable. He is also notable for his willingness to take on pro bono work, which he approaches with the same level of care, preparation, and commitment as his paid instructions. He is consistently my first choice of counsel, and I greatly value working with him.
Roisin Swords-Kieley
1

Roisin Swords-Kieley

Matrix Chambers
Roisin has demonstrated four key strengths: 1. Simplifying complex issues: Roisin has a remarkable ability to cut through complex discrimination claims, identifying the key issues and formulating clear, pragmatic strategies to address those issues. She does this both in her drafting and when winning over judges during hearings. 2. Robust advocacy: Roisin is able to identify exactly what is in our client's interest and advocate for it clearly and effectively. I have been particularly impressed with her ability to address tricky or unclear issues with judges, pushing back on their reasoning during hearings to ensure the best outcome for our client, whilst sensibly 'picking her battles' to make sure judges don't view us as unreasonable. 3. Client-friendly communication: I have no hesitation about introducing Roisin to our clients directly and know I can trust her to explain technical legal issues to lay clients in a way that is personable and clear. Clients enjoy working with Roisin as a result and appreciate her direct approach. 4. Higher Education expertise: Roisin is clearly an expert in the Higher Education sector. She is able to get to grips with complicated structures and internal mechanisms unique to universities quickly and factor them into her advice. That she already understands this context saves us time and our clients' costs. Her work is consistently cost-effective and she regularly delivers work under her fee estimate for clients in a fee-sensitive sector.
Laurene Veale
1

Laurene Veale

Cloisters
Highly organized with a very clear sense of the limitations of the law. Laurene is very likable and her knowledge and engagement generate confidence. In consultation, her explanations and responses to questions are clear and show a deep understanding of the facts and legal issues in a claim. Laurene is always courteous and deals with difficult situations with sympathy and grace. However, she is very clear about what can be achieved through litigation and is pragmatic about presenting the potential outcomes. Her written advice is well presented and can always be relied upon. It is well thought through and does not shy away from addressing difficult issues and evaluating how those might affect the course of litigation. However, she is also very imaginative in the ways in which the law might be used to further a claim. In court, Laurene is exceedingly well prepared. She is extraordinarily determined and focused on presenting the best case possible for the client. Her cross-examination is very precise and well thought through. Under pressure, she is very calm. In short, Laurene is a pleasure to work with and clients really appreciate her knowledge and contribution.