Ms Claire Merritt > Paris Smith LLP > Southampton, England > Lawyer Profile

Ms Claire Merritt

023 8048 2112 claire.merritt@parissmith.co.uk View profile View profile

Work Department

Employment Law

Position

LLP Partner

Career

I am a specialist in employment law and have over 14 years of experience dealing with all aspects of employment law.

In particular I deal with the following issues:

• Employment contracts
• Tribunal claims
• Discipline/poor performance issues
• Redundancies and restructuring
• TUPE regulations
• Settlement agreements
• Discrimination
• Policies and procedures
• Drafting handbooks
• Agency worker regulations
• Working time regulations
• Employee related data protection queries

Day to day advice

Whether acting for companies or individuals, I draft clear, concise contracts and other documentation and provide practical advice on a wide range of employment law issues. I provide prompt responses and look to find effective solutions to any problem.

I also advise on restrictive covenant breaches and agency worker regulation.

I have a particular focus on advising in the education sector including sixth form colleges, further education colleges and independent schools. However, I have a wide client base in various sectors including manufacturing, transport and logistics and health and social care.

Tribunals

I have a depth of experience when acting in a range of tribunal claims with issues of unfair dismissal, constructive dismissal, various discrimination, whistle blowing, TUPE and collective consultation rights. I also appear regularly in the Employment Tribunal, both in person, on the telephone and virtually. I undertake my own advocacy.

Training

I have significant experience running bespoke training sessions for employers and HR professionals on many different aspects of employment law. I deliver training online and in person.

Education law

I have experience in advising on education law matters. Given my client base in education, I also have an interest in pure education law as well as employment law.

I have been successful in representing parents in the admission of their children to schools and academies and advising parents in relation to special educational needs. I also work alongside schools and academies, advising as to their legal duties and obligations with a variety of complex procedures surrounding admissions, exclusions and special educational needs.

I aim to help parents through the difficult process of EHC needs assessments and the making of an EHC Plan. I also help parents navigate through the appeal process.

I enjoy working with my clients and want to form lasting relationships. I have great communication skills and really feel that this enables my clients to understand their situation and feel supported, whatever advice is necessary.

I look to provide commercial solutions and practical ways of solving problems. I understand that most employment issues involve complex facts, law and emotions. I like advising in challenging circumstances and bringing all of these elements together.

Memberships

I am:

• a member of the Employment Lawyers Association (ELA); and
• a trained mental health first aider.