Anita Vadgama

Anita is widely recognised for her employment law practice, particularly in disability discrimination and Group Income Protection (GIP) benefits. She in an expert in discrimination cases with notable experience advising clients dealing with mental health issues.

Anita specialises in:

1. Discrimination

a) Disability discrimination, in particular discrimination arising from disability claims and failure to make reasonable adjustment claims;

b) Personal injury claims arising from discriminatory conduct;

c) Sexual and disability harassment claims;

d) Sex and race discrimination and harassment especially for senior executive female employees of colour;

e) Victimisation claims.

2. Advising senior executive employees including c-suite employees and negotiating complex termination exits including:

a) FCA regulatory references;

b) Multi-component packages including LTIPs and other incentive payments;

c) Navigating internal processes – grievances and disciplinaries.

3. Whistleblowing

a) Drafted Speak Up complaints and grievances

b) Litigating both detriment and dismissal claims for protected disclosures;

c) Interim relief applications.

4. Litigation

a) All aspects of litigation, from drafting Grounds of Claim for ET1s, to application for case management orders and whistleblowing.

b) Litigated in ET, EAT and COA.

5. Permanent Health Insurance benefits

a) Aiding employees with their application for benefits;

b) Drafting appeals to insurers and FOS;

c) Litigating cases arising for breach of contract from non payment;

d) Negotiated higher commuted lump sum termination payments that can be paid tax free.

In a previous role at a boutique specialist employment practice, Anita served as Head of Litigation. She has successfully represented clients in the Employment Tribunal and Employment Appeal Tribunal, securing judgments for numerous claimants and negotiating high-value settlements both before and during hearings. In one recent case, she succeeded in a disability discrimination claim subsequently brought on behalf of the estate of a claimant who sadly passed away from cancer before judgment was handed down.

Earlier in her career, Anita acted for claimants at a large trade union law firm before relocating to the United States for seven years. There, she practised as a dual-qualified English and Massachusetts attorney at Littler Mendelson, the world’s largest employment and labour law firm. Most recently, she spent eight years as a partner and Head of Litigation at a ranked employment practice.