Employment | UK Bar

11KBW is a pre-eminent employment set boasting considerable depth at the silk and junior levels. The barristers earn widespread praise from instructing solicitors: one refers to the set as "one of the strongest sets for employment law, with some incredibly capable barristers." The set remains a popular choice for high-profile individuals and organisations in numerous sectors, from financial services to the 'gig economy'. Members' expertise covers the full spectrum of employment law issues; they are leaders in the fields of equal pay, worker status and team moves. The barristers can boast involvement in noteworthy recent cases in the highest courts, such as R (Independent Workers of Great Britain) v Central Arbitration Committee and Deliveroo, a Supreme Court appeal on worker status. In an additional work highlight, barristers from the set acted for both sides in a high-profile dispute in the pharmaceutical industry, which saw AstraZeneca challenge the move of Dr Sheldon to GSK through enforceability of a non-compete covenant and interim relief. With its broad range of experience, 11KBW is widely held to be a "go-to set for complex, high-value employment matters."

Blackstone Chambers is home to a number of leading lights in the employment law field, whose expertise covers a full spread of developing issues including restrictive covenants, employment status, equal pay and protected disclosure. The barristers act for well-known corporates and financial services firms, and are skilled in advocacy before the tribunals, the senior courts and the Supreme Court. Recent cases include Clifford v Millicom Services UK and others, an important case on Employment Tribunal powers. Another notable case was Benyatov v Credit Suisse, in which Paul Goulding KC acted for the successful respondent in the Court of Appeal. Interviewees commend the barristers for being "experts in their field" who "instil confidence that no matter is too complex" and "provide advice that is practical and communicated in a client-friendly manner."

Cloisters Chambers is a premium employment set which is home to barristers acting in a wide range of complex cases including whistle-blowing, worker status and equal pay claims. Interviewees agree that the chambers offers counsel who are "very capable, responsive and consistent in their top-level support." Members frequently represent individuals and companies, as well as trade unions and public bodies, in the employment tribunals and up to the Supreme Court. They are also approached by government departments, charities and the EHRC to carry out investigations or reviews. In recent months Casper Glyn KC appeared in the Supreme Court case of Harpur Trust v Brazel, which determined holiday pay entitlement for part-time and term-time workers. Members were also involved in fresh multiparty equal pay claims brought against Tesco.

Littleton Chambers offers superb capability covering high-end commercial employment work, in addition to knotty worker status, discrimination and harassment claims. Members routinely act on behalf of multinational companies and financial services clients, but also undertake pro bono work for claimants. In recent months David Reade KC appeared in the Court of Appeal in the case of Kocur v Angard Staffing Solutions, concerning the rights of agency workers to access permanent employment opportunities. Nicholas Siddall KC successfully appeared in Kong v Gulf International Bank, a prominent appeal concerning whistle-blowing. Feedback on the barristers at Littleton is consistently strong, with interviewees reporting that "the standard of work across the whole set is extremely high." Instructing solicitors further remark that counsel "always provide clear and concise strategic advice."

Old Square Chambers is an impressive set with wide-ranging strength in employment matters, including worker status, equal pay, discrimination and whistle-blowing cases. Its barristers represent trade unions in relation to strike injunctions. The chambers also attracts and retains clients in the education and healthcare sectors at an impressive rate. One client reports that "barristers at Old Square have never failed to get on top of complex matters quickly and effectively." Another interviewee characterises the set as having "a wide range of barristers at all levels who are uniformly user-friendly and collaborative as well as being subject matter experts." The strength of the barristers is particularly evident in their involvement in high-profile cases such as R (Independent Workers of Great Britain Union) v Central Arbitration Committee and Roofoods, in which Lord Hendy KC, Katherine Newton KC and Madeline Stanley were instructed to appear in the Supreme Court.

Devereux is a chambers which is widely praised for its "high levels of expertise and professionalism," with clients noting that the barristers are "always confident in their abilities at all levels." The set can boast deep experience among its ranks covering high-profile employment disputes, including matters with crossover tax implications. Members exhibit considerable expertise in cases involving restrictive covenants, industrial relations, TUPE, the National Minimum Wage, discrimination and whistle-blowing. Tenants are regularly called upon to represent claimants and respondents, with recent highlights including Professional Game Match Officials Ltd v HMRC, an appeal before the Supreme Court concerning the employment status of football referees. The set remains a popular choice among solicitors, who seek the barristers' advice knowing that they "handle complex litigation with ease," providing "pragmatic commercial legal advice with excellent client engagement and detailed legal opinions."

Essex Court Chambers is a formidable commercial set with substantial experience of employment litigation in the High Court and above, including on behalf of financial services clients. Interviewees report that "it is a very knowledgeable and commercial set" that is "able to advise on very complex legal issues" and is "home to some of the brightest minds in the game." The barristers' strengths extend to whistle-blowing and discrimination claims.

Matrix Chambers' employment law practice is considered an excellent choice for everything from tribunal cases to Supreme Court appeals, covering high-profile equal pay, discrimination and whistle-blowing claims. A number of barristers at the set also have experience in restrictive covenant cases. Members are regularly instructed by individuals and employers across a range of sectors, including the public sector and financial services. Recent highlights have seen the barristers act in notable employment cases such as Robin Somerville v Nursing & Midwifery Council, concerning holiday pay rights related to worker status issues. An instructing solicitor states that Matrix is a set which "consistently handles complex cases with ease and creativity."

Outer Temple Chambers continues to impress with its involvement at the epicentre of ground-breaking mass equal pay litigation. The barristers are highly experienced in all manner of discrimination claims and whistle-blowing matters, as well as employment cases with crossover pensions elements. The chambers regularly represents significant clients in the public and private sectors, including in retail. Among recent highlights, Andrew Short KC has continued to act in Brierley and Others v Asda Stores, representing tens of thousands of supermarket workers in their landmark equal pay claim. Instructing solicitors say: "The set has a broad range of expertise which we are able to tap into when needed, including niche aspects of practice."

The barristers at 42 Bedford Row are "professional and highly skilled practitioners who always provide outstanding service to our clients," according to interviewees. They act for private companies, public sector employers and employees in reputationally sensitive and challenging cases. Members are well versed in discrimination, unfair dismissal, TUPE and whistle-blowing claims. In a recent highlight, Rad Kohanzad appeared on behalf of the successful appellant in the Court of Appeal case of Phipps v Priory Education Services, concerning the striking out of an unfair dismissal claim.

Doughty Street Chambers draws on strong employment law knowledge as well as complementary areas of practice, when acting for employees and employers in high-profile cases. Clients regard the chambers highly because of "a depth of skill and experience enabling them to provide the highest-quality advice, particularly in respect of complex and sophisticated matters." Members are adept at handling cutting-edge worker status and union recognition cases, in addition to discrimination and unfair dismissal claims. A key recent case saw the barristers recover £460,000 in compensation for a teacher who was found to have been racially discriminated against by their employer, the Diocese of Westminster Academy Trust.

12 King's Bench Walk stands out for its impressive claimant-side employment practice, which sees the barristers handle a range of claims on behalf of individuals in professional and financial services as well as the public sector. The barristers also have experience representing respondents. Members demonstrate particular capabilities in harassment, whistle-blowing and unfair dismissal claims. They are well versed in cases requiring combined knowledge of personal injury and employment law, making the chambers a popular choice for disability discrimination. The set is regularly involved in complex employment cases including Elaina Cohen v Khalid Mahmood MP. Instructing solicitors regularly return to the set because "it is an outstanding chambers with quality across the board," providing "proactive, commercial and sensible advice."

Solicitors regularly seek out 7BR's highly knowledgeable employment barristers for representation in a variety of employment law matters. The chambers can claim experts with knowledge across the employment field, including all aspects of discrimination law as well as commercial employment cases. The barristers act for both claimants and respondents, with a recent highlight being Maria Rooney v Leicester City Council, the first case dealing with menopausal symptoms as a disability under the Equality Act. Clients note: "The set has strong professional skills combined with diligence and a pragmatic attitude, and we trust them to deal with complex and sophisticated litigation."