UK Bar London (Bar) Employment

11KBW is a pre-eminent employment set boasting considerable depth at the silk and junior levels. The barristers earn widespread praise from instructing solicitors, with one reporting, "There is no doubt that 11KBW is one of the leading sets in employment, with huge strength in depth from silks to junior counsel." The set remains a popular choice for high-profile individuals and organisations in numerous sectors, from financial services to the 'gig economy'. The barristers can boast involvement in noteworthy recent cases in the highest courts, such as Baker and Others v Post Office, a highly significant claim in which members acted for Post Office contending that postmasters are not ‘workers’ and are instead genuinely self-employed small business owners. In an additional work highlight, barristers from the set acted for Aggregate Industries UK in a claim brought by the ex-managing director alleging his dismissal was due to whistleblowing over non-compliance with COVID-19 social distancing. Members' expertise covers the full spectrum of employment law issues; they are leaders in the fields of equal pay, worker status and team moves. With its broad range of experience, 11KBW is widely held to be "a go-to set for the most complex, high-profile and high-value employment disputes."

Blackstone Chambers is home to a number of leading lights in the employment law field, whose expertise covers a full spread of rapidly 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 Uber BV and Others v Aslam and Others, an appeal by Uber concerning whether drivers who use the Uber app are 'workers', and Volkova v Credit Suisse (UK) and Others, a whistle-blowing detriments and dismissal claim by a former senior investment consultant. Interviewees commend the barristers for being "consistently exceptional and willing and eager to grapple with complex and sophisticated matters."

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. It is widely held to be "a set that offers an excellent option for every occasion, at every seniority." Interviewees agree the chambers offers an "excellent range of counsel able to deal with any issues that arise." Members frequently represent individuals and companies, as well as trade unions and public bodies, in the Employment Tribunal and up to the Supreme Court. They are also approached by government departments, charities and the Equality and Human Rights Commission to carry out investigations or reviews. Over the past year, members appeared in the Supreme Court in the case which determined that Uber drivers are workers, with Jason Galbraith-Marten KC leading for the successful claimants. Barristers also achieved a landmark judgment in the Employment Tribunal setting aside the 'family worker exemption' in national minimum wage legislation on the basis that it was indirectly discriminatory against women.

According to instructing solicitors, Littleton Chambers' barristers "always come with an excellent, client-focused communication style, commercial awareness and legal expertise." The set 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 Mohinderpal Sethi KC appeared successfully in the Supreme Court case of Basfar v Wong, concerning the interplay between the law on employment, trafficking and diplomatic immunity. Sethi has also led the investigation into race discrimination at Yorkshire County Cricket Club. Feedback on the barristers at Littleton is consistently strong, with interviewees reporting: "The quality of advice on offer is always excellent, and the barristers are open to exploring novel arguments as well as giving balanced advice on prospects."

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, a particular specialism which among instructing solicitors earns the chambers the mantle of "the first-choice set in respect of all matters trade union-related." The chambers also attracts and retains clients in the education and healthcare sectors at an impressive rate. One client reports that "the quality of the advice, the attention to detail and the skill shown in advocacy is remarkable," whilst another interviewee characterises the set as having "a broad range of specialist barristers who deal with all aspects of employment law." The strength of the barristers is particularly evident in their headline-grabbing successes, notably Uber v Aslam and Kostal v Dunkley, two recent Supreme Court cases in which Oliver Segal KC led other Old Square barristers to success.

Devereux is a chambers which is widely praised for its "insightful, very client-friendly and very strategic barristers." 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 Morais v Ryanair, concerning whether claims under Blacklisting Regulations and S.146 TULRCA (union detriment) can be brought where relevant union activity is strike action. The set remains a popular choice among solicitors, who seek the barristers' advice knowing that they "are fiercely clever, but also highly commercial and pragmatic."

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: "Essex Court has a strong bench, all of whom are well placed to handle complex and sophisticated matters." The barristers' strengths also 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 Brazel v Harpur Trust, concerning holiday pay rights for part-year workers. An instructing solicitor states: "Matrix has a great selection of outstanding advocates."

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. A recent highlight saw Naomi Ling successfully represent the Lord Chancellor in a Court of Appeal case concerning a magistrate who was dismissed after expressing religious views. Instructing solicitors value the set's "wide range of experience within employment law, including more niche areas."

The barristers at 42 Bedford Row "have a good range of experience and are more than able to deal with all contentious employment matters regardless of level of complexity or sophistication," 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. Recent successes include defending Network Rail in a seven-day trial of complex race and disability discrimination and constructive dismissal claims.

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, or conducting independent investigations. Clients regard the chambers highly because the barristers "get to the nub of technically complex matters and provide clear guidance." 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 represent the claimant in a complex indirect sex discrimination claim against The Commissioner of the City of London Police.

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. The barristers 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 Heslop v Oxford Saïd Business School, in which members successfully resisted the respondent’s liability appeal. Instructing solicitors regularly return to the set because of the "excellent range and depth of employment barristers covering all areas."

Solicitors regularly seek out 7BR's highly knowledgeable employment barristers for representation in a variety of employment law matters. The chambers lays claim to 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 Semhar Tesfagiorgis v Aspinalls Club, in which Elaine Banton successfully represented a black female croupier who was removed from dealing with super wealthy customers who expressed a preference for white female dealers.