Harmajinder Hayre

Partner, Employment

Harmajinder has more than a decade’s specialist experience in employment law.

He regularly advises clients in the retail, financial services and transport sector on strategic collective industrial relations issues. In particular, Harmajinder has developed an expertise in High Court litigation in relation to breaches of confidentiality and restrictive covenants.

His work regularly involves planning and providing strategic advice set in the context of a union-backed workforce on issues such as restructurings/reorganisations, equal pay, TUPE, and industrial action.

He is a regular speaker on employment law issues and devises and delivers training programmes for clients and professional bodies.

Experience

• advice to a financial service company on employee aspects of a £2bn outsourcing programme;
• obtaining interim undertakings and negotiating a six figure damages settlement in the High Court on behalf of a national financial services broker against a team of ex – brokers who had set up in competition in breach of their restrictive covenants and misuse of confidential information;
• successfully calling off industrial action brought by a union in breach of the statutory balloting requirements both in the private and health sector;
• advising an international engineering company on employee aspects of a major restructuring programme;
• advising the UK subsidiary companies of a US multinational company on implementing employee aspects of the Data Protection Act 1998 and setting up Safe Harbour status;
• representing a UK based private sector company against the Northern Ireland Equal Opportunities Commission on a nine-day hearing alleging discrimination on the grounds of sex, part-time workers status, unfair dismissal and victimisation.

Harmajinder has considerable experience of advising board members, accountants and venture capitalists on the individual and collective employee obligations of companies in financial difficulties.

Email: harmajinderhayre@espltd.info
Tel: 0113 205 6712
Fax: 0113 205 6700

Gemma Sherbourne

Associate, Employment

Gemma has a friendly manner and likes to build strong working relationships with the clients she deals with by getting to know more about both the individuals she is advising and the businesses in which they work. Gemma enjoys dealing with the more complex technical issues, including issues arising from TUPE transactions, as well as finding commercial solutions to tricky employment problems. Gemma gives straightforward advice and is equally happy dealing with business owners and managers of SMEs as well as HR professionals at larger clients. The bulk of Gemma’s experience is in dealing with SMEs, often advising Managing and Finance Directors who appreciate her straightforward style.

Sarah Dillon

Associate, Employment

Sarah is based in the Leeds office and has nine years’ experience of employment law.

She regularly advises public and private sector clients on a range of employment issues and regularly delivers client training and seminars.

Sarah is an experienced Employment Tribunal advocate appearing in cases involving unfair dismissal, whistle blowing and discrimination.

She regularly appears in Tribunals throughout the country.

Experience

Sarah’s experience includes:

• advising on prospects of success and tactical handling of tribunal claims
• advising on the enforceability of restrictive covenants
• advice on collective redundancy consultations
• advising on companies on employee absence, disciplinary and grievance matters
• advice regarding the TUPE implications and requirements of mergers and acquisitions to the private and public sector including consultation, redundancies and Economic, Technical and Organisational changes
• successfully defending a complex whistle blowing and race claim on behalf of a large care sector company
• appearing successfully in a case requiring the use of chemical experts in a high profile unfair dismissal claim
• advising and defending an NHS Foundation Trust regarding a complex race discrimination case
• setting up, managing and advising on EPL-backed helplines.

Email: sarahdillon@espltd.info
Tel: 0113 205 6719
Fax: 0113 205 6700

Nina Robinson

Associate, Employment

Nina has worked on a wide range of employment-related matters for clients including national supermarket and restaurant chains.

She is experienced in dealing with all aspects of Employment Tribunal claims across all stages and has designed and led client training sessions including full mock tribunal days, manager training days and human resources team training.

Nina also advises on a variety of TUPE issues faced by clients on acquisitions, disposals and service provision changes.

Experience

Nina has experience on a range of employment-related matters including:

• large scale redundancies
• compromise agreements
• strategic advice
• Human Resources team training
• drafting company employment policies and staff handbooks
• absence management
• disciplinary procedures
• handling grievances

In addition, Nina also has experience in corporate matters, including acquisitions, disposals, mergers and share issues.

Email: ninarobinson@espltd.info
Tel: 0113 205 6713
Fax: 0113 205 6700

Amy Duncan

Assistant Solicitor, Employment

Amy is an Assistant Solicitor in the Employment team, based in the Leeds office.

Throughout her training, and since qualifying in 2008, she has been involved in various aspects of contentious and non-contentious employment issues.

Experience

Acting predominantly for employers, in both the private and public sector, Amy has been involved in Employment Tribunal cases involving unfair dismissal, constructive dismissal and sex, disability and age discrimination issues.

Amy also has experience in a wide range of everyday employment-related matters, including:

• Drafting and advising on Disciplinary Procedures and Absence Management
• Drafting Company Employment Policies and Staff Handbooks
• Preparing and advising on Compromise Agreements
• Preparing and presenting client training sessions

Email: amyduncan@espltd.info
Tel: 0113 205 6724
Fax: 0113 205 6700

Paul Scope

Associate, Employment

Paul is an experienced employment lawyer who has specialised in this field since qualification in 2001.

He deals with all aspects of contentious and non-contentious employment issues, focussing on pragmatic and commercial solutions wherever possible.

He acts mainly for employers, providing a complete service in response to clients’ employment law needs.

Paul regularly appears in Employment Tribunals and has also conducted cases before the Employment Appeal Tribunal.

Experience

Paul has acted for a wide range of employers, from local SMEs to household names and national employers in the IT, consultancy, football, retail and environmental sectors.

He also has experience of working in-house for a national plc, where he dealt with all employment law issues across the group of companies.

As well as day to day employment issues, Paul has a great deal of experience in managing complex and collective employee consultation obligations, including substantial restructuring exercises, outsourcing, site closures, TUPE transfers and collective redundancies.

Paul conducts his own advocacy at Employment Tribunal hearings and has represented clients in the full range of Tribunal claims including race, sex and disability discrimination, unfair dismissal and constructive dismissal.

Email: paulscope@espltd.info
Tel: 0191 204 4352
Fax: 0191 204 4418

Jamie Gamble

Associate, Employment

Jamie has specialised in employment law since 2002 and deals with all types of contentious and non-contentious employment issues.

He acts predominantly for employers, from owner-managed businesses to national and multi-national companies and large public bodies.

Experience

Jamie’s focus is upon providing daily advice and assistance on all employment issues, including complex dismissal and discrimination matters, in order to guide organisations through the legal process to avoid litigation. He also frequently provides advice on recruitment and restructuring exercises.

Jamie has experience in employment tribunal advocacy and is experienced in preparing and delivering employment seminars on various employment issues.

He has also advised companies on issues surrounding changes to pension schemes.

Email: jamiegamble@espltd.info
Tel: 0191 204 4456
Fax: 0191 204 4418

Ben Williams

Assistant Solicitor, Employment

Ben is a solicitor in the Employment Department.

Ben qualified in September 2008 and specialises in providing employment law advice to clients from both the public and private sector.

Experience

Ben advises mainly employers on a regular basis, providing support and assistance in both contentious and non-contentious matters to a variety of private businesses ranging from small owner-managed businesses to large national companies.

He has also provided advice to public sector clients, including NHS trusts, local councils and providers of social housing in relation to tribunal claims, day to day employment issues, equal pay claims and more specific issues affecting particular public bodies.

Ben has been involved in successfully defending tribunal claims for unfair and wrongful dismissal, all forms of discrimination, whistleblowing and contractual claims.

He also has experience of providing advice in relation to redundancies and statutory dispute resolution procedures.

Email: benwilliams@espltd.info
Tel: 0191 204 4471
Fax: 0191 204 4210

Fiona Campbell

Assistant Solicitor, Employment

Fiona joined the team in April 2009 and has experience in both contentious and non-contentious Employment matters.

Experience

Fiona has been involved in the defence of a wide range of employment tribunal claims, including race, sex, disability and age discrimination, unfair dismissal and constructive dismissal, and has conducted her own advocacy.

She also provides daily advice to both public and private sector clients on various employment matters, including grievance and disciplinary procedures, redundancies and dismissals.

Email: fionacampbell@espltd.info
Tel: 0191 204 4355
Fax: 0191 204 4418

Charlotte Ashton

Assistant Solicitor, Employment

Charlotte joined the team in October 2009 having previously completed her training contract in-house with a large UK company.

Charlotte advises on a range of employment issues and has experience in defending Employment Tribunal claims including unfair dismissal, breach of TUPE Regulations, sex, race, age and disability discrimination. Charlotte also has experience in advocacy at Employment Tribunal hearings, pre-hearing reviews and case management discussions.

Experience:

• Advising on the TUPE implications and requirements of contract gains and losses including consultation, redundancies and Economic, Technical and Organisational changes;
• Advising on prospects of success and tactical handling of tribunal claims;
• Successfully defending unfair dismissal claims in Employment Tribunal;
• Preparing and presenting employment law training sessions.

ESP Legal Team

Disclaimer:

ESP employment legal advice is provided by our strategic legal partners, Ward Hadaway solicitors and the legal advice is governed by English law. Ward Hadaway (SRA ID number 204387) is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and subject to the Solicitors’ Code of Conduct 2007.