Employment Equality & Discrimination Law

"He has a calming influence over the clients at all times. His ability to grasp anything relating to the client's business structure is excellent." "He's bright and picks things up quickly. Clients like him – he's good in tribunal and gets good results." Chambers & Partners 2014

ADVOCACY

Richard is an employment purist. An accomplished and robust advocate, he regularly appears in significant proceedings from first instance to the Court of Appeal. He is also a part time Employment Judge appointed to the Wales region.

He was appointed as DLA Piper Rundniks in house employment counsel in 1999, and practised there until October 2005. Throughout that time Richard represented their major clients in tribunal and county court employment and discrimination matters.

Richard’s practise continues to grow. Regular clients include Tesco Stores Ltd (the largest private employer in the UK), Abbey National, Britannia Building Society, Department of Work & Pensions, Virgin Retail, Menzies, Telewest Plc.

Working at DLA gave Richard a very client focused approach. He understands the professional client’s expectations of barrister, and is committed to working within the client’s culture. Richard is able to swiftly identify business aims and give pragmatic, intelligible and decisive advice.

Recent reported cases include:

Abbey National v Fairbrother, CA (constructive dismissal and the reasonable range)
Sian v Abbey National (EAT time limits)
Woodward v Abbey National, EAT (post termination discrimination claims under PIDA)
Bupa v McCann & others (the SGP and time limits )
Othman Khalid v Tesco (band of reasonable responses in unfair dismissal)
Kopel v Safeway (Human Rights and costs orders)

Current / recent cases include:

Disputed commission claim on a multi million pound Government contract
Defending high court proceedings under the Prevention of Harassment Act 1997
Representing a financial institution facing a “post termination Whistle blowing claim” with an alleged continuing act from 1997 to 2003
Representing a Government Department in alleged trade union discrimination
Representing a Government department in a part time worker’s case which may affect the contractual entitlement of tens of thousands of staff
Representing a motor car manufacturer in an action to determine the status of its substantial agency work force
Representing a number of national retailers in typical disability sex or race discrimination and constructive dismissal claims
Representing a multi-national oil corporation in a sexual orientation claim

In ET and EAT judgements Richard’s advocacy has been noted. In the employment tribunal Richard has appeared across the UK from Aberdeen, Belfast and Hull to Exeter. This experience has given Richard valuable understanding of the varying approaches adopted in differing regions and the particular characteristics of certain tribunals.

Richard has been trusted to act for the CEO's of two of the largest retailers and Banks in the UK in allegations of discrimination.

Call: 1991

Member: Employment Lawyers’ Association

Qualified Mediator, 1997, British Academy of Experts

Part time employment judge (2002)

TRAINING

Richard’s training experience encompasses working with DLA Piper Rudnick's national training business: DLA Advance, who describe him in their promotional material as “one of our most popular speakers”. He writes and presents good practice training for employers to avoid the pitfalls that lead to tribunal cases.

This training is usually presented in conjunction with a solicitor’s practice to their lay clients. Recent training has been provided to: The Deputy Prime ministers office, the Charity Commission, The Passport Agency, the War Graves Commission, the Insolvency Service and a variety of local government institutions.

Training in conjunction with policy revision is provided to a number of commercial clients, again in conjunction with his professional client. This is based on Richard's considerable experience in dealing with the whole panoply of “daily ” HR issues that he met in his six years with DLA.

richard@riverchambers.com