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Employment & Equality

Working for Equality

We offer a high quality service in all areas of employment and equality law. 

Equality Law: 

Members of the team act in all areas of equality law whether involving discrimination on the grounds of sex, gender reassignment,  race, disability, sexual orientation,  religion, belief and age or under Article 14 of the European Convention. Members are currently instructed in a number of equal pay multiple claims in the North of England and in Scotland. Our expertise covers equality law in and out of the workplace.  We regularly advise on the scope of public authority positive duties.

Labour Law:

We cover all areas of individual and collective labour law:   unfair dismissal, redundancy, breach of contract, deductions from wages, workplace injury,  individual and collective trade union rights, injunctions,  whistle blowing, professional disciplinary hearings and proceedings before the Central Arbitration Committee.   We regularly act for unions.  

Professional Standards: 

Team members have defended claims before a range of professional bodies including the GMC,  NMC and CIPFA.. We have expertise before the Care Standards Tribunal. 

Other Areas:

Members of this team have expertise and experience in the related fields of public law, personal injury law, education and human rights and we are able to draw on this expertise where helpful. 

Litigation: 

Advice and representation is provided to the highest standards.     We pride ourselves on our thorough preparation and our client skills,  whether in the  Employment  Tribunal, County or High Court.     As Appellate Advocates,  we present cases at all levels from the Employment Appeal Tribunal and the Court of Appeal to the House of Lords, European Court of Justice and European Court of Human Rights.  

Mediation: 

As well as acting and advising in litigation,  we are able to act in workplace mediations.   Some of our members are also trained mediators and are able to offer a mediation service which can be trusted by employees as well as employers.  mediation    

Transnational Employment Issues:

Within the team,  we can offer expert advice to international NGOS on transnational employment issues relating to several countries, and particularly in Asia.    

Labour Trafficking: 

The Team contains expertise on labour trafficking and the rights of migrant workers generally.     

Recent cases include:

• Potter and others v North Cumbria Acute Hospitals NHS Trust (period of evaluation in equal pay cases) UKEAT/004/08 April 17th 2008.
• John Reaney v Hereford Diocesan Board of Finance, 2007 [sexual orientation and the Church of England]
• Babula v Waltham Forest College [2007] ECWA Civ 174; IRLR 346 CA

Further Information

Further information about individual members of our Employment and Equality team can be obtained using the links to the right. You can also contact our clerks directly:

• David Smith 020 7841 6108 david.smith@tooks.co.uk
• Simon Gardner 020 7841 6110 simon.gardner@tooks.co.uk

Recent news

• Guidance from EAT on dates of evaluation in equal pay claims
  21 April 2008
• Legal 500 2007 recommends Tooks Chambers
  17 September 2007
• Bishop of Hereford discriminated against gay man
  18 July 2007
• Whistle blowing Case successfully overturns the rule in Kraus v Penna
  Babula v Waltham Forest College. Court of Appeal [2007] EWCA Civ 174
  20 March 2007

• 1982 Peter Herbert
• 1989 Catherine Rayner
• 1993 Sandhya Drew
• 1995 Andrea Chute
• 1996 Sarah Bourke
• 1998 Paul Troop
• 1998 Rebekah Wilson
• 2004 Jane Russell
• 2004 Adam Straw
• 2006 Leonie Hirst