Chris is known for his forensic attention to detail and commercial approach. He has a thorough knowledge of the law but an acute appreciation of the commercial and operational factors that influence clients when bringing and defending claims. He has as a thriving advisory practice and is flexible to assist clients at any stage of proceedings.
His appreciation of ‘business impact’ derives from an extensive career in recruitment before coming to law. Chris has worked with no fewer than seven national Unions in the transport, arts, manufacturing and education verticals and has a natural ability to build rapport with all types of clients.
Chris has been instructed in 75+ matters across the broad spectrum of employment law including, but not limited to:
- Unfair dismissal
- Maternity discrimination
- Age discrimination
- TUPE transfers
- Protective awards on insolvency
- Equal pay
- Victimisation
- Harassment
Notable Cases
- Sole counsel against junior counsel and King’s Counsel – representing Professor ranked in top 2% in his field who was dismissed for gross misconduct by NI University. Allegations of race discrimination and that dismissal was a sham. Supported by UCU.
- Career-ending losses claim for claimant living with a hypoxic brain injury. Employer failed to make reasonable adjustment to return employee to a familiar role. Complex financial reports and medical assessment involved. Insurance backed case and instructed by Tier 1 Chambers and Partners Solicitor for Employment in NI.
- Failure to make reasonable adjustments claim for claimant who has left teaching due to school’s failure to implement modest changes. Claimant living with spina bifida and uses wheelchair.
- Secured one of the highest awards in the McCloud age discrimination cases in NI. A significantly larger award than was given in GB for the police and fire fighters who settled their claim. Again, I was sole counsel against a junior and King’s Counsel. Leveraged government’s need to ensure case did not run and create precedent.
- Recently secured 95% of Schedule of Loss value for unlawful deduction case against large postal and delivery company. Offer tripled after sending clear written submissions of claimant’s case to Respondent.
- Award of £16,500 for a holiday pay claim October 2023. The instructing solicitor asked me to check there was no claim as ready to withdraw. Analysed payslips and noticed that calculations were incorrect. Full analysis of losses showed shortfall back to 2008 (note in NI there is no backstop for holiday pay claims and claims can be brought to any period where pay can be evidenced by the employee).
- Successful defence of an application by 15 claimants to extend time to present claims for holiday pay.
- Successfully obtained protective award of 90 days for two employees after government as intervenor attempted on the day of hearing to challenge the number of employees at each individual site.
- Currently sole counsel representing two appellants with an appeal to the Court of Appeal – a challenge to the employment status of NFU Mutual Financial Agents.
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