Employment
SRA seeks whistleblowing role as part of SLAPPs action
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is set to make it easier for law firm staff to blow the whistle on their employers, as part of its work on SLAPPs – of which it is investigating more than 20.
Tribunal rejects claims from LAA solicitor in WhatsApp row
An employment tribunal has rejected claims from a solicitor at the Legal Aid Agency, disciplined after a heated WhatsApp exchange and a threat to share it with the Law Society.
Law firm entitled to fire employee who “lost it” during meeting
A law firm was entitled to summarily dismiss an employee who lost control during an informal meeting with a manager about his behaviour towards other staff, an employment tribunal has ruled.
Leading firm overlooks another employment claim made against it
“Systematic and human errors” at leading legal aid firm Duncan Lewis meant it failed to respond to a discrimination and constructive dismissal claim against it for six and a half months.
Departing legal recruiter wrong not to hand over LinkedIn password
A legal recruitment consultant was wrong to refuse to disclose his personal LinkedIn password before he left his employer to set up his own business, the High Court has ruled.
Ex-managing partner misled tribunal in discrimination claim
A former law firm managing partner misled an employment tribunal in the course of pursuing a disability discrimination claim against by his ex-partners.
Law firm receptionist fired for being pregnant awarded £23,500
A receptionist fired by a law firm because she was having a difficult pregnancy and taking time off work has been awarded compensation of £23,500 by an employment tribunal.
System failure led to default judgment against leading law firm
Leading legal aid firm Duncan Lewis has been ordered to pay a former director costs of £6,500 for setting aside a default employment tribunal judgment caused by its internal failures.
Litigator’s claim against ex-firm struck out for unless order failure
A civil litigator with experience of employment disputes has had an unfair dismissal claim against his former firm struck out for failing to comply with an unless order.
Barrister’s treatment of more junior opponent “verged on bullying”
The behaviour of the barrister who called her more junior opponent a liar before an employment tribunal and mimicked her voice verged on bullying, a disciplinary panel has decided.
In-house solicitor with triplets was victim of discrimination
British Gas discriminated against and unfairly dismissed an in-house solicitor who returned to work part-time after having triplets, an employment tribunal has ruled.
Law firm unfairly dismissed assistant solicitor absent due to cancer
A law firm unfairly dismissed an assistant solicitor who was recovering from cancer, an employment tribunal has ruled. It was also found guilty of disability discrimination.
Lockdown conveyancing redundancy was genuine, tribunal rules
A redundancy exercise run by a law firm in its conveyancing department following the first lockdown in 2020 was genuine, an employment tribunal has ruled in dismissing an unfair dismissal claim.
Firm fired Jewish employee after taking time off for religious holiday
A law firm has been ordered to pay a former Jewish employee £26,500 in damages after it fired him for not attending work when instructed, even though it was a religious holiday he had booked off.
Court upholds non-compete clause for lawyer joining Weightmans
The High Court has upheld a 12-month non-compete clause imposed by a niche employment practice on a director joining national law firm Weightmans.
Blog
A new route to practice rights for chartered legal executives
Following approval from the Legal Services Board in May 2022, CILEx Regulation has launched an alternative route for chartered legal executives to obtain independent practice rights.
NFTs, the courts and the role of injunctions
In May, news broke that a non-fungible token was the subject of a successful injunction made by the Singapore High Court. The NFT in question is part of the very valuable Bored Ape Yacht Club series.
Low-value commercial cases – an achievable challenge for ATE insurers
There are many good claims brought for damages that are likely to be significantly less than twice the cost of bringing the claim. These cases present a real challenge for insurers.
Reports
