Discrimination

St Philips’ specialist Discrimination Practice Group provides outstanding expertise and experience in the field of discrimination law. We advise and appear as advocates in high value and complex discrimination litigation, including disputes involving different and competing protected characteristics, victimisation (Woods v Pasab Ltd [2012] Eq LR 392, CA), pension-related claims, and complex jurisdictional points including conflict of laws.  We also have in-depth experience of equal pay litigation on behalf of both claimants and respondents, including high-value multiple claims brought against local authorities and trades unions. Members of the Group have preferred Counsel status with a number of bodies, including:

• the Attorney-General’s Panel of Counsel (including its Panel of Special Advocates), advising and acting on behalf of Government bodies including HMRC and the Prison Service
• the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s Panel of Preferred Counsel.
• Welsh Government Panel of Counsel

We are pleased that our regular clients include local authorities, NHS Trusts, PCTs, police authorities, fire authorities, and private sector clients including blue chip companies. In addition, members of the Group are frequently instructed by employees at the highest levels of employment, both private and public sector. The breadth of knowledge and experience is shown by the fact that barristers within the Group have written and co-edited the practitioners’ loose-leaf textbook “Discrimination in Employment”, ed. Sweet & Maxwell; also

• co-edit the head notes for the Equality Law Reports;
• have given evidence to the Parliamentary Select Committee on behalf of the Discrimination Law Association.
• Hold editorial positions with numerous publications, including the ELA Briefing Magazine and Lexis Nexis Local Authority Employment Law, Practice and Procedure

The Group’s expertise in discrimination law extends to the field of the provision of goods facilities and services, with particular experience in the field of education; with members appearing on both sides of Owens v Dudley MBC [2012] ICR 453, CA.