Inspiration:

Going for a decent hike out in the hills and getting the breeze in your hair. I’m quite keen on history, so I also find inspiration in events where people battled on for what was right.

Year of qualification:

2001

Specialises in:

I began working for Trades Unions and their Members in 1999. I am in the Employment Rights Department and head up our work for the National Association of Stable Staff (NASS) and British Groom's Association (BGA). I have a mixed caseload of employment matters on behalf of Trades Union Members and private clients. I handle a wide variety of employment cases, including for example discrimination cases such as on the grounds of sex, race, sexual orientation, disability and age, Equal Pay, unfair dismissal, wrongful dismissal, contractual disputes, deductions from wages, protective awards and employment status cases. In relation to unfair dismissals, I have a successful history for specialised cases involving trade union reasons, health and safety grounds, the assertion of statutory rights, such as holiday entitlement under the Working Time Regulations 1998, and constructive dismissals.

I also provide industrial action advice and assist unions with internal matters involving union rules, constitutions and matters involving the Certification Office. I deliver talks to Union Officers and members on a wide variety of Employment Law topics.

I've been involved in a number of appeal cases, for example at the Employment Appeal and Court of Appeal.

I also represent individuals in internal meetings and hearings, such as in professional disciplinary matters.

Career with Morrish Solicitors:

Joined the Practice in 1999 as a Trainee Solicitor, and trained in personal injury, employment, criminal defence, property and conveyancing. After qualification, I worked in both criminal defence and employment, choosing to specialise in employment and discarding criminal defence work. I’ve worked solely in employment law since early 2002. I was made partner in October 2007.

Memberships:

Institute of Employment Rights, Employment Lawyer’s Association, Industrial Law Society, The Law Society

Interests:

Family, squash, cycling, the cinema, supporting football and travelling.

Heroes:

Rosa Parks, for standing up (or, rather, sitting down) for what was right. Her action to fight against racial segregation started an entire movement and she deserved to be one of its figureheads. Douglas Bader, for sheer resilience and battling on in the face of adversity, and dogged determination to do exactly what people said he couldn’t do, especially in the 1940s. Ronnie Barker, because he makes me laugh. William Wilberforce. I went to University in Hull, where a lot of landmarks are rightly named after him, and pay tribute to his efforts to combat slavery. Gandhi and Churchill are also heroes. Of course, they did not exactly see eye to eye and were opponents over India, but each is inspiring in different ways.

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