Employment

Steven’s Employment law practice involves him advising employers and employees at all stages from contractual negotiations through to final hearing, and if necessary, to the Employment Appeals Tribunal.  Steven is frequently involved in cases that involve issues of discrimination, TUPE, whistleblowing and unfair dismissal. He regularly acts on behalf of national companies, local authorities and government agencies as well as trade unions and their members. Steven also draws upon his experience and research in providing regular day and evening CPD seminars. He was recently invited by the Employment Law Association to address its members on TUPE post 2006.

Recent Cases Include:

• Advising on the establishment of a QUANGO; including the transfer of employees and the employment position of Office Holders;
• Representing 40 immigrant agency workers in their claim for unfair dismissal and entitlement to state benefit;
• Appeal to the EAT in relation to a Claimant’s decision to undertake unconnected academic training rather than seek further employment;
• Sex, Age and Disability discrimination cases – representing both Claimants and Respondents in high value claims (£500k+)
• Dismissal for Protected Disclosure in relation to Emergency Service provision;
• Appeal to the EAT on whether the Claimant has failed to mitigate her loss in refusing an offer of re-employment when bad faith is found on behalf of the Respondent;

Recent Seminars include:

• TUPE post 2006
• Employment Act 2008;
• Discrimination following the decision in London Borough of Lewisham v Malcolm
• The law relating to Casual and Agency Workers;
• Stress at work claims.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

• Employment Law Association
• Employment Law Bar Association

Personal Injury

As a personal injury practitioner, Steven is involved in advising both claimants and defendants in matters concerning breaches of health and safety legislation, public liability and also road traffic accidents. In addition to his drafting and advisory work, Steven regularly appears in fast and multi-track trials. As a result of his employment law expertise, he is often instructed in claims relating to bullying and stress in the workplace. Steven is willing to accept cases on a CFA basis.

Recent cases include:

• Health and Safety at work legislation;
• Credit Hire claims;
• Stress at works claims;
• Accidents at sea;
• Allegations of fraudulent PI claims;
• Costs in multi-track claims.

Recent seminars include:

• Stress at work claims

Professional Memberships:

• Personal Injury Bar Association
• Free Representation Unit

Commercial

Insolvency

Steven’s practice in this area covers all aspects of both corporate and personal insolvency including voluntary arrangements (whether company or individual), administrations, administrative and other receiverships, liquidation and bankruptcies. He appears regularly in the County Court and High Court dealing with personal and corporate insolvency matters, from straightforward winding up petitions to more complex litigation. Due to his employment law background he has a particular interest in TUPE related matters.

Recent cases include:
• Voluntary and compulsory liquidations;
• Insolvent Partnerships;
• Advising and acting for trustees in bankruptcy;
• TUPE provisions in relation to insolvent companies;
• Advising and acting for supervisors/nominees in IVA’s; and
• Contested Statutory Demands and Bankruptcy Petitions – including where the debtor has died during since the filing of the petition.

Commercial litigation

In addition to his core areas, Steven has a broad commercial practice encompassing breach of contract (sale of goods, supply of services and contracts regulated by the Consumer Credit Act 1974 including PPI), banking disputes (corporate finance agreements and bank charges), partnerships and professional negligence.

Recent cases include:
• Payment Protection Insurance litigation; including an ongoing case in the Mercantile division relating to a claim for possession of individuals home set against a counterclaim for mis-selling PPI;
• Validity of a unilateral variation of terms by a bank prior to the advancing of sums earmarked for property development;
• Bank Charges claims; and
• Professional negligence claims – including a claim for negligence by a solicitor who had failed to appropriately draft an order mirroring that from a different jurisdiction.