Employment Discrimination Solicitors

Our Employment Discrimination Services

Employer Defence Against Discrimination Claims

When a discrimination claim is brought against your business, early and expert legal intervention gives you the strongest possible position. We advise employers on every stage of the process, from the initial grievance through to employment tribunal proceedings. Acting quickly to gather evidence, assess liability, and frame a coherent response makes a measurable difference to outcomes.

• Responding to formal grievances and discrimination allegations
• Preparing for and representing employers at employment tribunal hearings
• Advising on settlement negotiations and without-prejudice discussions
• Handling complex claims involving multiple protected characteristics
• Managing associated reputational and HR considerations throughout

Discrimination Policy and Compliance Advice

Prevention is significantly less costly than defending a tribunal claim. We help employers put the right frameworks in place, from equal opportunities policies and disciplinary procedures to reasonable adjustment processes and management training. Good employment practices do not just reduce legal risk; they support a workplace culture that attracts and retains talent.

• Drafting and reviewing equality and diversity policies
• Advising on reasonable adjustment obligations for disabled employees
• Reviewing recruitment processes and selection criteria for indirect discrimination risk
• Advising on maternity, paternity, and flexible working rights in a business context
• Providing guidance on equal pay obligations and pay transparency

Direct Discrimination Claims

Direct discrimination occurs when an employee or job applicant is treated less favourably than others because of a protected characteristic. Examples include refusing to promote someone because of their age, passing over a candidate due to their ethnicity, or dismissing an employee following a pregnancy announcement. Our employment discrimination solicitors advise on building and presenting direct discrimination claims effectively.

• Assessing the strength of a direct discrimination claim at the outset
• Gathering and presenting evidence of less favourable treatment
• Advising on comparators and burden of proof
• Pursuing claims for injury to feelings, lost earnings, and future loss

Indirect Discrimination Advice

Indirect discrimination arises when an employer applies a practice, policy, or criterion that disadvantages people with a particular protected characteristic. It can arise from genuinely well-intentioned workplace rules, such as requiring specific working hours that disproportionately affect employees with caring responsibilities. We advise on identifying, challenging, and defending indirect discrimination.

• Identifying provisions, criteria, or practices that carry indirect discrimination risk
• Advising employers on whether policies can be objectively justified
• Representing employees where indirect discrimination cannot be justified
• Advising on group-impact analysis and proportionality assessments

Disability Discrimination and Reasonable Adjustments

Disability discrimination claims are among the most common and most complex in the employment tribunal. Employers must make reasonable adjustments to remove or reduce disadvantages faced by disabled employees, and the question of what constitutes a reasonable adjustment is rarely straightforward. Our HR advisory team works alongside our discrimination solicitors to give employers joined-up support.

• Advising on reasonable adjustment requests and employer obligations
• Managing long-term sickness absence within the legal framework
• Defending or pursuing failure-to-adjust claims
• Advising on medical evidence and occupational health processes

Harassment and Victimisation

Harassment related to a protected characteristic and victimisation of employees who raise discrimination concerns are both unlawful under the Equality Act. Employers can be held vicariously liable for the conduct of their employees, making it critical to respond appropriately and swiftly when allegations arise. Our workplace harassment solicitors advise on investigation, response, and prevention. We also act for employees who have experienced harassment or been victimised for raising complaints.

• Conducting or advising on internal investigations into harassment allegations
• Advising employers on vicarious liability and available defences
• Representing employees in harassment and victimisation claims
• Advising on third-party harassment obligations under the Worker Protection Act 2023

Employment Tribunal Representation

When a discrimination dispute cannot be resolved through internal processes or early settlement, employment tribunal proceedings may be unavoidable. Our team represents both employers and employees at tribunal, bringing detailed knowledge of the procedural rules, case management requirements, and substantive law. We also advise on the Employment Appeal Tribunal and the relationship with employment dispute resolution more broadly.

• Preparing claim and response documents and schedule of loss
• Managing disclosure and witness statement preparation
• Representing clients at preliminary hearings and full merits hearings
• Advising on costs applications and settlement throughout the process