Call date: 1999

Memberships:
SE Circuit
Employment Lawyers Association
Employment Law Bar Association

Teams:

Personal injury and clinical negligence

Employment

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Neil Ashley LL.B.(HONS)

Neil Ashley is the only member of chambers whose practice comprises 100% employment work and he has practiced in this field for almost 10 years. His approach is informal and hands-on, yet he has an attention to detail that makes him ideal for complex or document-heavy cases. As an advocate he is very well-liked by Employment Judges and EAT Judges alike, despite being well-known for his fearlessness in the Tribunal.

Neil has substantial experience acting for Respondents, particularly large employers such as local authorities at district and county level; the Police; the Fire Service; health authorities; airlines; and a number of blue-chip companies. His instructions for these clients have covered the entire range of non-contentious and contentious work.

On the non-contentious side Neil has advised upon and drafted the full range of contracts, service agreements, policies and procedures; advised upon the TUPE, redundancy and other employment law implications of mergers and acquisitions; advised upon single and group compromise agreements; and has guided both district and county councils in the implementation of the national Single Status Agreement / Modern Reward Strategy. Neil has developed a particular expertise in the field of equal pay and is currently representing numerous authorities in relation to hundreds of equal pay claims arising out of Single Status and Agenda for Change implementation. Neil is also currently guiding Anglian Home Improvements through a complex restructure and s.188 redundancy process.

Neil is frequently praised by his Respondent clients for being ‘commercially-minded’ and having a ‘straightforward and highly strategic approach’ to problems. He is most frequently described as ‘devastating in cross-examination’. For testimonials from Neil’s Respondent solicitors/clients please contact his clerk .

For Claimants/Employees

Neil also maintains a sizeable Claimant practice, acting predominantly on instructions received from small to medium-sized local solicitors firms throughout East Anglia. In addition Neil is on the Bar Council Public Access Register and is therefore accredited to provide advice direct to members of the public under the Public Access Rules (for more information in this regard please contact his clerk ). 

Pursuant to his specialism in discrimination law Neil appeared as counsel for the Claimant in the first ever successful sexual orientation claim brought pursuant to the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 – Whitfield v. Cleanaway. Neil often appears in high profile discrimination claims in East Anglia.

Other services

Neil regularly provides training to both small and large employers on such topics as Equal Opportunities; Training for Investigators; Decision-making in Disciplinary/Dismissal Proceedings; and Understanding Tribunals. Neil is also able to offer bespoke training for employers on any area of employment law and has even designed and presented mock tribunals on such topics to facilitate learning and quality of experience.

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