Call date: 1999

Memberships:
SE Circuit

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 8 years.

Neil has substantial experience acting for Respondents, particularly large employers such as local authorities; the Police; the Fire Service; health authorities 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.

On the contentious side Neil has defended employers in Tribunals throughout the United Kingdom as well as in the Employment Appeal Tribunal. He has acted in a number of notable appeals including most recently, Spence v. Intype Libra UKEAT/0617/06/JOJ (before Mr Justice Elias (President, EAT)).

Again, his contentious work covers the entire range of proceedings from straightforward unfair dismissal proceedings to complex and lengthy discrimination and protected disclosure claims. Neil’s practice has developed to give him particular expertise in these complex areas. Neil was defending counsel in the high-profile case of Lisa Chambers v. Newcastle City Council.

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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