I have wide experience of acting on behalf of both employer and employee although my practice now is predominantly in employer support. I am able to undertake all aspects of employment-related legal work from drafting contracts to representing clients at Employment Tribunals and Employment Appeal Tribunals.

I have a particular interest in taking a commercial approach and defending employers’ interests without unnecessary recourse to legal proceedings. In the fast moving and increasingly complicated field of employment law I aim to ensure that my clients are aware of and prepared for change. I am in demand as a trainer of staff and often speak at seminars and workshops updating employers on employment law changes.

I have wide experience of the employment issues affecting employers and employees in the construction industry. Acting on behalf of employers and, to a lesser extent, employees, I represent clients at Employment Tribunals and the Employment Appeal Tribunal. I have particular experience in the following construction industry related areas:

• Employment status including definition of worker, employee and self employed.
• Holiday pay entitlement including rolled up holiday pay schemes.
• Employment relations including union representation and collective agreements.
• Transfer of undertakings issues including acquisition and disposal, insourcing, service provision change and outsourcing.
• Redundancy, restructure and change management.

I am the Managing Partner at Birkett Long specialising in employment law since qualification as a solicitor in 1998.

Construction

I have specialist knowledge of construction industry issues, such as employment definitions, employment relations, TUPE, change management, redundancy and restructure.

QUALIFICATIONS, ASSOCIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS

• Solicitor
• Chair of Trustees MS-UK
• Member of 1st West Bergholt Scouts executive committee
• Member of Heathlands Primary School PTA
• Member of Friends of Hillhouse Wood
• Member and Committee member of the Colchester Association for the Protection of Property and the Prosecution of Thieves!
• Chair of Colchester Scout Band