Meet Joanne
I joined the Employment team at Lawrence Stephens in November 2023, having previously trained and qualified at a mid-size City firm and subsequently practised at a specialist employment law firm. I also ran my own successful tuition business for 14 years, which gives me deep insight into the objectives and priorities of owner managed businesses.
I act for businesses and individuals in relation to a wide range of employment law matters, both contentious and non-contentious, at every stage in the life cycle of the employment relationship. My clients come from a wide variety of sectors including education, financial services, manufacturing, technology, recruitment and hospitality. I also act for charities and religious institutions.
I have extensive expertise in relation to workplace conflicts, contracts and policies, terminations of employment and negotiations of commercial settlements of claims. I represent businesses in relation to employment tribunal claims including unfair and wrongful dismissal, complex discrimination matters and whistleblowing detriment. I also work closely with my colleagues in the Corporate and Commercial team to provide specialist support regarding the employment law aspects of corporate transactions including in relation to the application of the TUPE Regulations.
I have an empathetic and strategic approach to resolving employment-related disputes. I undertake a holistic analysis of the risks associated with each potential course of action to be able to provide my clients with sector-specific solutions which are commercially sound. I also provide training to business managers on all aspects of employment law.
In my leisure time I enjoy dancing, climbing, strength training, theatre, and travel. My superpower is choosing just the right book for any adult or child!
Experience highlightsÂ
- Advising on the strategy and legal issues associated with the move of senior executives to a competitor in the financial services sector.
- Negotiating a complex and high-value exit package for the outgoing CEO of a global professional services and technology firm, settling potential unfair dismissal, whistleblowing and breach of contract claims.
- Securing the strike out and withdrawal of unmeritorious claims against a recruitment company client at the preliminary stage of legal proceedings.
- Successfully representing a hospitality chain in a series of coordinated service provision race discrimination claims brought by a group of customers.
