She supports employees and owner-managed businesses to resolve workplace disputes both before and after termination, including matters relating to performance, redundancy, disciplinary processes, grievances, settlement agreements and Employment Tribunal claims. Her focus is always on helping clients understand their legal position, identify the most practical route forward, and work towards the best achievable outcome.
Louise takes a proactive approach, using principled negotiation to secure the best resolution wherever possible and to avoid legal proceedings. She ensures clients are fully informed, provides clear recommendations for next steps, and helps them make confident decisions based on risk, strategy and what will work in practice.
Her expertise spans the full range of contentious employment issues. She regularly resolves problems without recourse to litigation, but when cases that should settle do not, she has substantial experience bringing and defending tribunal proceedings including unfair dismissal and constructive unfair dismissal, discrimination (including age, race, disability (health), sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marital status and pregnancy), harassment and victimisation, whistleblowing detriment claims, action short of dismissal detriments, and breach of contract matters.
Louise has acted in significant and high-profile cases. She is currently bringing a claim in the European Court of Human Rights challenging the application of the State Immunity Act 1978 to her client, following Muda v Malaysia, on the basis that it violates the right not to be discriminated against and the right to a fair trial. If successful, the case may prompt changes to the State Immunity Act 1978 to enable certain employees of High Commissions, who have the permanent right to remain and work in the UK but do not hold a British passport, to seek redress in UK Employment Tribunals for breaches of their employment rights. She also acted for the Claimant in Bickerstaffe v The Royal British Legion (2017), where the Tribunal awarded compensation for psychiatric injury following a whistleblowing detriment claim under the Employment Rights Act 1996, applying principles drawn from injury to feelings awards in discrimination claims under the Equality Act 2010.
Louise is a committee member of the Chichester and District Law Society. Outside of work, she enjoys relaxing by playing the piano and is currently working her way through some of Elton John’s best-known songs. She has also supported both large and small animal charities through fundraising efforts, including walking the Jurassic Coast and playing the piano in public. When time allows, she keeps active with yoga and barre, enjoys long walks, and loves detective dramas. She also enjoys activity and sightseeing holidays as a chance to properly switch off.
