Nicole is a highly experienced employment solicitor who qualified in 2010 and advises employers on contentious and non-contentious employment matters. She has particular expertise in defending Employment Tribunal claims, including unfair dismissal, employment status, discrimination and whistleblowing claims, and in conducting sensitive workplace investigations.
Nicole trained at a regional firm before working in consultancy and then spending more than nine years at national law firm Clarke Willmott LLP. She has advised SMEs and larger businesses across a range of sectors, including marine, professional services, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, technology and not-for-profit.
Nicole provides prompt, practical and commercially focused advice on recruitment, employment status, disciplinary and grievance processes, restructures and redundancies, absence and performance management, negotiated exits and settlement agreements, TUPE and Employment Tribunal proceedings.
Work highlights include:
- Successfully defended a business facing an employment-status claim brought by a self-employed consultant who later alleged he was an employee, with all claims being dismissed at a preliminary hearing despite the client having previously been advised to concede employment status.
- Successfully defended an education-sector employer in an unfair dismissal claim brought by a teacher following dismissal in their absence due to an ongoing and associated criminal case.
- Acted as investigating officer for a gaming company in a sensitive race discrimination grievance, helping the business establish the facts and manage the process fairly and proportionately.
- Delivered practical line-management training for a large online card and gift retailer to help managers identify and handle day-to-day employment issues confidently.
“I take pride in building strong client relationships and providing practical, commercially focused employment advice that helps employers achieve the right outcome. I particularly enjoy guiding clients through the Employment Tribunal process and defending employment claims.”
Outside of work, Nicole enjoys spending time with her husband and son, running and cycling with their dog and riding and competing her young horse.
