Sara PhillipsSenior Lawyer

We deal with queries on all topics, including grievances, disciplinaries, sickness absence, family friendly provisions, performance management and TUPE. We also assist our clients in defending Employment Tribunal claims and dealing with data subject access requests, contract and handbook reviews.

Employment

I joined the rockhopper team in 2018, having spent many years as an employment solicitor in City firms, and subsequently as Joint Head of Employment in a niche employment practice, advising on all aspects of employment law. I have advised employer clients from a wide range of sectors, including technology, publishing, media, engineering, recruitment and the luxury hotel and hospitality sector. I have extensive experience representing employers in tribunal claims on unfair dismissal and all forms of discrimination, including sex, maternity, race and disability. I have also previously acted for clients in the High Court on team moves, misuse of confidential information, breach of restrictive covenants and breach of a settlement agreement.

Previously, I spent 6 months on secondment to a large insurer as sole employment counsel, advising their HR team on all employee relations issues, and understand the commercial pressures senior management face when dealing with difficult and business-critical scenarios. I have a particular interest in advising clients on discrimination issues. I advise rockhopper clients on all aspects of the employment life cycle, including recruitment, grievances, misconduct and disciplinary procedures, sickness absence, performance management, TUPE, redundancies, and termination of employment.