Kirsten Barry

PROFILE

Kirsten is a skilled and experienced client-friendly advocate who is known for her straightforward and down to earth approach. Solicitors and clients have, over the years, consistently commented on Kirsten’s good humour and ability to put the client at ease in the most difficult of situations. Her client care skills are second to none.

Kirsten now practices exclusively in employment law but has years of experience as a personal injury lawyer specialising in fraud. This has proved to be an advantage, particularly when dealing with disability discrimination cases and complex remedy hearings.

Kirsten quickly cuts through peripheral matters to get to the core of a case and is known for her attention to detail and meticulous preparation.

In her spare time Kirsten is a keen traveller and a border terrier enthusiast!

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

EMPLOYMENT

Kirsten appears in the Employment Tribunal and Employment Appeal Tribunal acting for both Claimants and Respondents. Her practice covers all types of employment disputes with a particular focus on whistleblowing, complex discrimination complaints, redundancy and constructive dismissal. She has recently been involved in a lengthy and complex case involving Apprenticeship Agreements, ASCLA 2009 and the Apprenticeships (Miscellaneous) Regs 2017. She has also gained a wealth of experience throughout her career in many different cases involving the Fixed -Term Employees (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment ) Regs 2002 and the Maternity and Parental Leave Regs 1999. Kirsten always relishes a challenge in areas which are not commonly litigated.

Kirsten conducts litigation in all different sectors and on behalf of a multitude of different organisations including the NHS, banking institutions, Network Rail, local authorities and high street retailers. She also has a significant  amount of experience working on behalf of schools and universities.

Kirsten provides advisory services at all stages of an employment dispute. This will include advice on merits, quantum and appeals in addition to evidential matters and tactical issues.

In addition to her ET work, Kirsten has also represented clients in the County Court in disability discrimination claims  - mostly involving access to premises in the retail sector. Her previous practice and extensive knowledge of the Civil Procedure Rules and employment law have proved to be an advantage with this type of work.

RECENT CASES

Bashir v Star Academies 3335070/2018: 15 day case representing the Respondent Academy involving multiple issues and where all complaints of disability discrimination and whistleblowing were dismissed.

McManus v South Ribble Borough Council & Others 2411568/2019: successfully represented the Council and senior politicians in a complex whistleblowing claim brought  by the former chief executive and which attracted nationwide interest.

Neto v Packaging Automation Ltd & Johnson 18.10.21: successfully represented the Respondents in a disability discrimination case involving a stammer. This was a sensitive case involving careful cross -examination  and resulted in the Tribunal concluding that the Claimant’s stammer did not amount to a disability on the facts. The outcome was widely reported in the national press.

McLaughlin v Matalan 4102482/2022: successfully represented the Respondent in an application for a deposit order in a  disability discrimination matter after 2 days of legal argument and submissions. Kirsten’s experience of personal injury litigation proved to be invaluable in this case.