Isabel Baylis

PROFILE

Isabel joined Chambers after the successful completion of her pupillage under the supervision of Ed Morgan KC, assisted by Louise Quigley. Isabel undertakes a range of civil work. She is a specialist employment practitioner and has a growing practice in Court of Protection.

AREAS OF PRACTICE

Employment

Isabel thoroughly enjoys cases with novel and discrete points of law and regularly represents Claimants and Respondents in preliminary hearings including on issues relating to TUPE, jurisdiction, time limits, contractual points and disability status. Recent interesting preliminary points include whether a claimant could bring a direct sexual orientation discrimination claim if the comparators shared the same sexual orientation (defined by the claimant as a difference in treatment between ‘masc gay men’ and ’femme gay men’) and whether a claimant could bring a wrongful dismissal claim where there were no damages owed.

Recent experience includes:

• Representing 31 Claimants in a TULCRA protective award claim
• Representing a Respondent care home in a combined ‘no jab no job’ claim with 80 claimants
• Representing the Respondent in a claim related to the Sunday Working Regulations
• Representing Respondents and Claimants in various health and safety related cases including considerations of s44 and s100 of the Employment Rights Act and Covid 19 related whistleblowing
• Representing the Claimant in a seven-day whistleblowing and disability discrimination claim
• Representing three Respondents in a multi-party whistleblowing claim (Company and two Directors) and unlawful deduction of wages. This case included a complicated issue around the capacity of one of the witnesses
• Representing the Claimant for claims in Constructive (automatic) unfair dismissal Sex discrimination, Maternity discrimination, Flexible Working.
• Representing the Claimant in an associative discrimination claim
• Representing a Respondent care home in a combined ‘no jab no job’ claim with 80 claimants.

Isabel regularly receives positive reviews from both solicitors and lay clients, particularly her quick and thorough grasp of the law and evidence, her cross examination and her empathy for clients going through a stressful process (see Recommendation above).

Court of Protection

Isabel regularly appears in the county court and high court in Court of Protection matters. She is familiar with representing Local Authorities, Trusts and family members. She enjoys building a close relationship with solicitor and client during the course of proceedings.

Public/Regulatory

Isabel is on the Government Legal Department junior junior scheme and accepts instructions on a range of government related work. Isabel undertakes regulatory work, particularly on behalf of Social Work England, including High Court applications and Fitness to Practice proceedings.

Civil, including Commercial/Chancery

Isabel undertakes contractual disputes in the county court, including strike out applications. Isabel is particularly instructed where there is a cross over with employment law. She has recent experience advising/drafting a HR team on a direct access basis for claims of breach of contract in the county court from a former agency worker. She has experience drafting pleadings for restrictive covenant cases.

Public Access

Isabel is public access qualified and regularly undertakes work on a direct access basis, particularly as instructed by HR professionals in employment tribunals or employment related county court cases.

Professional positions

Isabel sits on the Bar Council Disability Panel and is a Chambers Equality and Diversity Officer.

Professional memberships and organisations: ELA and ELBA.