Louise Quigley

PROFILE

Louise practices exclusively in Employment Law. She is a sought-after Junior handling cases at all levels. Louise is currently ranked as a Band 1 Employment Barristers in both Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 having been recognised consistently as a leader in her field from the start of her career. She is recognised for her expertise in relation to disability discrimination, whistleblowing and maternity/pregnancy cases. She is regularly instructed by FTSE 100 companies, medium to large businesses, public sector clients such as local authorities and NHS trusts. Louise has significant experience acting for care sector clients and is adept at navigating the complex issues that can arise in such a setting.

In addition, she has a strong Claimant practice specialising in representing women who have suffered pregnancy and/or maternity discrimination. Louise works with the charity “Pregnant then Screwed”.

Louise compliments her employment practice by undertaking SENDIST and Upper Tribunal (Administrative) Chambers cases and acts for local authorities and Schools in civil discrimination cases.

She is an expert litigator recognised in both the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners as a Leading Junior for her advocacy and advisory skills. Her most recent endorsements are as follows:

• "She is a fighter and you want her in your corner." (Chambers and Partners 2022)
• "She is my barrister of choice every time because she is great with clients, always happy to go the extra mile, and has an in-depth knowledge of all aspects of employment law." (Chambers and Partners 2022)
• "She has a very good client manner, and is commercial and very well prepared." (Chambers and Partners 2022)
• "Very astute, gets to the heart of the legal issues very quickly. Also has a great grasp of the additional sensitivities in particular claims and gives practical and commercial recommendations to clients (rather than just focussing on the legal issues)." (Legal 500, 2022)

NOTABLE CASES

• Representing a leading UK Supermarket in its defence of allegations of disability discrimination.
• Advising and Representing a Local Authority in respect of “term-time” holiday pay calculations involving hundreds of employees
• Representing a Company in a claim for transgender discrimination arising out of the provision of PPE equipment and company uniform policy;
• Representing a Company in its defence of allegations of disability and sex discrimination where the Claimant was terminally ill and had been dismissed for theft.
• Successfully represented a Claimant against a US company claiming disability discrimination leading to a six figure award.
• Advising and representing an agency nurse claiming pregnancy/maternity discrimination arising out of Covid-19 measures against both the agency and the NHS Trust.

APPEAL WORK

Louise has a busy appellate practice and frequently appears in the EAT in appeals where she was not instructed at first instance.

Recent instructions have included:

• Successfully represented a Care Home Provider where the principles and evidence required to merit Polkey deductions was challenged
• Represented a Local Authority in an appeal challenging a refusal to Reconsider a Judgement seven years after the conclusion of the trial based on false representations on disclosure

Previous appearances in the Employment Appeal Tribunal have resulted in reported cases in respect of employment status, inferences relevant to the burden of proof in discrimination cases and causation in remedy cases.

DIRECT ACCESS

Louise is accredited by the Bar Council to undertake direct public access work and has advised and represented a significant number of Companies and private individuals on that basis.