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, menopause, 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 recent experience of handling complex high-value remedy cases for NHS Trusts resulting in significant savings.

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”.

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 an NHS Trust in respect of complex menopause and associative discrimination claims in the context of Covid-19.
• Advising and Representing a Local Authority in respect of “term-time only” holiday pay calculations involving hundreds of employees
• Representing an NHS Trust in a career-long loss remedy case lasting 2 weeks.
• Representing a Company in a claim for transgender discrimination arising out of the provision of PPE equipment and company uniform policy;
• Representing a Pharmaceutical Company in its defence of allegations of disability discrimination in respect of acoustic noise in a warehouse environment.
• Advising and representing a leading supermarket in respect of allegations of sexual harassment in a warehouse environment.

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:

• United Taxis v (1) Comolly (2) Tidman [2023] EAT 93, reported decision on “dual employment” and inability to have two employers in respect of same role.
• Drafting Grounds of Appeal on perversity relating to split Employment Tribunal decision with the Judge dissenting.
• 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.

CIVIL WORK

Louise also conducts litigation in the County Court in respect of Equality Act 2010 cases.  Previous instructions include acting for a rail operator in disability discrimination claims and advising students and Universities regarding Section 15 and reasonable adjustment issues.

GRIEVANCE AND APPEAL OFFICER

Louise also accepts instructions to act as an external Grievance and Appeal officer and has experience of navigating sensitive employee disputes.

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.