Peter's specialist area is disability discrimination. He has good experience in dealing with stress and depression claims. He was involved in one of the earliest cases on reasonable adjustments under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (Kenny v Hampshire Constabulary (1999) ICR 27) as well as the case of Rowden v Dutton Gregory (a firm) (2002) ICR 971.
Peter has appeared in the Employment Appeals Tribunal on numerous occasions in cases involving wide ranging issues including unfair dismissal, transfer of undertakings, wages claims, discrimination, part-time worker regulations and breach of contract. Most recently he appeared in Dorset County Council v Labarta UKEAT/0092/08 which dealt with justification under Part Time Worker Regulations.
He undertakes both Claimant and Respondent work and his clients include local authorities and national companies. Peter is familiar with drafting contracts of employment and company handbooks. He also advises on disciplinary and grievance investigations as well as hearings.
Peter is amongst the more pioneering members of Chambers. He was the first member of Chambers to be accredited by the Law Society to provide Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training. He has organised and given seminars on a wide range of employment law topics within and outside of Chambers.
Peter has undertaken the Bar Council's Public Access course and is on the register at the Bar Council as being able to take direct instructions from members of the public. His time spent running an advice clinic at his local CAB, and being a trained mediator, means that he is accustomed to dealing directly with the public. Please ask Lucy, his Clerk, for further information on Public Access (02380 205745).
His work as a volunteer at Southampton's Citizen's Advice Bureau (where he is now Chairman of the Trustee Board) assisted in the introduction of a weekly employment rota at the Bureau and to Chambers introducing a Scheme which allows full Tribunal representation for Claimants of limited means.
He is a member of the Employment Law Bar Association. He also participates in the Employment Law Appeal Advice Scheme (ELAAS).
Notable Cases :
Kenny v Hampshire Constabulary (1999 ICR 27) - disability discrimination - whether arrangements give rise to duty to make reasonable adjustments
Johnson v Hampshire Probation Service (EAT/1144/98) - statutory definition of wages.
Povey v Dorset County Council (EAT/2009/01) - constructive dismissal - misdirection as to law - would tribunal have inevitably arrived at the same comclusion
Rowden v Dutton Gregory (a firm) (2002 ICR 197) - disabililty discrimination - less favourable treatment - whether inference can be drawn.
Convergent Telecom v (1) S Swann (2) Convergent Ltd (EAT/534/20) - continuity of employment - transfer of undertakings.
Bournemouth Borough Council v Meredith (2003 ELR 1) - unfair dismissal - gross misconduct - range of reasonable responses
Hambling v Coxlease School Ltd (2007 ILRL 8) - completion appearance/response - required information
Dorset County Council v Labarta (UKEAT/0092/08) - part-time worker - fixed term status as justification