Robin White

Robin's practice encompasses all aspects of employment law. Originally trained as a scientist, and a former manager in the transport sector before coming to the bar, Robin brings a practical eye to employment matters. Robin has particular expertise in matters with a technical or scientific content, complex factual and legal issues, or containing difficult issues of remedy, including pension rights.

Chambers and Partners recognises Robin as a leading junior and is described as '"always at hand to give excellent and detailed advice at short notice," report satisfied customers.  She 'wins the confidence of the market ', 'a terrier in tribunals', 'having gravitas which does not alienate the client' and as having 'great analytical skills'.

Chambers and Partners 2011 quote: Robin White is a "calm but quietly effective" advocate whom clients appreciate for practical and flexible advice.

Robin appears in courts and tribunals across the whole UK, including Scotland and Northern Ireland and acts for employees and employers. Employer clients range from small firms to public bodies and multi-national corporations. Robin appears in employment tribunals, the Employment Appeal Tribunal and the Court of Appeal and in injunctive and contractual claims in the High Court and also acts as an advocate in mediations.

In recent months Robin has been advising on an increasing number of redundancy matters.

• Zimmer v. Brezan, UKEAT/0294/08. Automatic unfair dismissal.
• A v. XY. Defence of a claim for victimisation on the ground of sexual harassment in the Northern Ireland Tribunal. 6-figure quantum, 4 week hearing, 30 witnesses.
• Symes v. Eaton-Williams. Claim for disability discrimination on behalf of a partially-sighted production line worker. Expert medical / employment consultant evidence. Award over £200,000, lifetime loss from age 40 accepted by ET.
• Spencer v. Prime Time. Two EAT hearings for Claimant in a pre s4A sexual harassment claim where female specific objectionable e-mail circulated to mixed-sex work group. Issue: was this gender-specific discrimination? Held: yes it was.
• B'Bwona v. Family Housing. A 55-day race case (held over 3 years) in which, after a successful defence of the case, costs of over £100,000 were awarded against (and recovered from) the Claimant.

• Foley v. The Post Office / Beedel v. West Ferry Printers - the test for unfair dismissal.
• J v. HMG - the first successful case brought against the intelligence services by a civil servant.
• Bentwood v. Shepherd - discounts for accelerated receipt of compensation in the employment tribunals.

Robin is a barrister practising in all aspects of employment and discrimination law.  She appears in courts and tribunals across the whole UK, including Scotland and Northern Ireland.  She has appeared in a number of cases which have defined modern employment law, including Post Office v Foley (Unfair Dismissal) and Beaven v Cabinet Office (Civil Service pay entitlements).  She acts for both employers and employees.  She has particular expertise in matters with a technical or scientific content, complex facts or law, or serious discrimination, including disability and mental health.  In 2011 Robin became the first barrister to transition from male to female in practise at the discrimination bar.

Before embarking on legal practise, Robin was a manager in a highly regulated sector of the transport industry, responsible in her last employed post, for recruitment, selection, training, welfare and discipline of 125 staff.  She conducted a number of internal enquiries and was the decision-making manager at a number of disciplinary hearings.

In practice, Robin has conducted internal enquiries for clients in the industrial, education, academic and health sectors.  She has the chaired internal panels of enquiry, including, for example, a panel which considered allegations of misconduct including sexual harassment against the managing partner of a legal practice.  She has given significant advice on, and as part of, internal process and change management, including large and small scale redundancies.

Chambers and Partners comments that Robin is:

“..always at hand to give excellent and detailed advice at short notice…”  and
“,,,having gravitas which does not alienate the client.”