Caroline Neadley

Employment tribunal claims

Caroline regularly represents employers to mitigate the risk of claims and to defend claims centred around unfair dismissal, disability discrimination, employment status, and whistleblowing.

In a career highlight, she successfully represented an employee in a complex whistleblowing claim following a six-day hearing, securing a high-value settlement and costs award in favour of her client.

She has also worked in-house in a public sector environment, advising the Chief Constables of Humberside and South Yorkshire Police.  During her tenure she dealt with a number of complex employee relations issues and tribunal claims.

Terminating senior executives

She often guides employers and directors, providing pragmatic and commercially focused advice on dealing with terminating senior executives in a timely and professional manner. Corresponding areas for advice include gardening leave and restrictive covenants in employment contracts.

Where necessary, she works closely with the commercial dispute resolution team to strategically advise companies on pursuing action against competitors and individuals who do not comply with such terms.

Equality, diversity, and discrimination

Caroline advises employers on complex issues arising in relation to all aspects of discrimination legislation. From providing initial recommendations on policies and procedures to assisting employers in defending a claim, she has extensive knowledge and experience in equality, diversity, and discrimination matters.

She is passionate about wellbeing and positive workplace cultures and regularly writes bespoke training for clients.  Caroline is a qualified Menopause Advocate, Bereavement Advocate, and Wellbeing Champion. Her skills are often utilised in the training that is delivered to clients and their HR teams.

Disciplinaries and grievances

Appreciated for being an extension to her client’s HR function, Caroline provides a sounding board for complex disciplinary and grievance issues. She works closely with organisations to establish good practices and procedures from the outset and assists in defending claims when things go wrong.

Education

Caroline has significant experience advising clients in the education sector and during her career, she has acted for a variety of schools, academies and colleges providing day-to-day HR support as a trusted advisor to HR and the senior leadership teams.

She has particular experience dealing with complex disciplinary matters, grievances and discrimination and whistleblowing complaints.

Caroline has designed and delivered bespoke training for the education sector on subjects including Equality Act duties relating to disability discrimination and sexual harassment, managing poor performance and achieving positive workplace cultures.

Caroline studied law at Sheffield Hallam University and completed her Legal Practice Course and the College of York. She completed her training contract and qualified as a solicitor in 2004.

Caroline is currently Chair of Women in Business Hull, a not-for-profit organisation which has been established over 25 years to support, encourage, and inspire women in their careers in Hull, East Yorkshire, and North Lincolnshire.

Further, she has provided a range of support to the education sector, including being a governor of an academy trust for six years supporting the trust in relation to HR matters and staff wellbeing. Caroline also delivers seminars to students embarking on their academic journey.