Blog
Sexual misconduct allegations in law firms are ever-present – following due process is key
Kirsty Churm
“I think Kirsty is fabulous!! She is knowledgeable, friendly, practical and attentive. I really enjoy working with her and am confident in her advice.”
Counsel
Kirsty is a Senior Associate in the Employment Department. She advises both employers and senior employees on all aspects of employment law and employee relations issues, including contentious and non-contentious matters.
Kirsty advises employers of all sizes, including regulatory bodies, multi-national businesses and SMEs. She advises on a wide variety of employment issues, including performance management, disciplinary and grievance procedures, bonuses, restrictive covenants and settlement agreements. Kirsty has a special interest in redundancy and restructure situations, business transfers and outsourcings, as well as data protection issues.
She also regularly represents senior employees in relation to redundancy, disciplinary, grievance, discrimination and whistleblowing issues. Kirsty often advises senior employees with a view to mitigating the effects of potentially career altering allegations and repercussions, particularly in the financial services or other regulated sectors. Kirsty works closely with colleagues in the Regulatory Department on such issues. She also represents senior individuals in the technology, media and fashion industries, as well as the public sector.
Kirsty regularly gives talks on employment and data protection matters at client seminars and also provides bespoke in-house training sessions for clients.
Recent cases
- Advising a senior executive in a financial institution throughout his disciplinary and appeal process, with particular regard to his status as an approved person.
- Advising a technology company through a performance improvement process, and avoiding the expected unfair dismissal and disability discrimination claim from the employee.
- Advising an employer on several concurrent subject access requests.
- Advising a UK subsidiary of a US business in relation to general employment issues, including recruitment and restructuring issues, and drafting contracts of employment and a UK specific Handbook.
PUBLICATIONS
- The next ethical dilemma: do we pay back furlough?, Personnel Today, July 2020
- Misconduct in the (cyber) workplace, People Management, April 2020
- Cyber bullying in the workplace during remote working, HR magazine, April 2020
- Will maternity leave be affected by coronavirus?, GoodtoKnow, March 2020
- How to handle complaints of sexual misconduct, People Management, August 2018
- Employers should be duty-bound to prevent sexual harassment, says MPs, People Management, July 2018
- Dealing with sexual allegations in the workplace, HR magazine, July 2018
Professional societies and memberships
- Employment Lawyers Association