Andrew was called to the Bar in 1990, becoming a QC in 2010. He is highly sought-after for his work in employment, pensions and discrimination law and has an excellent reputation with both clients and peers.

Andrew’s employment practice covers everything from complex or sensitive dismissal and discrimination cases through TUPE to high value contract and equal pay claims. His pension work includes equalisation and other discrimination issues, preservation and revaluation, mistake, estoppel, construction and complaints to and appeals from the Ombudsman. He also undertakes professional negligence work, often though not always related to employment or occupational pension schemes.
 Andrew appears regularly in the employment tribunals, Employment Appeal Tribunal and other divisions of the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. His clients include national and international companies or organisations, public bodies, trustees, trade unions and individuals.

He is consistently highly recommended in the legal directories. Chambers and Partners has described him as the “Young Turk of the pensions silks”, “an increasingly strong force” and a “technically adept and precise barrister” who “garners praise for his forensic and thorough approach to employment matters.” He is also noted for being “pleasant in the corridors but unrelenting in court”. The Legal 500 singles him out as “an excellent performer on his feet” who is “very commercial” with “excellent instincts” and “a pleasure to work with.”

Andrew says of himself: “I find the problem-solving aspect of the job particularly satisfying - and I really do enjoy going to court!” He lives in Walthamstow, East London, and is a keen long-distance swimmer in his spare time.

Notable cases

Birmingham City Council v Abdulla [2011] Eq LR 81 – Jurisdiction of High Court and County Court in relation to claims relying upon Equal Pay Act
http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2011/1412.html

Williams v British Airways plc [2011] EUECJ C-155/10; [2011] IRLR 948 – Construction of UK regulations in context of EC Directive.
http://www.bailii.org/eu/cases/EUECJ/2011/C15510.html

Woodcock v Cumbria PCT [2011] IRLR 119, EAT – Age discrimination, entitlement to early retirement benefits, justification: avoidance of windfall and cost.
http://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKEAT/2010/0489_09_1211.html

The Trustees of the Hobourn Pension Scheme v Knell, Re: Hobourn Group Pension Scheme [2010] EWHC 650 (Ch), Norris J – Construction of pension scheme: amendments made so as to achieve equalisation.
http://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKSC/2010/16.html

Unison v Allen & Ors [2008] ICR 114, EAT – Pensions and equal pay; time limits and TUPE.
http://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKEAT/2007/0056_07_2607.html

Foster Wheeler Ltd v Hanley & others [2008] EWHC 2926 – Decision revisiting Hodgson v Toray Textiles and the operation of European & domestic law where a pension scheme has been amended to equalize NRD for men and women, but without making express provision for the retained rights of members with pension accrued by reference to an NRD at age 60.
http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Ch/2008/2926.html

Regent Securities v Power [2008] IRLR 66, Court of Appeal – On appeal from EAT in [2007] IRLR 226. TUPE. Whether employee can rely upon improved terms agreed by reason of a transfer of an undertaking.
http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2007/1188.html

MGN Trustees v Wright [2007] EWCA Civ 1247, Court of Appeal – Acting for the appellant trustees on a preliminary issue on a point of interpretation concerning the pension scheme’s rules and the true interpretation of the consent requirements governing early retirement. Decision revisiting Hodgson v Toray Textiles and the operation of European & domestic law where a pension scheme has been amended to equalize NRD for men and women, but without making express provision for the retained rights of members with pension accrued by reference to an NRD at age 60.
http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Ch/2008/2926.html

Memberships

Association of Pension Lawyers

Employment Law Bar Association

Employment Law Association

Discrimination Law Association