Your Team
Heather Platt
During a decade at the Bar, Heather has built an impressive reputation in employment law, discrimination law and related areas.
She represents a wide cross-section of businesses, from multinational corporations to SMEs, as well as public bodies and individuals.
Heather has handled numerous cases before the employment tribunals, the Employment Appeal Tribunal and in the High Court; she is particularly in-demand for her expertise in disability discrimination, sexual orientation, unfair dismissal, redundancy, stress at work, bullying and harassment, whistleblowing and TUPE. She acts for both claimants and respondents. Heather has successfully obtained injunctive relief in the High Court. Heather has substantial experience in discrimination law. She has acted in several high-value cases for and against large organisations and public bodies, including Primary Care Trusts, schools and colleges, local authorities, police forces and major airlines.
In addition, Heather undertakes a considerable amount of advisory and mediation work and provides bespoke employer training for SMEs, including tribunal simulations and tactical advice during disciplinary and grievance procedures. She regularly lectures in employment and discrimination law at City University London.
Client testimonials have praised Heather as a “highly competent and reliable counsel” who is valued for her “patient and professional conduct”, her “ability to analyse and grasp detailed information“ and her “excellent preparation”. They add that she is a “tenacious advocate” who is “razor sharp both in cross-examination and her delivery”.
Heather says she loves her job: “I do have a passion for employment law. I enjoy going to court, but I also get great satisfaction from the advisory and teaching aspects of my work.”
She lives in London and her rare spare time is spent pursuing extreme sports and travelling.
Notable cases
Oni v NHS Leicester City (2011) UKEATPA/1138/11/LA – costs and list of issues.
Okoro & Okenwa v Taylor Woodrow Construction & Ors (2011) UKEAT/0319/10/ZT – continuous discrimination and jurisdiction.
Winchester & Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust v Walker UKEATPA/1794/10/LA – basic award, continuous service in the NHS.
McKinnon v Greater Manchester Police (2011) ET – 15 day race discrimination case brought by volunteer.
Hose Express Thurrock Ltd v Jacomb (2009) UKEAT 0389_08_3103 (unreported) – disability related discrimination (possible reference to the ECJ) following London Borough of Lewisham v Malcolm [2008] 1 AC 1399.
Henry v (1) London Borough of Southwark (2) South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (2008) – race discrimination; application for review and new evidence; aiding and abetting race discrimination UKEAT/0520/07/DM (unreported).
Hamilton v Tesco Stores Limited (2007) ET – Damages of £320,000 for Disability Discrimination; overlapping claims in the County Court for Personal Injury and Professional Negligence
Memberships
Employment Law Bar Association
Employment Lawyers Association
Personal Injury Bar Association