Inner Temple
"Douglas Leach’s ‘technical ability shines through on complex cases’. " - Legal 500 2011
Qualifications:
LL.B (European Legal Studies)
University of Southampton & Université de Nantes, France
LL.M (Labour law)
University College London
Areas of practice:
Employment
Discrimination
Trade union law/collective labour law
Employer’s liability
Professional disciplinary & Sports law
Appointments:
Junior Counsel to the Crown (Regional Panel) (2010)
Memberships:
Industrial Law Society
Employment Lawyers’ Association (ELA)
Employment Law Bar Association (ELBA)
Editorial Board, ELA Briefing
Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers
Douglas joined chambers in February 2008 from chambers in London. He provides specialist advice and representation in all aspects of employment and collective labour law including unfair and wrongful dismissal, contractual disputes (including restrictive covenants), industrial action, all forms of discrimination and matters relating to TUPE transfers. He also has an interest in the law relating to injuries sustained at work, and claims arising out of work-related stress.
Douglas's practice is split evenly between claimants and respondents/defendants. He is often instructed on behalf of Unions and their members, as well as by government departments (via the Treasury Solicitor), by NHS Trusts, Local Authorities, PLCs, and a range of SMEs.
Prior to qualifying at the Bar, Douglas was Editor of Industrial Relations Law Bulletin (LexisNexis Butterworths IRS). Before joining chambers Douglas combined practice with a role as Senior Writer/Editor (Employment law) for IDS Brief (IDS Thomson Reuters) and its related Handbooks and Supplements.
He remains a regular contributor to various publications, including XpertHR/IRS Employment Law Bulletin, Occupational Health Review and ELA Briefing.
Cases:
While Douglas appears most frequently in employment tribunals and the EAT, he also has extensive County Court experience. He has further advised on high value claims in the High Court. He appears in all major court/tribunal centres nationwide.
From 2006-2008 Douglas was instructed as a junior in a High Court group action on behalf of over 220 claimants who were TUPE-transferred following alleged negligent misstatements, and in breach of various implied terms and collateral contracts, as to their pension entitlement post-transfer. A multi-million pound settlement was agreed.
Recent appeals:
Chief Constable of Gloucestershire Constabulary v Peters 14.07.10, EAT/0322/10/ZT; [2010] All ER (D) 192 (Nov)
- No indefinite stay of tribunal proceedings pending outcome of potential criminal trial.
Fulcrum Pharma (Europe) Ltd v Bonassera and anor 22.10.10, EAT/0198/10/DM; Harvey Bulletin 389 (Dec 2010)
- Assumption that occupant of redundant post must be dismissed is unfair.
Publications:
IDS Sex Discrimination Handbook (IDS Thomson Reuters, 2008).
Contributed/edited chapters on discrimination in recruitment, discrimination in employment, and compensation.
IDS TUPE Handbook (IDS Thomson Reuters, 2007).
Contributed chapters on employment contracts, continuity of employment and cross-border transfers.
"Territorial jurisdiction: the boundaries of the Lawson test" ELA Briefing, May 2008
"Criminal records and recruitment: the legal issues" (2008) IDS Brief 852
“Employee informants” (Parts 1 and 2) (2007) IDS Brief 837 and 838
“Workplace stress and avenues in litigation” (2005) 767 IRLB 4 (reviewed by Robert Spicer, (2005) 118 Occupational Health Review 21)
“Developments in recoverable damages for wrongful and unfair dismissal – the search for coherence” (2003) 725 IRLB 3
Countless case reports and commentaries for IRLB (now XpertHR's Employment Law Bulletin), IDS Brief and Occupational Health Review.
