"Debbie Grennan’s ‘responses are prompt, apposite and down to earth; and her business acumen is faultless’." - UK Legal 500 (2011)
Experience:
Having had a background in commerce for over 10 years prior to joining the Bar, Debbie is known for her pro-active, commercial and pragmatic approach to her work.
Debbie has practised exclusively in employment law since 2001, having a balance of Claimant and Respondent work which covers all aspects of employment and employment-related issues. She appears regularly in Employment Tribunals and the Employment Appeal Tribunal, as well as in related civil proceedings.
Debbie receives regular instructions from a number of high profile Respondent clients, including local authorities, police authorities, NHS Trusts, schools and clearing banks. She is presently instructed by a Local Authority to deal with over 1000 equal pay claims and has recently advised extensively in relation to the drafting and implementation of new collective agreements. She also advises a number of public and private sector bodies as to the impact of TUPE, particularly in contracting-out situations. Recent TUPE work has included advising a local authority upon the transfer of its housing stock and advising schools and local authorities as to the impact of academy status.
Debbies Claimant clients have included some very senior and high profile individuals from a number of professions, including celebrity chefs, football club directors, medical professionals and very senior public sector and oil industry employees.
Debbie is on the Equality and Human Rights Commissions' Panel of approved barristers in relation to her discrimination work.
Debbie also has specific expertise in relation to disciplinary proceedings before professional bodies, particularly in relation to the medical profession, such as the GMC and NMC.
Debbie lectures and delivers regular training seminars on all aspects of employment law, for both professional and lay audiences.
Notable Cases include:
- Wheelers (Westbury) Ltd v Smallwood UKEAT/0455/10 (TUPE)
- Hooley v Truro School UKEAT/0234/10 (Causation and assessment of damages)
- Cherrington v Plymouth City Council UKEAT/0449/09 (Whistleblowing)
- Wright v Weed Control Ltd UKEAT/0492/07 (ET jurisdiction for breach of confidence)
- Ranger v BIT Systems UKEAT/0049/07 (Unfair dismissal)
- Walker v Hiberna FM UKEAT/0242/06 (Territorial jurisdiction)
- Mark Insulations v Bunker UKEAT/0331/05 (Continuity of service)
- Scorah v Thomas UKEAT/0577/05 (Polkey deductions)
Qualifications:
Undergraduate Degree
LLB (Hons) 1995 Grade: 2.1
Post Graduation Qualifications
LLM (Medical Law and Ethics) 1996
Bar Vocational Course 1997 Grade: Very Competent
(Winner of the Lady Shaw prize as the highest placed female Grays Inn student)
Professional Memberships:
- Employment Lawyers Association
- Employment Law Bar Association
- Western Circuit
Directory Comments:
"Debbie Grennan’s ‘responses are prompt, apposite and down to earth; and her business acumen is faultless’." - UK Legal 500 (2011)
"Mixes a delightful and reassuring approach with clients with real grit and determination in the Employment Tribunal" - UK Legal 500 (2010)
"Debbie Grennan has loads of ability and is user-friendly too" - UK Legal 500 (2009)
"Highly-regarded" - UK Legal 500 (2008)
Interests:
- Theatre
- Photography
- Travel
