Formidable team of specialist employment barristers offering advice and representation
3PB’s employment law group offers expert advisory and advocacy services to private and public sector employers and individuals, as well as service providers and businesses across all areas of employment law including unfair dismissal, discrimination, equal pay, industrial disputes, executive contracts, wrongful dismissals, restrictive covenants, whistleblowing, TUPE, injunctions, pensions disputes and disciplinary proceedings.
Practising out of each of Chambers’ six UK locations, our team offers the highest standards of legal, practical and tactical advice on both contentious and non-contentious matters. Our barristers routinely provide advocacy services in Employment Tribunals, the High Court and County Courts, as well as in appellate jurisdictions of all levels.
Our services are also available to in-house legal advisers, HR Directors and others by direct professional access services and by public access.
Our hallmark is the knowledgeable, expert but pragmatic approach that we take to employment law issues, while building friendly, long term relationships with our clients. We work with HR, legal and professional teams to create cost-effective solutions to their employment matters, in a fast changing legal environment.
Karen Moss is the team's Head of Group, with Andrew MacPhail as Deputy Head.
Legal 500 lists 3PB’s Employment and Discrimination group as the Top Tier in South Eastern, Tier 2 in Western and Tier 3 in London. The 2024 directory lists 11 of 3PB's team as Leading Juniors in employment, with 16 rankings in total. 3PB’s team are described as a 'an excellent set' with an employment team 'packed full of top- tier barristers' and an excellent track record for advising across the full spectrum of employment law matters.The “strong, client-focused employment group" is “progressive, supportive and responsive” " that is able to deliver "a broad range of technically excellent lawyers across all levels of experience ‘the clerks at 3PB are second to none. The level of service is unparalleled and the clerks are proactive, efficient and dedicated to meeting client needs.’ The set has “particular expertise in public sector work in the local authority, education and health care contexts, as well as transport and technology-related matters in the private sector.”
Chambers & Partners describes 3PB as “a set with an excellent profile in discrimination law and other employment issues. In addition to claimants, the barristers have defended government departments and other high-ranking public bodies in complex claims. They also represent large private sector employers in unfair dismissal and related matters. "The barristers at the set are regularly instructed to handle an array of employment matters including whistle-blower, TUPE and discrimination claims, often going further than the employment tribunals." Chambers & Partners rates 3PB as a “Widely acknowledged set in employment law, with members recently being involved in an important Supreme Court appeal regarding holiday pay calculations for term-time workers.”
The group's practice management team can be reached here.
The employment and discrimination team regularly produces newsletters, articles, videos and podcasts on topical employment law issues.
You can find all of our content in one page by going to our Employment Law Resources Hub.
For more information about pricing please visit this page.
Our Employment and discrimination Barristers...
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Patrick Robson Senior Practice Manager and Centre Manager [email protected] telephone: 01865 793 736 -
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The Employment Tribunal has dismissed a claim against a local authority brought by an 'as and when' or 'sessional' social worker. The respondent, Harrow Council, hired the claimant on a casual basis and worked on a variety of projects over a period of 11 years for the youth justice team. The respondent accepted that the claimant was a 'worker' but denied that he had become an 'employee', entitled to bring a claim for constructive dismissal following a...
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3PB’s employment law team is celebrating another strong set of results in Chambers and Partners’ 2025 edition published today, with a total of 18 individual rankings for 16 of our employment barristers in London, Western, South Eastern and the Midlands Circuits While clients’ comments on our individual barristers once again testify to their dedication and excellence, our clerking team, led by Russell Porter, also attracts much praise and is seen as 'absolutely brilliant and going...
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3PB Barristers (3 Paper Buildings) breaks another record in the latest edition of Chambers and Partners with a total of 96 rankings (81 last year) achieved by 80 of its barristers. The national set is rewarded with accolades in 21 areas of law, in the London Bar as well as in the North Eastern, South Eastern, Western and Midlands Circuits and exceptional comments for its expertise and service delivery. Click here to view the full...
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Colin McDevitt edits our October 2024 employment law newsletter, announcing the arrival of Rachel Best KC as an associated member and celebrating our team’s outstanding performance in the 2025 edition of the Legal 500.
Our newsletter includes analysis from Colin McDevitt, Mark Green, Robin Pickard and Alex Leonhardt of the following cases:
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- Tesco Stores Ltd v USDAW [2024] UKSC 28
- South Gloucestershire Council v Ms Hundal [2024] EAT 140
- Treadwell v Barton Turns Development Limited [2024] EAT 137
- AB v University of East London and others [2024] EAT 157 -
3 Paper Buildings (3PB) is delighted to announce that leading barrister and silk Rachel Best KC (2006 call) has joined chambers as an associate member. Rachel specialises in employment and discrimination disputes, judicial reviews, inquests and personal injury cases. She was called to the Bar of Northern Ireland in 2006, the Bar of Ireland in 2021 and was called to the Bar of England & Wales in 2022. She was promoted to Silk in 2024....
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3PB barristers and its Employment and Discrimination team have cause for celebration as they are confirmed as a top tier team in the Western and South Eastern Circuits in the latest Legal 500 edition. Praised by clients as “‘an excellent set’ with an employment team ‘packed full of top-tier barristers’ and an excellent track record for advising across the full spectrum of employment law matters”, 3PB is regarded as “‘a chambers with a wide skill...
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3PB Barristers (3 Paper Buildings), one of the UK's largest chambers, is celebrating this year again its rankings - totalling 167 - in the Legal 500 2025’s edition published today, a 15% increase on last year’s 145. The set is ranked in 23 areas of law, across 4 UK Circuits: London, South Eastern, Western and the Midlands. 3PB’s barristers are also ranked in the Middle East and Asia Pacific regions. The Legal 500 acknowledges 3PB...
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Alex Leonhardt edits our August 2024 employment law newsletter, packed full with team news, we welcome Karen Moss as our new head of group and Andrew MacPhail as our new deputy head of group.
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Our newsletter includes analysis from Mathew Gullick KC, Rosa Thomas, Daniel Brown and Naomi Webber on the following cases:
- HMRC v Lees of Scotland Ltd [2024] EAT 120
- Bailey v (1) Stonewall Equality Ltd (2) Garden Court Chambers & Ors [2024] EAT 119
- Ridley & Others v HB Kirtley t/a Queen’s Court Business Centre & Others [2024] EWCA Civ 884
- Masiero & others v Barchester Healthcare PLC [2024] EAT 112 -
Chambers is delighted to announce that Naomi Webber has been appointed to the Attorney General’s C Panel (London) for a period of five years, commencing on Sunday 1st September 2024. She joins seven other 3PB barristers on the Attorney General’s (AG’s) panel of counsel including A Panel members of William Hansen, Richard Wheeler and Mark Green. Naomi is now one of 19 3PB barristers on the Attorney General's London and Regional Panels and undertaking "Junior...
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We are delighted to announce that 3PB (3 Paper Buildings) has been shortlisted for 8 awards at The Legal 500 Bar Awards 2024, including 4 Juniors, a Silk, 2 Sets of the Year and Chambers Leader of the Year, in the following categories: "Intellectual Property Set of the Year": Victoria Jones, Nicole Bollard, Mark Wilden, Faizul Azman "Set outside London of the Year" : Birmingham, Bristol, Bournemouth, Oxford, Winchester "Chambers Leader of the Year": CEO...
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Welcome to 3PB's July 2024 employment law newsletter, edited by Naomi Webber. We are delighted to announce that Liz McGrath KC has become our Head of Chambers. David Parratt KC (Scot) takes on the role of Deputy Head of Chambers. Our many congratulations to them!
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Our newsletter reflects on Labour’s General Election victory and provides analysis from Ben Amunwa, Robin Pickard, Grace Holden, Daniel Brown, Alex Leonhardt and Emma Greening on the following cases:
- Adekoya & Ors v Heathrow Express Operating Company Ltd [2024] EAT 72
- Parmar v Leicester City Council [2024] EAT 85
- Ballerino v The Racecourse Association Ltd [2024] EAT 98
- NSL Ltd v Mr P Zaluski [2024] EAT 86
- Christopher Watson v Wallwork Nelson Johnson & Anor [2024] EAT 105
- Boohene & Others v The Royal Parks Ltd [2024] EWCA Civ 583 -
The Employment Appeal Tribunal (“EAT”) handed down on 20th June its decision in Ballerino v The Racecourse Association Ltd [2024] EAT 98. Robin Pickard (pictured here) appeared for the Claimant at the EAT hearing in May 2024 before the President of the EAT, Mrs Justice Eady DBE (sitting with members). While the Claimant was on maternity leave in 2018-2019 her role was replaced by a position which continued to perform the same functions as her...
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Recommendations
Chambers 2025
3PB Barristers has an excellent profile in discrimination law and other employment issues. In addition to acting for claimants, the barristers have defended government departments and other high-ranking public bodies in complex claims. They also represent large private sector employers in unfair dismissal and related matters. The set has strength in areas including whistle-blower protection, equal pay and union law. In one key highlight, members represented the claimant in Rajput v Commerzbank and Société Générale, a complex EAT point of law victory regarding commencement in a TUPE transfer. One client comments: "All members I have worked with have clearly been experts in their relevant fields."
Client service:
"The clerks are alive to client sensitivities and present their proposals commercially."
"The clerks are fantastic, super helpful and willing to go the extra mile."
"The clerks are all incredibly polite and transparent. We have very good relationships with the team, particularly Russell Porter, Matthew Scanlan, Patrick Steptoe and Patrick Robson."
"Patrick Robson and Patrick Steptoe are both incredible clerks. They understand the members of their chambers enough to know who would be a good fit."
"At 3PB the clerks are absolutely brilliant and go the extra mile. They are a standout from all
Legal 500 2025 - Tier 1
3PB is ‘an excellent set’ with an employment team ‘packed full of top-tier barristers’ and an excellent track record for advising across the full spectrum of employment law matters
Chambers UK 2022
3PB Barristers has an excellent profile in discrimination law and other employment issues. In addition to claimants, the barristers have defended government departments and other high-ranking public bodies in complex claims. They also represent large private sector employers in unfair dismissal and related matters. The set has strength in areas including whistle-blower protection, equal pay and union law.
Client service:
"The clerks at 3PB go above and beyond." "I have found the set's clerking to be exceptionally collaborative, and their prices to be competitive." "3PB are friendly, pragmatic and helpful - they usually have an employment barrister available and respond to enquiries very promptly. The clerks are excellent and easy to work with." Mark Heath leads the clerking in Bristol.
Legal 500 2022
‘3PB’s range of advocates for employment-related assistance is excellent and of the highest quality‘.
3PB's employment practice has 'great strength in depth', and fields a team who appear before the Employment Tribunal, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court in a range of matters.'
‘3PB’s employment group is fantastic. All the barristers I have used from 3PB have been excellent, knowledgeable and provide practical advice to all clients. The set can always suggest a barrister of appropriate level and experience to deal with a matter, and the barristers are available to assist even on short notice‘.
Chambers UK 2021
A set with an excellent profile in discrimination law and other employment issues. In addition to claimants, the barristers have defended government departments and other high-ranking public bodies in complex claims. The set has strength in areas including whistle-blower protection, equal pay and union matters.
Client service: "They always provide an absolutely amazing service – they're always going out of their way to help us."
Legal 500 2021 - Western
3PB has a 'strong, client-focused employment group that is able to deliver strong advocates on short notice'.
Legal 500 2021 - South Eastern
Barristers at 3PB act for claimants and respondents alike across the full gamut of employment matters. The set has particular expertise in public sector work in the local authority, education and health care contexts, as well as transport and technology-related matters in the private sector.
Legal 500 2020
South Eastern Circuit: 3PB is home to Andrew MacPhail and Karen Moss, both of whom act for respondents and claimants, with particular specialisms in Employment Appeal tribunal work and disability and sex discrimination respectively.
Western Circuit: 3PB's employment specialists are instructed on behalf of all parties across a range of employment disputes, including TUPE, discrimination, constructive dismissal, and protected disclosures. Craig Ludlow recently represented a London bus company, which was one of three respondents to a large-scale claim for unauthorised deductions from wages brought by 55 employees, which related to non-payment of a historical meal allowance. In another highlight, Sarah Clarke acted for a respondent in an unfair dismissal case which also involved issues of protected disclosure, successfully defending against all 29 claims.
Chambers UK 2020
3PB is a set well known for its representation in a broad range of employment cases, and the barristers are particularly experienced in discrimination claims of all kinds. The chambers acts for both claimants and respondents across a variety of industries, with a particular focus on the public sector, including local authorities and the NHS, as well as the transport and technology industries. Members of the set also have experience representing high-profile individuals. One client says: "3PB are always ready to assist even with tight timescales, and go over and above to ensure they can help us. It is a very client-focused chambers."
Client service: An instructing solicitor says: "The clerking service was very responsive and helpful." Russell Porter is the practice director for this area.
Legal 500 2020
"The combined clerks’ room across the set’s six offices is a ‘well-oiled machine’."
"Chambers director Russell Porter ‘leads on outstanding client service’."
"‘accessible and user-friendly’ employment practitioners".
Chambers and Partners 2019
"3PB represents both claimants and respondents in the full range of contentious employment issues. The set has expertise across a range of sectors, and regularly handles matters relating to local authorities, healthcare, technology and transport. The chambers has particular expertise in injunctive relief matters on the enforcement of restrictive covenants. As one impressed solicitor remarks, "They're fantastic, they're knowledgeable, and nothing is too much trouble – they jump through hoops and bend over backwards for us."
"The clerks are fantastic and very receptive; they'll get us quotes straight away and if someone isn't available they'll find us another good match." Russell Porter is the practice director for this area.
Legal 500 2018/19
3PB's employment team has nine barristers ranked as leading juniors in this year's Legal 500 UK Bar Directory. The directory notes the employment practice as covering a broad spectrum of employment matters, with extensive experience of whistleblowing, equal pay, unfair dismissal claims and discrimination cases.
Legal 500 2017
With ‘very strong barristers in the employment field’, 3PB maintains a solid reputation. Barristers handle discrimination, whistleblowing and unfair dismissal, as well as a range of other claims, where they represent both respondents and claimants.
very welcoming and helpfulLegal 500