Recognised as a leading junior in employment and nicknamed by many of chambers instructing solicitors as the "queen of injunctions" , particularly, urgent injunctive relief. Shirley has been described by legal directories as a tenacious cross examiner.

Shirley's style is direct and down to earth. Clients appreciate her clear and approachable manner. Her advice is practical and commercially aware.

PRACTICE AREAS

Shirley practices and advises in all aspects of employment law in the High Court, particularly, breach of contract , restrictive covenants, wrongful dismissals, and misuse of confidential information, often leading to speedy trials. Shirley has extensive experience in urgent injunctive relief, including restrictive covenants, garden leave, springboard/confidential information , freezing orders, search and seizure orders. Shirley has also secured injunctions to restrain harassment in the context of the working environment.

Shirley has extensive experience in the Employment Tribunals and Employment Appeal Tribunal (unfair dismissal, discrimination (race, sex, disability, religion, age, whistle-blowing, TUPE).

Notable High Court Cases

Re: Norbrook V Pfizer: QB injunction 4/1/08 Injunction to restrain breach of post termination restraints; confidential information; client connection. Speedy trial ordered 11/2/08.

Re: Barnet Football Club Injunction to restrain senior employees from leaving post to go to a competitior in breach of contract.

Astrazeneca PLC v SHAC & Ors Injuction to restrain animal rights protestors.

Daikin v SHAC & Ors Injunction to restrain animal rights protestors.

Graff Diamonds Ltd v Michael Tyson (QB) Acted for Graff in a dispute concerning £400,000 of jewellery purchased by Mike Tyson from Graff diamonds. Breach of contract; freezing injunction.

A-Z Restaurants v Gordon Ramsey & Marcus Wareing (QB) Acted for A-Z Restuarants in a dispute over Ramsey & Wareing's departure from flagship restuarants Aubergine & L'Orangerie. Breach of contract.

Associated Newspapers v Jonathon Cainer (QB) Acted for Mr Cainer when he resigned from The Mail Breach of contract; Garden leave injunction.

Re Antony Worral Thompson (QB) Acted for Mr Thompson concerning his departure from his corporate employers.

Notable Employment Tribunal Cases

Dr El-Habal v Hull & East Yorkshire NHS Trust : Hull ET: 18/02/08
Defending NHS against a claim for unfair dismissal, race discrimination, whistle-blowing arising from dismissal for alleged gross misconduct.

Dr Fiona Francis v Thames Water Utilities Ltd Reading ET: 7/1/08
Refusal of jobshare in senior position after return from maternity leave Sex discrimination, constructive dismissal.

English v Thomas Sanderson Limited Brighton ET: 5/9/07 (see also EAT below)
Claim under the Sexual Orientation Regulations concerning a male employee who alleged harassment by his work colleagues, who teased him about being homosexual (even though they knew he was not) because he lived in Brighton and went to public school. Successfully argued that the wording of the regulations imported the concept of causation into the act ; hence, the Claimant had to show that the harassment was "by reason of sexual orientation", not "related to..". Argument revolved around EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES COMMISSION V SECRETARY OF STATE FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY [2007] IRLR 327 where the High Court held that Section 4A(i)(a) of the Sex Discrimination Act does not correctly implement the revised Equal Treatment Directive 2002/73/EC and needs to be recast so as to eliminate the issue of causation.This decision also affects harassments of women and discrimination on grounds of pregnancy. Leave to appeal to CA granted. Appeal pending.

Blanning v Restormal Borough Council [2007] Defended the Council in respect of a claim by an in house solicitor for disability discrimination.

Jean Stephenson v Thomas Sanderson: ET: 3/12/07 Disability discrimination, adjustments to the workplace; long term terminal illness; reasonableness.

Ms Friday v South West Trains Acted for South West Trains. Successfully defeated claims of sex discrimination, victimisation, and dismissal on grounds of Health & Safety activities.

Chief Constable of North Yorkshire Police Acted for Chief Constable in sex discrimination and harassment claims against female officer. Successfully defeated both claims.

Sharon Sandhu v BBC Institutionalised racism at the BBC. Cawe concerned discrimination in training and promotion opportunities at BBC.

Janet Hope v Northamptonshire & Bedfordshire Fire & Rescue Service Sex discrimination and sexual harassment of a female fire-fighter by male colleagues.

Re: Travel City TUPE. Dispute over liability for transfer of employees of a travel business. Liability for outgoing employees.

Dr E C Kettle v Ministry of Defence [2007] Dentist engaged by MOD. Status: employed or self employed under terms of standard form MOD contract. Finding of ET that Dr Kettle was employed upheld.

Re: British Steel TUPE. Dispute arising from British Steel taking over a failing steel works and whether it resulted in a tranfer of the workforce to British Steel. Pensions issue.