Rules, Regulations and (Removing) Red Tape: Understanding Key Employment Law Procedures

Tina Chander, Partner and Head of Employment Law at Wright Hassall

Tina is driven by her deep-rooted passion for helping people and strong experience in employment law. She is qualified as both a barrister and solicitor and is uniquely placed to work with both individuals and businesses to assist with the diverse challenges they face.

Tina helps employers of all sizes, from small businesses to global enterprises and supports the Commercial and Corporate teams at Wright Hassall.

Her expertise spans the full spectrum of employment law, including advising employers and employees on dealing with unfair dismissal, discrimination, whistleblowing and employment tribunal claims, proceedings, and appeals. In addition, Tina has extensive experience advising on the TUPE aspects of corporate transactions and the outsourcing of contracts between companies.

To support the lifecycle of a business, Tina works closely with business owners, directors, and HR teams, empowering them with legal insight. She helps businesses navigate settlement agreements, advises on large-scale redundancies and restructures, and she provides support to everyday HR and employment law processes including advising on ACAS Code on disciplinary procedures, dismissals, poor performance and grievance processes.

Tina also drafts employment contracts, settlement agreements, staff handbooks and policies, and executive service agreements. She is regularly instructed to negotiate termination payments and to provide HR and Employment law training to line managers.

Natasha Broomfield-Reid, Founder and Director of Diverse Matters

Natasha is the Founder and Director of Diverse Matters and is responsible for the overall running of the company and the delivery of diversity and inclusion solutions across various sectors.

With over 25 years of experience, she previously held the role of Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Victim Support. Natasha led the organisation in achieving multiple national recognitions, including Stonewall’s Top 100 Employer as well as obtaining ‘Leaders in Diversity’ and ‘Investors in Diversity’ accreditations, the first charity to hold the latter of these statuses.

Natasha has also held senior EDI roles at Mills & Reeve and EA Inclusion, whilst supporting organisations across finance, retail, legal and public sectors with improving practices, training, and policy development. She has worked extensively with underrepresented communities and developed numerous inclusion programmes, such as a ‘highly commended’ regional mentoring programme.

A sought-after speaker, facilitator, and board member, Natasha has worked with Pearn Kandola, Business Disability Forum, and the National Centre for Diversity. Her accolades include Stonewall Cymru’s LGBT+ Ally of the Year (2018), Women, Influence and Power in Law UK (2021), and multiple awards in diversity and inclusion, including the Women’s Award for Best Female Entrepreneur (2024).

Sarah Price, Solicitor at Wright Hassall

Since joining the Employment team, Sarah has assisted clients with HR and employment law enquiries alongside providing advice in relation to the drafting and finalising of settlement agreements. Sarah has also had experience advising on and assisting with grievance and disciplinary processes.

Sarah regularly supports the team in assisting employers and employees on the full spectrum of employment law matters, from day-to-day employment and HR matters to advising on Employment Tribunal claims.

Kash Dosanjh, Senior Associate at Wright Hassall

Kash works closely with businesses to advise on numerous complex matters such as restructures, TUPE transfers and complex disciplinary & grievance matters. He is renowned for his quick, practical advice that he provides to businesses of all sizes, ranging from SME’s to global enterprises. In addition, he specialises in providing day to day HR and Employment Law support to businesses via email and telephone, including drafting documentation. He is regularly instructed to chair meetings or hearings on their behalf.

Kash’s expertise also extends to advising individuals, in particular, negotiating exit packages on their behalf, in order to secure a higher settlement.

Gemma Clark, Associate at Wright Hassall

Gemma is an Associate who enjoys advising both employers and employees alike on a variety of employment law matters, from day-to-day employment and HR queries to advising on Employment Tribunal claims.

Together with guiding clients in respect of internal procedures, such a disciplinary, grievance, capability and redundancy procedures, Gemma assists with drafting and reviewing contracts and Staff Handbooks for businesses to ensure these remain up to date and legally compliant.

Gemma also advises in respect of settlement agreements and negotiates exit packages between employers and employees to assist reach amicable resolutions to contentious, strained or unworkable employment relationships.                       

Adam Morris, Solicitor at Wright Hassall

Adam regularly acts for employers and employees on the full spectrum of employment law matters, from day-to-day employment and HR matters to advising on Employment Tribunal claims.

Adam has good experience advising on all usual HR processes such as disciplinary, grievance, capability and redundancy procedures as well as advising on management of sickness and other types of absence.

On the non-contentious side, Adam drafts and reviews contracts of employment, standalone policies and Staff Handbooks for businesses to ensure these remain up-to-date and legally compliant.

Adam advises on and drafts settlement agreements and negotiates exit packages between employers and employees where the employment relationship has broken down.

Mali Smith, Legal Director & Mediator at Wright Hassall

Mali’s specialises in dealing with a variety of employment law disputes such as unfair dismissal, TUPE, breach of contract, constructive dismissal, collective redundancies, discrimination, employment status, unlawful deductions of wages, restrictive covenants and bonuses. In addition, Mali advises employer and employees on settlement agreements.

Mali specialism is advising all sized companies on contracts of employment, employees handbooks, and internal procedures. Mali is also experienced in conducting grievances and disciplinary procedures and representing parties in employment tribunals & mediation.

Sandra Berns, Founder and Managing Director of Centric HR Limited

Sandra Berns is the Founder and Managing Director of Centric HR Limited. A Fellow of the CIPD with 30+ years of experience across both Public and Private sectors, Sandra enjoys helping business owners take their business to the next level by providing strategic support and direction.

She has been responsible for Employee Relations in large public organisations as a senior manager before setting up her own Company. In her last senior year within a Public Sector organisation, Sandra successfully co-ordinated and contributed to the defence of 14 tribunal claims for the organisation being a witness for around 10 cases during her career.

Over the last eight years within Centric HR, Sandra automatically thinks ‘Tribunal’ when preparing any documents regarding employee processes, no matter where in the process at the time. Sandra has been a witness for one of Wright Hassall’s clients and has successfully defended an unfair dismissal case for a client in January 2025.

Patrick Keith, Barrister at St Philips Chambers

Ranked as a Leading Junior by the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners 2025, Patrick specialises in Employment, with a distinguished track record in Discrimination Law. As a barrister at St Philips Chambers who regularly appears before the employment tribunals and the employment appeal tribunal, Patrick is commended for his style and effective handling of witnesses in cross-examination, particularly when that involves vulnerable parties.

Patrick’s understanding of people, their motivations and decisions sets him apart. His down-to-earth style and personal approach mean that he is trusted by vulnerable witnesses and senior corporate leaders alike, taking time to build a rapport so he can challenge their evidence as appropriate while supporting them through the process. In the same way, Patrick adopts a bespoke approach to each cross-examination, eliciting evidence through careful exploration of the facts but robustly pushing back and challenging troublesome witnesses when necessary.

Patrick has a predominantly respondent-leaning practice and represents a wide variety of clients across multiple industries including large employers, local authorities, international financial institutions, national public bodies and the NHS. Patrick is comfortable with the most technical employment law issues and he thrives in cases which require a detailed analysis of human decisions.