Sean has a leading practice focused on complex and high profile cases. He acts for both claimants and defendants in claims covering the a wide range of Employment, Commercial Employment and Sport-related disputes. Clients value his approachability and commitment to team-working, the breadth and depth of his specialist knowledge, his persuasiveness in argument and his effectiveness in cross-examination.

  • Quotation symbolSean’s submissions in tribunal are highly persuasive and he is constantly available to us. Even extremely demanding clients are blown away – Sean is the brightest star of the senior employment Bar.

    Quotation symbolLegal 500
  • Quotation symbolAs a trial advocate he is peerless: his cross-examination is wonderful to watch and he basically dances around the witnesses and leads them wherever he wants them to go.

    Quotation symbolChambers & Partners
  • Quotation symbolAn outstanding advocate with a brain that drives at the speed of a Ferrari but submissions crafted like a Rolls-Royce.

    Quotation symbolLegal 500

Expertise

ToggleEmployment

Employment Law is at the heart of Sean’s work. Widely-regarded as one of the leading Employment lawyers in the UK, his practice covers the entire range of employment-related matters from multiple equal pay, pension and employment status claims through to individual dismissals, whistleblowing claims, bonus and restrictive covenant disputes, and industrial action cases. He is instructed by individuals, trade unions and every kind of employer including large private sector companies such as Amazon, Easyjet, Ford, Lloyds Bank, Marks and Spencer, Tesco and Sainsburys; public sector bodies such as the BBC, the HMRC, the Metropolitan Police, and a number of local authorities and Education sector employers such as the University of Oxford and Nottingham University.

Quotation symbol

  • Sean’s submissions in tribunal are highly persuasive and he is constantly available to us. Even extremely demanding clients are blown away – Sean is the brightest star of the senior employment Bar.

    Legal 500
  • As clever as he is creative, as expert as he is amusing, he has taken up residence in the Supreme Court on every employment case going – it’s where he belongs though. Associates see working with him as a perk of the job.

    Legal 500
  • He’s incredibly personable, is known to have an encyclopaedic knowledge of employment law and has very sound judgement.

    Chambers & Partners

Download Employment CV

ToggleSport

Sean has advised and represented a number of football clubs in disputes with players, managers and staff including Aston Villa, Everton, Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest. He has also been instructed by the League Managers’ Association and acted for former managers in actions against Fulham, Leeds United and the Football Association of Wales and for a former player against Tottenham Hotspur.

Away from football, he represented the RFU in its dispute with Bristol over the recruitment of a rugby forwards coach. He has sat as chair of disciplinary panel for British Ski and Snowboarding and conducted a disciplinary investigation on behalf of the Olympic Park Legacy Corporation.

Having run 13 marathons it is beginning to dawn on Sean that he is never going to qualify for the Boston Marathon.

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  • A leading sport employment silk, who is usually the first choice for clubs in high-profile employment issues.

    Chambers & Partners
  • He is an excellent sport employment specialist.

    Chambers & Partners
  • Understands the complexities of advising in a sport context and is very well thought of in the sector

    Legal 500

Download Sport CV

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Download Recent cases CV

Achievements

ToggleAppointments

Fee-paid Employment Judge

Senior Trustee of the Free Representation Unit

Employment Law Bar Association Management Committee

Bar Council

ToggleNews, Articles & Publications

Employment Law Columnist for Solicitors’ Journal

General Editor of Tolley’s Employment Law Handbook

ToggleEducation

Worcester College, Oxford, Andrew Dixon Scholar; BA (Hons) Jurisprudence, First Class; BCL.

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  • Quotation symbol

    Tactically brilliant.

    Chambers & Partners
  • Quotation symbol

    So good, lay clients ask him if they can applaud after hearings

    Legal 500
  • Quotation symbol

    He is sharp and decisive, and has an extraordinary ability to present complex arguments simply

    Legal 500
  • Quotation symbol

    He is an excellent sport employment specialist.

    Chambers & Partners
  • Quotation symbol

    He thinks things through very clearly and has a very sharp mind.

    Chambers & Partners
  • Quotation symbol

    A leading sport employment silk, who is usually the first choice for clubs in high-profile employment issues.

    Chambers & Partners
  • Quotation symbol

    A master advocate who is incredibly personable and extremely generous with his time.

    Chambers & Partners
  • Quotation symbol

    Absolutely outstanding. He has real gravitas and is strikingly bright and sharp.

    Chambers & Partners
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    He grasps the intricacies of a case with astonishing speed.

    Legal 500
  • Quotation symbol

    An excellent choice for employment law matters in the sports industry, particularly in relation to high-stakes manager recruitment and exits.

    Chambers & Partners
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    Very bright.

    Chambers & Partners
  • Quotation symbol

    He gives clear, practical and commercial advice on resolving disputes in court.

    Chambers & Partners
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    Very experienced and knowledgeable about football regulatory matters.

    Legal 500
  • Quotation symbol

    Understands the complexities of advising in a sport context and is very well thought of in the sector

    Legal 500
  • Quotation symbol

    He’s incredibly personable, is known to have an encyclopaedic knowledge of employment law and has very sound judgement.

    Chambers & Partners
  • Quotation symbol

    Astute and super bright, he is extremely client-friendly and genuinely a joy to work with.

    Chambers & Partners
  • Quotation symbol

    Sean is utterly brilliant in relation to statutory construction, presentation of legal argument to tribunals and is also extremely client friendly. His cross-examination is electric and carries a real “edge” to it.

    Legal 500
  • Quotation symbol

    As clever as he is creative, as expert as he is amusing, he has taken up residence in the Supreme Court on every employment case going – it’s where he belongs though. Associates see working with him as a perk of the job.

    Legal 500
  • Quotation symbol

    First choice in relation to the intersection of employment and sport

    Legal 500
  • Quotation symbol

    Sean’s submissions in tribunal are highly persuasive and he is constantly available to us. Even extremely demanding clients are blown away – Sean is the brightest star of the senior employment Bar

    Legal 500