Diarmuid Bunting

Diarmuid has an extensive knowledge of employment law and a broad practice. He acts for Claimants and Respondents. He has significant experience in unfair dismissal, discrimination, whistleblowing and TUPE disputes. His practice also encompasses negligent misstatements claims and contractual issues like restrictive covenants.

His employment and equality experience includes:

• Defending a government department in a whistleblowing claim
• Defending an Academy in a trade union detriment claim
• Suing a football club in the civil courts for disability discrimination and victimisation by an association
• Defending a government department in a civil claim for disability discrimination by a service provider
• Acting for a public sector employee in a claim for a failure to make reasonable adjustments
• Defending a Higher Education College in a race discrimination claim
• Acting for a Claimant in a TUPE claim against a well-known bookmaker
• Providing written and oral advice on liability, quantum and tactics
• Drafting various pleadings
• Obtaining a strike out order in a High Court claim for breach of contract, harassment and various other complaints
• Pleading and advising on merits and tactics in interim injunction proceedings before the High Court
• HMRC minimum wage appeals
• Drafting and advocacy in the Employment Appeal Tribunal

In addition to frequently appearing in lengthy hearings in the employment tribunal, he conducts substantive preliminary hearings, including in relation to time limits and other jurisdictional issues, as well as strike out and deposit applications.

He can advise and assist with professional disciplinary matters when they arise in employment, such as when health professionals are facing internal disciplinary matters which may be referred to their professional regulatory body.

He undertakes written and advocacy work in respect of Employment Tribunal, County Court, High Court and Employment Appeal Tribunal cases.

Diarmuid has also been instructed in numerous Judicial Mediation hearings, which he finds particularly satisfying.

Diarmuid is instructed in a range of professional disciplinary matters and appears before the following regulators:

• MPTS (GMC)
• NMC
• HCPC
• ICAEW

He attends interim orders, review and fitness to practise hearings as well as related High Court applications.

Diarmuid also provides advice on professional disciplinary cases, often on a direct access basis, including in relation to tactics and evidence.

In January 2020, he was appointed by the Department for Education to sit as a Panellist on the Teaching Regulation Agency’s Professional Conduct Panel (which determines misconduct cases against teachers).

Similarly, he has been appointed by Social Work England to sit as a Legal Advisor (to advise panels of adjudicators on the law and procedure) in SWE professional disciplinary hearings.

In addition to his professional disciplinary work, Diarmuid undertakes advocacy and advice work in appeals against Notices (e.g., to impose conditions, suspend or cancel a person’s registration) issued by:

• Ofsted
• The CQC

Diarmuid accepts instructions from various interested persons, including medical professionals, family members and Government Departments.

In addition to advocacy at pre-inquest reviews and inquests (including those with Article 2 considerations), he is able to offer proactive advice during the course of the Coroner’s investigation. He has a particular interest in matters with a clinical element.

• Employment Lawyers Association
• Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers
• Northern Circuit

• Attorney General’s Regional B Panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown (2025 – 2030)
• Welsh Local Authority and Public Sector Panel
• Professional Conduct Panellist for the Teaching Regulation Agency – January 2020 to January 2025
• Legal Advisor to panel adjudicators for Social Work England

• LLB (Hons) Queen’s University Belfast
• BVC Manchester Metropolitan University
• Admitted to Roll of Solicitors