Clerking team

Chris Shaw
Chris Shaw

Senior Clerk – Civil, Commercial & Employment Clerk

Rob Lang

Assistant Senior Clerk

Gemma Eachus

Civil Clerk

Xanthé Young

Civil Clerk

Adam Parker

Civil Clerk

“Jason is excellent as an advocate, always thoroughly prepared and clear in his submissions. His cross-examination is particularly good and clients are made to feel thoroughly supported and in safe hands.”

Legal 500, 2024

Strengths: “A very experienced barrister who never gets flustered. Jason has an uncanny ability to digest voluminous documentation and to quickly identify the key issues. He is a respected advocate and cross-examiner, and is also commercially aware and reassuring to clients.”

“Jason provides great client support.”

“Jason is an excellent barrister, who is very knowledgeable and very good with clients.”

Chambers UK Bar, 2024

Well versed in handling very high-profile employment cases, Jason Searle frequently appears in the Employment Tribunal, Employment Appeal Tribunal and High Court. Within his wider employment law practice he has considerable expertise in discrimination claims.

Jason Searle is a specialist employment and equality law barrister, representing employers and employees in employment and HR litigation. He generally acts for high net worth individuals, law firms (and other professional advisory firms) and a range of FTSE listed companies/SMEs. He is proud to be the head of the St Johns Building’s Employment Law Team and immensely enjoys the responsibility of this role.

Jason is particularly committed to trying to ensure that the Bar is representative of the community it serves. He has spent three years on the pupillage committee and is a volunteer speaker for schools for the Bar Council. He spent two years working at a Law Centre.

Jason spent three years with UK Special Forces.

Jason is accredited to receive instructions directly from members of the public through the Public Access Scheme.

Employment

Jason acts for employers and employees, with an even split. Jason has a wealth of experience of discrimination cases. He has successfully resisted and presented claims brought by doctors and senior NHS executives. He has been responsible for presenting some of the most heinous campaigns of discriminatory treatment before the employment tribunals.

Jason has become the ‘lawyer’s lawyer’ and is regularly instructed by solicitors privately and in house barristers. He has advised in cases for and against National firms of solicitors and is often against Leading Counsel. He has acted in cases involving National Security and has been responsible for training solicitors and others in discrimination law. He frequently appears in the Employment Tribunal; EAT; County Court and High Court.

Jason is also an expert in Social Media in the Workplace and the legal ramifications for employers and employees. He has handled a number of cases where the use of Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and other social networks has led to disciplinary action (including dismissal) by an employer, leading to Employment Tribunal cases. He is frequently called upon to advise when solicitor’s employee clients find themselves accused of IT misuse.

Jason has also appeared in regulatory and disciplinary tribunals. He has advised teachers, doctors, nurses and those involved with FCA compliance.

Royal Mail Group PLC; NHS Trusts; Local Authorities, Police and Prison Services are just some of his regular clients.

Jason is accredited by the Bar Council to undertake direct public access work and has advised and represented a significant number of SMEs and individuals on this basis.

Cases

Ashby v Cathelco Ltd (2011): Sexual discrimination and constructive dismissal.

Davies v Burnley Borough Council (2009) All ER (D) 186 (Aug): On issues of reasonableness and compensation.

Lee & Dodds v. Iceland Frozen Foods PLC EAT 1147/00: On issues of Res Judicata and cause of action estoppel.

Manchester Evening News front pages:

Nissan GB: http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/nissan-car-dealership-bosses-deny-801135.

Sale Private Day Nursery: http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/sale-private-day-nursery-staff-1741043.

Jason was also involved at the unfair dismissal stage of the Fecitt litigation which remains one of the leading authorities on whistleblowing.

Education law

Jason regularly represents local authorities, employees and others in cases involving the education sector in his employment practice. He often deals with complex discrimination and whistle-blowing cases and has appeared before Chairs of Governors on behalf of teachers. He has undertaken work for the National Association of Head Teachers and been instructed directly by them.

Jason has a growing practice in the area of education law. He is direct access qualified and is available to act for local authorities and parents in a range of education cases including:

  • Admission and exclusion appeals in front of independent panels.
  • Appeals to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal (‘SEND’ Tribunal) concerning EHC assessments and/or exclusions
  • Upper Tribunal appeals arising from decisions of the SEND Tribunal
  • Advice and representation regarding judicial review
  • Issues in transitioning SEN students to EHC assessments
  • Cases involving further and higher education

Memberships

  • Employment Law Bar Association
  • Employment Lawyers Association