The Brompton Bar and Grill has a lot to live up to. Occupying the former premises of the post-war Brompton Grill through the Yuppie years of Brasserie St Quentin, there is a real sense of history. This is in part due to its location, along the road from Harrods and teetering perilously on the edge … Continue reading
Author Archives: kevinpoulter
Employment Tribunal Statistics – Good News For Employers?
The Tribunal reform is already taking effect. Here is the proof The Tribunal Service has just published some interesting statistics, breaking down the claims, awards and averages over the twelve months to 21 March 2012. Contrary to what we might be told by Vince and the BIS team, the effects of Tribunal reform already seem … Continue reading
The Great British Law Off
Sporting achievements, baking action or stripping exploits, you should think carefully about which will be helpful in supporting your career progression, muses Kevin Poulter The calibre of trainees commencing their training contracts this month has been intriguingly high. Of course, academic excellence is a given and more often than not this still comes from a … Continue reading
Afternoon Tea With Blueberry Hill
When the opportunity arose to have afternoon tea delivered to the office I declared how British it would be to enjoy it with my favoured colleagues just around the corner in the still jubilant – if a little restricted by preparations for the Olympics – St James’s Park. Surely only a strawberry fool would refuse. … Continue reading
Lawyer By Day…
How many lawyers does it take to open an Olympic Games? KevinPoulter investigates from a particularly unique vantage point So the Olympic bandwagon has rolled, sprinted, swam, cycled, rowed, shot-put, javelined and damn well exploded into and all over town. I am presuming that no one was held up by the strikes at the borders, on the trains, … Continue reading
Pride in the Profession
Kevin Poulter prepares to celebrate the diversity of the legal profession in this month’s World Pride parade It’s an odd feeling walking down the middle of Oxford Street on a bustling, balmy Saturday afternoon in July, especially when you are being applauded, whooped and cheered as you go about your day, but that’s what happens once a … Continue reading
Holiday Leave, Long Term Sickness and the Court of Appeal
Employment analysis: The Court of Appeal has ruled employees on long-term sick leave have a right to carry over their holiday allowance without seeking permission from their employer. Kevin Poulter, an associate in the employment department of Bircham Dyson Bell LLP, advises that reviewing contractual allowances and policies in this area will be essential to … Continue reading
Will Pay Audits Deliver Equality?
Could the threat of an equal pay audit lead to businesses settling defendable disputes prior to tribunal hearings? Kevin Poulter, an associate in the employment department of Bircham Dyson Bell LLP, predicts what the proposals will mean for employers. Pay Review for Sex Bias Firms The Equality Act 2010 included a provision requiring equal pay … Continue reading
Of Legal Fees and Calories
Should law firms charge clients a service tip to help top up the income of law students and impoverished trainees? muses Kevin Poulter over his ice cream sundae I’m writing from America, where solicitors are attorneys, lawyers are litigators and murder is homicide. It is the capital of consumerism. It is also home to some … Continue reading
Kool for Skool
“Thank you sir, you are really funny.” This is not a commendation I would typically strive for as a solicitor. However, given the circumstances, it was a plaudit I was happy to take, especially given that it was offered by a street savvy 15-year-old student before 9 ‘o clock on a chilly Thursday morning. I … Continue reading
Kevin Poulter 