John Mehrzad
Profile
John Mehrzad acts and advises on Employment, Commercial, Sports, Common Law and regulatory matters.
He has also represented clients at both judicial and private mediations in those matters - and has also acted as a privately-appointed mediator.
Employment Law
John regularly appears in multi-day trials, PHRs and CMDs at employment tribunals across the UK as well as appeals before the EAT, representing both claimants and respondents in cases involving, amongst others:
- Unfair dismissal;
- Redundancy-related disputes;
- Whistleblowing;
- TUPE transfers;
- Working Time/National Minimum Wage Regulations;
- Breach of contract/unlawful deduction of wages;
- All forms of discrimination; and,
- Points of jurisdiction arising out of the Statutory Dispute Regulations.
In addition to oral representation John advises on papers, drafts ET1s and ET3s, Grounds of Appeal and advises on tactics both before and after proceedings.
Notably, over the course of the last year, John has obtained costs' awards in favour of his clients (in this "cost-free" jurisdiction) in more than 50% of his cases - compared to a national average of about 3%.
He also frequently gives lectures to solicitors' firms/trade associations, leads seminars on workplace-related issues and also writes on recent developments in employment law.
Commercial Law
Having been Vice-President at Chiliogon LLP, a corporate finance advisory and fund management company, John advises City banks/funds and employees about, in particular, redundancy, bonus/commission disputes, the enforceability of restrictive covenants and fiduciary duties.
John is currently representing a renowned economist in High Court proceedings for non-payment of a discretionary contractual bonus.
He also has experience advising and responding to urgent applications for injunctive relief at the High Court.
Sports Law
As a former international athlete - international level rower and twice GB national champion -John retains a personal interest in representing a number of well-know sporting personalities and agents.
At present he is instructed in several different High Court claims brought by agents, companies and professional footballers against a number of leading football clubs.
He is also retained by Phil "The Power" Taylor, the 15-time darts' world champion, in another High Court action arising out of the sale of replica shirts.
Common Law
John also appears in the civil courts on personal injury disputes, fast/multi-track claims and on a wide range of matters involving civil procedure.
He is presently instructed in concurrent Employment Tribunal/High Court claims about alleged workplace sexual harassment at a well-known, multi-national company.
He has also advised and drafted pleadings for a former Deputy Head Teacher who suffered psychiatric injuries and ultimately took early retirement as a result of a prolonged disciplinary investigation arising out of the restraint of a disruptive pupil by way of approved techniques. This case has recently settled for a substantial sum.
Professional regulation
John has been instructed on cases before, amongst others, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, the Conduct and Competence Committee of the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the Care Standards Tribunal, and the British Psychological Society.
Previous experience
Prior to practising at the Bar John was a legal assistant at Palmer Wade solicitors, specialists in employment discrimination law; worked at France's largest law firm, Gide Loyrette Nouel, in international arbitration/project finance; and interned in the litigation departments at Clifford Chance and Lawrence Graham.
Whilst at Bar School John worked at the AIRE Centre, advising on points of EC law and human rights. He also wrote articles for "The Times" law section.
John is also able to advise clients in French.
Notable cases
Parsons v Burworth Estates (a firm) UKEAT/0547/08/MAA: consideration of whether a claimant needs to raise a grievance about each and every act relied upon for a claim of constructive unfair dismissal
Euro Print Finishers & Distributers Limited v Cesnaviciene UKEAT/0300/10/LA: currently instructed to argue that a respondent is not properly debarred from participating in a Remedy Hearing when a Default Judgment on Liability Only is made following the presentation of a late Response.
Talks
- "Employment Tribunal Practice and Procedure", London Borough of Enfield, 11 June 2010;
- Mock Employment Tribunal, Charles Russell, 1 June 2010;
- Seminar to the BBC Employment Department, 24 November 2009;
- "Recent developments in Employment Law", Newspaper Society, 13 November 2008;
- "Case law update in Employment Law", Newspaper Society, 25 March 2008.
Publications
- A study of Eurosceptic Groups 1990-97, "The European Journal", August, September and October issues 2006;
- A good pint by way of Dickens, Disney and the Dictionary, "The Times", Law, 10 June 2006;
- The Schuman Plan, "The European Journal", March/April 2006;
- Let's Raise a Glass to Old Traditions, "The Times", Law, 11 October 2005;
- A Supreme Court for the UK; A Flawed Necessity, "BPP Obiter", May 2004.
Awards
- Major Scholarships from Inner Temple for CPE and BVC;
- Peter Duffy Scholarship from Bar European Group;
- Internship awards from Inner Temple and Keble College, Oxford University, for stages at the European Court of Justice (cabinet of Advocate-General Francis Jacobs QC) and the European Parliament;
- Winner of national Ormrod mooting competition;
- Co-founder of debating society at BPP Law School;
- Twice national rowing champion of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and senior international rower for Ireland. Currently rows more leisurely for Elizabethan Boat Club.
Memberships
London Irish Lawyers' Association (Treasurer), Inner Temple Junior Bar Association, Employment Law Bar Association, Industrial Law Society, Personal Injury Bar Association, Bar European Group, Bar Pro Bono Unit, Free Representation Unit.
Qualifications
M.A. (Dub), D.E.A. (Nantes), M.St. (Oxon)