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Year of call 1992
(Northern Ireland 2011)
Silk 2012

"exudes authority...forceful and well prepared....he doesn't just bring grit and determination to a case, he also brings innovative and highly effective arguments." Chambers & Partners 2013

"Intellectual heavyweight" Legal 500 2012

"Consistently brilliant" Chambers & Partners 2012

 

overview

Caspar advises on contentious disputes and is a trial and appellate lawyer.

His practice covers the whole width of the employment relationship, contractual (including injunctive relief) and regulatory sports’ disputes and other linked contractual and commercial claims including civil fraud and breach of fiduciary duty. His work generally affects hundreds / thousands of employees, sets national precedents, are test cases, are of very high value, seriously affect the reputations of other employees or owners or the business itself or are a combination of these.

Caspar is also a trained mediator and sits as a Chairman of Football Association Arbitration Panels.

He was elected Chair of the Industrial Law Society in April 2013.

Both the Legal 500 and Chambers rank him as a Leading Practitioner, New Silk in his two primary fields of Employment and Sports’ law.

In respect of his Employment work the Directories have described him as an "intellectual heavyweight" , “consistently brilliant”, “scintillatingly intellectual”, “fiendishly brilliant” and “a superb all rounder”. He “offers excellent analytical skills and attention to detail”, is a “stickler for detail” leading one edition to call him “The amazing Caspar Glyn”. The Directories have noted that he has “particular expertise in defending very lengthy, complex discrimination claims” and a “particular expertise in complex and high-value discrimination claims involving race, sex and disability, as well as unfair dismissal matters” whose “high-profile cases include those relating to age, sexual orientation, disability, sex and race discrimination.”

Of his advocacy the Directories have written that Caspar "exudes authority and impresses sources with his forceful and well-prepared approach", that he is “fearsome in court”, “superlative in his presentation and his cross-examination is masterful”,  “demonstrates cross-examination skill worthy of Rumpole of the Bailey” is “wholly reliable and formidable in trials, especially during cross-examination” and is “an excellent cross-examiner.”

The Directories reflect the value that Caspar places, subject to his duty to the Court, of fighting his clients’ corner and have rated him “for his tenacity” and have described him as “tenacious and dogged not mincing his words and fighting hard in court”, “a tenacious barrister”,  “a real fighter”, “good for a fight” and “good for a case with fight” and “extremely robust”.

In terms of his approach to clients and working as part of a team the Legal 500 and Chambers have said that Caspar is “shrewd and client-friendly”, that he makes “a worthy contribution to any legal team”, is “responsive to solicitors’ demands” and is “transparent on fees”.

Of his Sports work the Directories write that Caspar “is developing a considerable following in the sports field” and has “strong technical analysis”. The latest edition of Chambers said that "he doesn't just bring grit and determination to a case, he also brings innovative and highly effective argument". The Directories have said that he “has a tremendous grasp of the subtleties of the football world, and understands perfectly how to translate his legal advice to that world”. His approach is described as this “most effervescent of individuals is a lawyer who brings real brio to a case” and who is “hard-fighting, yet honourable and courteous.” Caspar is both a qualified Rugby Union Referee and Coach.

Caspar works for both employers and employees. He has worked for organizations such as large FTSE Plcs, international partnerships, hedge funds, Premier League and Championship football clubs through to family businesses.  His individual clients include Premier League footballers and coaches, Chief Executives and main Board members, partners in professional sector firms all the way through to catering workers on the minimum wage.

Caspar also has a special interest in injuries arising from the employment relationship such as psychiatric / stress claims or other occupational diseases caused by asbestos, ergonomics, work equipment and co-authors the personal injury pleadings in Bullen & Leake.

Caspar is frequently invited to present lectures to National Conferences such as the Justice Human Rights Law Conference 2012, Hot Issues in Employment Law 2012 and the Equality and Human Rights Commission Discrimination Law in 2013.

Examples of his work are set out below.

Caspar accepts work directly from both members of the public and companies.

For further details or quotations please contact Caspar’s skilled clerking team who can help you with any further information that you might want.

sports law

  • acted for Newcastle United in its defence of Kevin Keegan’s £25 million claim. Mr Keegan obtained less damages than had been offered by the club (about £2 million)
  • negotiated the compromise agreement for Newcastle over the departure of Chris Hughton
  • negotiated and drafted the agreement for Alan Pardew and advised on and drafted an innovative new 8 year contract
  • acted for Seville defending a €9.1 Million euro claim arising out of a third party rights agreement from a Hungarian investment vehicle in Luis Fabiano, the Brazilian striker
  • advising Premier League club on enforceability of long term contracts in respect of players
  • acting for Charlton in respect of claims brought by former senior employees
  • represented Tottenham Hotspur in a dispute with Portsmouth 2010 Limited over fees which were paid by Portsmouth
  • advised and negotiated the departure of Gus Poyet from Leeds to Spurs
  • advised Hull City on the departure of Phil Brown
  • advised Norwich City on the move of Paul Lambert
  • advised Chelsea on the move of Frank Arnesen from Tottenham
  • represented Mike Gregory in a dispute with Wigan
  • represented Tottenham in dispute with its former player Sergei Rebrov

breach of fiduciary duty / civil fraud

  • Caspar worked with Paul Epstein QC in a case involving an expedited High Court Trial defending 6 employees who sought to move, with their clients, to a competitor. As part of the team Caspar was involved in preparing for a 10 day trial in three weeks which led to a negotiated settlement allowing the team to move
  • represented 7 Defendants in an alleged multi million pound fraud arising from the operation of a biotechnology company. The case involved numerous applications from disclosure to strike out leading to an advantageous settlement
  • acted for a group of Barristers in respect of matters arising out of a fellow barrister's, David Friesner, theft from them
  • acts for an employee facing a £52 Million claim from his employers for breach of duties in managing a project costing over £300 million

injunctions, restrictive covenants, injunctions and search orders

  • obtaining an injunction and other relief including a modified search order against a disgruntled rogue IT technician
  • obtaining injunction against former search consultants who attempted to take a database to springboard a new start up firm in direct competition with the client
  • acted for start up company backed by a multinational hedgefund which was threatened with injunctions by the large organisation from which the founding partners had moved. Fought hard and negotiated a settlement so that the client company was able to trade almost without restriction

discrimination claims 

  • acted for a senior employee and an NHS Trust against serious accusations of discrimination and harassment. The Claimant abandoned her case after cross examination
  • represented FTSE 250 company against claims of discrimination and structured a creative and innovative settlement which was highly tax efficient thereby avoiding a damaging trial for the Company and allowing a cost effective solution
  • representing Chief Executive Officer of FTSE250 summarily dismissed in a case involving both discrimination and whistle blowing. Settled prior to trial preserving confidentiality for all for more than £1 million
  • acting for FTSE100 Director summarily dismissed following a grievance in respect of discrimination. Settled the day before trial for high six figure sum
  • represented a full member of a large LLP in a discrimination claim at a mediation leading to a structured exit allowing the partner to transfer their practice elsewhere and them to continue servicing their client without any gap as they moved with some compensation
  • represented a full member against a top 30 Solicitor LLP leading to a structured resignation and six figure settlement
  • ran the first ever Fatal Accidents Act claim arising out of the suicide of an employee against a large public sector employee. Confidential six figure settlement
  • represented the first intersectional discrimination claim based on disability and age against an NHS Trust leading to a settlement, after 6 days of trial, for a manager of more than £500,000

whistleblowing

  • acting for the BBC in respect of a widely reported claim brought by a former employee
  • represented a Chief Executive of a large digital company in a claim that led not only to settlement of the employment claims but also the favourable realisation of options for the Executive leading to a six figure settlement.
  • represented a Hedge Fund to defeat a claim of an investment manager and stands as an Employment Appeal Tribunal authority on the question of the burden of proof

equal pay

  • leading a large team of lawyers including a Junior in dealing with over 500 claims against a large public sector employer leading to a negotiated settlement of some claims at a substantial discount to the employer
  • acts for and advises other large public sector employers as to the implementation of Single Status and Equal Pay compliance including audits and the effect of the public sector equality duties from Southampton City Council, Hackney through to Bracknell Forest and Maldon District Councils and others
  • representing the BBC in the High Court of Northern Ireland and the Belfast Industrial Tribunal in respect of an equal pay claim by an employee

industrial action and collective consultation

  • in Gate Gourmet, Caspar represented, 40 workers who were summarily dismissed for taking unofficial strike action who were denied any remedy by the Employment Tribunal
  • acted for large employer with Unionised workforce successfully defendant an allegation that a shop steward was dismissed for Union Activities
  • Southampton City Council advising on all aspects of the industrial action including smart strikes
  • Caspar advises on all aspects of ballots, notices and whether or not, in any one case, an injunction can be obtained against Unions
  • acting for employer setting up a Staff Association

working time

professional negligence

  • acted for employee against a firm of solicitors which had “edited” Counsel’s advice to the employee in order to try and evade a claim on their insurance
  • Gate Gourmet advised the Claimants as to a claim against their allegedly negligent Union 

tupe

  • acted for contractors surrounding the outsourcing of contractors at Shakespeare’s Globe theatre: “tupe or not tupe” issues
  • acted for 8 doctors in a large outsourcing by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to Capital in a 3 week trial leading to large claims by all the doctors
  • acted for executive in a TUPE claim where a settlement was effected after one hour’s cross examination of the Respondent’s lead witness leading to agreed damages and a share sale as part of the overall agreement for six figure compensation

mediations, internal investigations, disciplinaries

  • represents NHS Trust in respect of an internal disciplinary matter where allegations of Gross Misconduct and dishonesty are made against a Surgeon
  • trained mediator both at conducting and participating in mediations

personal injury

  • experience of litigating tens of mesothelioma and other respiratory injuries arising out of exposure to asbestos
  • litigating various stress at work cases including "first breakdown" case

unfair dismissal

  • represented Stringfellows at the Employment Tribunal in its successful defence of an unfair dismissal claim by a dancer. Representing the club on Ms Quashie’s subsequent appeal to the Employment Appeal Tribunal that she was an employee rather than a contractor
  • successfully represented director of an insurance syndicate in respect of his unfair dismissal claim which had huge ramifications for his future career in the market
  • acted for large employer with Unionised workforce successfully defendant an allegation that a shop steward was dismissed for Union Activities
  • acted for school in successfully resisting a Teacher’s claim arising from his dismissal following his conviction for publishing indecent images

areas of practice

  • Employment
  • Discrimination and  equality
  • Human rights
  • Commercial and common law
  • Public and regulatory
  • Sports law 
  • Personal Injury

appointments and memberships

Caspar was elected as Chair of the Industrial Law Society in 2013. He was a member of the Working party that devised the Code of Guidance for Experts under the Civil Procedure Rules. He is a member of the Employment Law Bar Association, The Employment Lawyers Association and undertakes both ELAAS work at the Employment Appeal Tribunal and work for the Bar Pro Bono Unit

publications and training

He is a co-author of  Sweet & Maxwell’s “Bullen and Leake”, “The Fast Track Practice” and the “Personal Injury Handbook." Caspar also writes specialist legal contributions for publications such as Funding for Independent Schools.

Caspar is frequently invited to present lectures to National Conferences such as the Justice Human Rights Law Conference 2012, Hot Issues in Employment Law 2012 and the Equality and Human Rights Commission Discrimination Law in 2013.

Caspar is always happy to go to clients and lecture and or train on topics of interest to them.

qualifications

LLB (Hons) with higher rights of audience in England, Wales and Northern Ireland

highlight cases