Sally Cowen

Year of Call: 1995

Call 020 7827 4000

Expertise

  • Discrimination and Equality

  • Employment

Sally works with a number of NHS Trusts, Universities and other public bodies, across the UK. She is also an expert independent investigator of internal legal issues.

“I was feeling trapped, and your support has helped me reach a place of enormous relief. I’m hugely grateful to you.” - Direct Access Client

  • Sally Cowen's practice focuses on Employment Law and internal investigatory matters.

    Sally is also registered to undertake Public Access work.

    Sally also works as a fee- paid Employment Tribunal Judge in both England and Scotland and a Legally Qualified Chair in the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service and the Health Care Professionals Council.

    Employment

    Sally represents both claimants and respondents in Employment Law. She has extensive experience of Tribunal and Appeal work. Her practice is particularly focused on discrimination work, having dealt with a large number of disability, sex and age discrimination claims over the years.

    Sally also handles cases of a more commercial nature, dealing with issues relating to Whistleblowing, TUPE, contracts and employee/worker status and agency workers issues. Her recent ET and EAT appearances have dealt with, the application of TUPE to care workers and employee status of out of hours GP services. Sally has advised and represented on agency worker status and has vast experience of the recruitment agency industry.

    Her forte is in handling large, factually complex cases, where her attention to detail and ability to lead the Tribunal around the facts has warranted many commendations by Tribunal Judges.

    Sally’s recent cases include defence of a large IT organisation against claims of race discrimination; defence of a company carrying out UK Defence work against a claim of discrimination and whistleblowing; defence of a logistics company against significant claims for part time work detriments.

    Sally also successfully defended a University with regard to a claim for Race Discrimination, Sex Discrimination and Unfair Dismissal.

    Sally's Claimant clients always comment on how attentive and patient she is, together with her tenacity in pursuing their claims. Her direct access clients have all received large awards of damages and been grateful for the personal service and clear guidance she has provided. Recent clients include an ex-Head Teacher who successfully pursued the school for Unfair Dismissal; An HGV driver who claimed disability discrimination; A medico-legal lawyer who received substantial damages for disability discrimination; A city fund manager who received an enhanced settlement for termination.

    Sally has extensive experience of the EAT, where she is well received. Her clear and precise submissions are reflective of her consummate preparation. She is always keen to ensure that any point she takes is a winning point. She also contributes to the ELAAS scheme to assist those who cannot afford representation.

    Independent Internal Investigation

    Sally has in depth experience as a workplace investigator. As well as carrying out investigations as a barrister she is also a director of B3sixty, a company of multidisciplinary workplace investigators and mediators. This gives Sally a vast knowledge and wide experience of various professional and education industries, making her an ideal person to understand issues raised by staff.

    Her easy manner is supportive and reassuring to employees who speak openly to her, whilst her detailed analysis enables her to put together comprehensive and accurate reports, based on the evidence which she has collated. Her reports are thorough, balanced and pragmatic, making them ideal for employers to rely upon. When asked to do so, she is able to use her skills to indicate whether disciplinary and/or grievance procedures should be engaged, or to suggest other practical resolution to the issues which have arisen.

    Sally understands that both employees and organisations want investigations to be completed as quickly as possible, whilst also ensuring that a comprehensive consideration of the evidence has been carried out. To this end Sally is often able to conduct interviews after working hours, to complete reports in good time.

    Many of the investigations Sally handles relate to issues of sexual misconduct, race discrimination, bullying and harassment. Recent clients include banks, universities (UK and US), trade unions, solicitors and architects.

    Sally also assists clients with advisory work to support internal hearings, and has acted as a chair of both disciplinary hearings and appeals.

  • “In the raft of dynamic legal representatives, Sally Cowen stands out as one of the most talented and able. She undertakes her role with dignity, fairness, transparency and empathy.” - Direct Access Client.

    “What motivates Sally is her passion for the rights of all she serves. The dignity of her clients is paramount in all actions taken. This is what she does - intuitively, thoughtfully and wisely.” - Direct Access Client.

  • Fee paid Employment Judge (Scotland)

    Fee paid Employment Judge (England)

    Legally Qualified Chair – Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service

    Legally Qualified Chair – Health Care Professionals Council

    Employment Law Bar Association

    Employment Lawyers Association

    Discrimination Lawyers Association

    Industrial Law Society

    Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers

  • Sally is always happy to provide training to professional and lay clients.

    Most recently Sally has created workshops for HR professionals on investigation and handling sexual misconduct allegations.

  • University of Leeds LLB (Hons)

  • Recent Employment Cases

    • Bowles v Louvre Group Hotels (2023) – whistleblowing, discrimination and unfair dismissal claims settled

    • King v British Transport Police – detriment of part time worker

    • Fox v Babcock (2022) – successful defence of claims of unfair dismissal, auto unfair dismissal

    • Reus v Maris Interiors (2022) – EAT appeal on strike out - settled

    • Afonso v DHL & others (2022)– successful defence of claims by agency workers (EAT upheld decision)

    • Roomallah v Stikeman Elliot (London) &others (2022) – claim for discrimination settled

    • Ali v DB Group Services (2022) – discrimination claim settled

    • Matthews v Kings College London (2021)- discrimination claims settled

    • Ford v Wilko Retail (2021)- unlawful deduction/collective agreement claim

    • Bird v Genting Casino (2020) – discrimination claim settled

    • Rowan v SOAS & others (2020) – victimisation and harassment claims

    • Forshaw v Virgin Atlantic Airlines (2020) – successfully defended claim of discrimination and unfair dismissal

    • Saleem v Menzies (2020)- successful defence of claim of discrimination

    • Ward v Astons HDB (2020) – County Court claim for discrimination in service provision.

    • Vecchini v Jackobs- (2020) unfair dismissal claim settled

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Sally Robertson