Garvey Hanchard
Partner
Garvey Hanchard
Meet Garvey Hanchard
I am a specialist in employment law, with over 20 years of experience that includes high-profile cases against City financial institutions, Premier League football clubs and in the widely reported bullying case against the former Home Secretary, Priti Patel, and the Department for Work and Pensions.
I have provided extensive training on employment law matters to companies, HR professionals, academic institutions and to legal professionals.
My experience
I have worked for a wide range of clients – from employees to senior executives- across different sectors in situations that range from multi-national household-name companies to small businesses. I use this extensive experience in my work at Bloomsbury Square, navigating negotiations to achieve the best outcomes for my clients.
What our clients say
Previous
Next
Highlights:
- Securing a widely-reported settlement with the Department for Work and Pensions for a civil servant in government
- Providing legal and strategic advice on the employment aspects of a phase change in a major rail development programme across London
- Acting for the head physio at a top Premier League football club in a contentious exit, and successfully negotiating a severance package
- Successfully representing a client in a £1.7 million constructive dismissal shares case
- Successfully acting in a multiple-claimant union sponsored claim about overtime rates of pay against a train operating company
- Successfully acting in a high-profile race discrimination / harassment claim against a police authority
My approach
I am a strong believer in alternative dispute resolution and achieving solutions through negotiation, without having to resort to contentious employment tribunal or court proceedings, where possible. I am an accredited workplace mediator with experience both in chairing mediations, and representing parties in a mediation setting.
There will always be occasions where litigation is necessary, and I have extensive case preparation and advocacy experience representing clients in employment tribunals and professional regulation tribunals.
I understand that engaging in discussions with employers about your employment can be a very stressful time, it can often feel one-sided as your employer usually has more power, experience of similar situations and more resources at their disposal. Working with an experienced solicitor can help you to redress the imbalance, reduce the stress of a dispute, and provide confidence to best achieve your desired outcomes.
Garvey's featured article
Understanding Whistleblowing: A Study of Employee Perspectives on Reporting Wrongdoing in the UK
Whilst the majority of workers would be keen to whistleblow if they saw wrongdoing, over half (51%) of the UK’s workforce would not feel safe disclosing to their employer if they believed the company was breaking the law.
Do ex gratia payments prevent potential legal action?
Simple guide to ex gratia payments, its purpose in settling disputes, the potential legal implications written by a top lawyer specialising in Ex Gratia advice
Employment Disputes – Negotiation, Mediation or Litigation?
In May 2021, the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) published a first of its kind report systematically mapping the incidence of conflict across UK workplaces, titled ‘Estimating the Costs of Workplace Conflict’.
Contact us
If you feel you have a case and want the best possible advice, get in touch with our team
