Practice Areas

• Employment
• Healthcare
• Not-for-Profit

Expertise

Vanessa James continues to successfully defend employers and high net worth employees against allegations and disputes.

She advises on the best course of action in cases of unfair dismissal, breach of contract, discrimination/victimisation, bullying and harassment. Her expertise also includes workplace matters of religious belief, sexual orientation, whistle blowing, pay and TUPE – with many high profile and complicated Tribunal and High Court wins to her name.

Vanessa is also a skilled negotiator and drafts contracts and agreements to the optimum advantage of her clients.

Vanessa is a Trustee for Riversmead Housing Association.

Key Experience and Clients

• Successfully defended a major catering business in a 10-day race discrimination, victimisation and unfair dismissal tribunal
• Successfully represented a very senior executive against her international recruitment practice employers in a high value equal pay, sex discrimination and constructive unfair dismissal case
• Acting for a major housing association on a protracted race discrimination matter
• Acting for a manufacturer in a multi day disability discrimination, bullying, harassment and constructive unfair dismissal case

Professional Memberships

• Employment Lawyers Association

Career History

• 2007: Partner and Joint Head of Employment, SA Law
• 2003: Head of Employment, Curwens Solicitors
• 2000: Assistant Solicitor, Curwens Solicitors
• 1999: Paralegal, Linklaters

Articles and Publications

• "Employing Part-Time Students: What to Keep in Mind" - SME Web - October 2010
  
• "Ten Tips on Social Networking Policies" - Real Business - October 2010
  
• "'Common sense' warning over ACAS Code" - Law Society Gazette - February 2009
  
• "Employing Internal Bank Workers" - February 2008
• "Banking on it" - Charity Times - February 2008
• "Hidden Costs of Incapicity Benefit Tests" - Personnel Today - December 2007
• "Legal Q&A: Driving Hazards" - Personnel Today - Novemeber 2007
• "Risks of Using Unskilled Migrant Workers in Care Homes" - Healthcare Bi-weekly - October 2007
• "Legal Q&A: Speech Defects" - Personnel Today - October 2007
• "Family Friendly Legislation?" - HR Director - September 2007
• "Girl Loses Legal Fight Over 'Chastity Ring'" - Times Online - July 2007
• "Kicking the Habit" - Charity Times - July 2007
• "Will There Be Room to Smoke in Hotel Circumstances" - Financial Times - June 2007
• "Employment Law: Smoking Ban Special" - Personnel Today - June 2007
• "Who's the Daddy" - Workplace Law - June 2007
  

Awards and Accolades

Vanessa James is commended for her ‘in-depth understanding and willingness to go the extra mile’.
The Legal 500, 2010

Personal Information

A regular gym attendee who enjoys good food and wine with family and friends!