Add this expertise to your shortlist Rachel Best KC is a formidable employment silk with an exceptional track record in employment cases acting primarily as a respondent's counsel and also occasionally as claimant's counsel.
Reported cases include:
TF v Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman [2022] NICA 17: successful appeal for dyslexia-sufferer in disability discrimination claim on grounds of procedural unfairness.
Bronckaers, Dr Tamara Bertha Johanna v Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (5980/18IT): successfully acted for a claimant who had made whistleblowing claims about livestock market and biosecurity and her constructive dismissal.
Sweetlove, Julie v Ministry of Defence (22467/19IT): successfully acted for respondent in rejecting claim of disability discrimination and sex discrimination and unauthorised deduction of wages.
Boyle, Shona v Caterpillar (NI) Limited (9986/18IT): successfully acted for claimant in equal pay claim brought by a program specialist. Tribunal ruled that claimant was engaged in like-work to her comparators at Caterpillar (NI).
Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) & another v Agnew (Alexander) and others; [2019] NICA 32:
Clough, Laura v Education Authority 2824/16 IT: claimant held not to have been discriminated against on grounds of maternity leave, so claim of sex discrimination dismissed. Acted for successful Education Authority.
Cook, Jonathan; in re application for judicial review [2016] NIQB 38 (for the Respondent): senior police officer had unsuccessfully sued Rachel's client, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), as he had expectations that he would remain on select list for promotion without needing to take further examinations. Temporarily promoted on a six-month contract. Application for a judicial review was dismissed.
X v Ministry of Defence [2015] NICA 44: unfair dismissal claim by civilian security guard who had made erroneous travel claims for additional hours service. Rachel acted for the respondent MoD in this Court of Appeal case. Original trial decision was upheld and no leave to appeal was given.
McKinstry (Philip) v Moy Park, Gary Maxwell and Brian Johnston [2015] NICA 12: successfully acted for respondent food manufacturer Moy Park in a case considering "without prejudice" conversations and communication with the production planner employee, who was registered as disabled.
Mihail, Andreas v Lloyds Banking Group [2014] NICA 24: successfully acted for Lloyds Banking Group in the Court of Appeal against applicant's claims of unfair dismissal, disability discrimination and breach of contract by a Customer Sales Adviser. Appeal dismissed.
Moore, William v Michelin Tyre Plc [2014] NIIT 847/13IT: acting for Michelin Tyre in successfully defending them against unfair dismissal claim. Claimant had pleaded guilty to seven charges of public indecency. Court ruled that claimant had been fairly dismissed and denied his claim.
Wojcik, Malgorzata v Moy Park Limited [2013] NIIT 01289/11IT: successfully acted for food manufacturer Moy Park in dismissing claimant's claim for race discrimination, sexual harassment and less favourable treatment on grounds of her part-time worker status and constructive dismissal. Holiday pay claim of £26.20 allowed.
PH v Department for Social Development (II) [2013] NICom 50: successfully represented the applicant police officer in this appeal to a Social security Commissioner. Held that appeal tribunal had made an error of law and that the claimant had satisfied the conditions of entitlement to injuries benefit.
