Employment Tribunal success for Exeter firm

An Exeter law firm has secured compensation amounting to almost £100,000 for four clients in a series of successful Employment Tribunal cases.

The cases won by Stephens Scown LLP ranged from age and disability discrimination to sexual harassment, victimisation and constructive unfair dismissal.

“It takes an enormous amount of courage to bring a claim against your employer,” says Terry Falcao, head of the employment team at Stephens Scown and the advocate for all of the claims. “The individual circumstances of each of these cases was very different, but they all share a common factor; the imbalance of power between the employees and their employers.”

A claim for age and disability discrimination and constructive unfair dismissal resulted in compensation of £35,000. A client whose case involved sexual harassment received £31,000. Another case involving sexual harassment and victimisation resulted in compensation of £12,000 for injury to feelings. The fourth claim related to constructive unfair dismissal arising from a flawed transfer from one company to another in a take-over and resulted in £17,500 compensation for Stephens Scown’s client. 

Stephens Scown also acts for employers and Terry Falcao advises: “In almost all cases, tribunal claims are avoidable with good policies and procedures and sound managerial knowledge. Since Employment Tribunal fees were removed last year claims have increased and we have won a series of cases for unfair dismissal, discrimination and whistleblowing. Employers are advised to review their policies, ensure their management training is up to date and take advice early if any issues arise.”

Stephens Scown’s employment team has recently received top tier ranking in the latest edition of independent guide to law firms, Legal 500. The team of 14 is based in Exeter and Truro and support clients UK-wide, both employees and businesses.

Terry Falcao shares advice on how to make an employment claim on Stephens Scown’s YouTube channel. 

Stephens Scown has over 300 staff, including more than 50 partners, across its offices in Exeter, Truro and St Austell. The firm has been ranked for five consecutive years in the Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For. For more information visit www.stephens-scown.co.uk