“Whatever I’m doing, I take a pragmatic view of the situation and always try to put my client in a better position than when they came to me for help.”
Clare Chappell
EXPERIENCE:
Clare has over 24 years’ experience working in employment law.
Clare also has a wealth of experience advising employer and employee clients on employment law matters, including pregnancy/maternity, performance, redundancy, and negotiated exits. Her particular strength is in helping people navigate their way through a tricky or toxic situation to a place where they can begin to move forward.
TELL US A BIT MORE ABOUT YOUR CAREER TO DATE / IN LAW?
I’ve worked in a number of firms over the last 25 years, in London and the South East, and have gained fantastic experience of a huge variety of clients and workplace, good and less good, along the way. I’m able to empathise with my clients, whether employers or employees, who find themselves in need of my help. I prefer to work with kind employers who want to create a supportive workplace – prevention is always better than cure!
DO YOU HAVE A PARTICULAR AREA OF SPECIALITY?
Whatever I’m doing, I take a pragmatic view of the situation and always try to put my client in a better position than when they came to me for help. That can mean very different things to different clients. It’s why I particularly like helping clients to deal with situations before they are beyond rescue, whether that’s dealing with a grievance to try to restore relations, or working towards a negotiated exit.
WHAT DREW YOU TOWARDS EMPLOYMENT LAW?
I clicked with employment in my second seat as a trainee solicitor. It felt a lot more “real” than other areas. It’s all about people, how they work together and how they interact with each other – and the problems that can arise. The working generations have changed in the 25 years I’ve been doing employment law, but I remain fascinated by how different people and different generations view the world of work and am driven to play my part in making lives better in some way.
AND YOUR CLIENTS?
I like to act for a mix of employers and employees – I think seeing both sides of the fence is a good skill for an adviser to have. I love getting to know a business and finding out how it works as part of helping my client get from A to B. I can offer best value when I’m familiar with my client and their unique wants and needs.
WHAT DO YOUR CLIENTS LIKE ABOUT YOU AND THE WAY YOU WORK?
Clients often mention my empathy and how supported they felt having me there. I’m pragmatic and practical, and give clear advice about the client’s options, so they can make a decision.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY ABOUT BEING A LAWYER?
Being able to help people get to a better situation than the one they’re in when they first get in touch with me, whatever that looks like for them. For employers, it might be managing risk by ensuring they make and conduct difficult decisions fairly. For employees, it might be negotiating a deal that enables them to move forward with their life.
AND WHEN YOU ARE NOT WORKING?
I love spending time with my family – my husband and two children – walking on Epsom Downs, movies (I don’t even mind “kids’” movies as there’s usually the odd easter egg for the grown-ups). For me, I try to stay fit and look after my health by exercising and eating as sensibly as feasible. I also love reading.
WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY?
Spending time with my family.
TELL US A LITTLE KNOWN FACT ABOUT YOURSELF?
I love movie trivia. I can’t watch a film without checking the IMDb trivia section, or working out where I’ve seen a particular actor before.
EXPERTISE & ACCREDITATIONS
I advise on a wide range of employment law matters, from recruitment to termination and beyond. This includes drafting contracts and staff handbooks, dealing with disciplinary procedures, performance management, “family friendly” matters like maternity, adoption, paternity and parental leave, flexible working, dismissal and redundancy, restrictive covenants and what happens when you leave your employer to join a competitor, negotiated exits and settlement agreements, and where unavoidable, Employment Tribunal claims.
LLB Birmingham University
LPC De Montfort University at Birmingham University
Member – Employment Lawyers Association
