Kate Lea

Employment and HR Services, Employment Law Solicitors - Leicester, Market Harborough and UK

Joined Lawson West: 2023.

Head of Employment Law

Career & Experience:

Kate commenced her training at a regional practice and was admitted as a solicitor in 2001.  She then moved to Thompsons Solicitors where she oversaw the delivery of employment law services to the trade union movement across the East and West Midlands.  She ran legally and politically strategic cases for trade unions and their members.

Kate has extensive experience advising unions and their members in the event of structural reorganisation of the workplace.  Whether that be the result of a transfer of a business or the in/outsourcing of services or, the closure of a business, in whole or part.  Amid Covid, Kate was instrumental in providing advice to trade unions and their members and most notably at mass meetings of members following the administration of Flybe and Causal Dining Ltd which resulted in thousands losing their jobs and pursuing successful claims for compensation.  Kate continues to work in conjunction with our insolvency and dispute resolution team to provide a comprehensive service to our commercial and individual clients who continue to be affected by such issues.

Kate’s practice centres on discrimination.  Most notably Kate secured a landmark victory against the Home Office in the Supreme Court (Essop & Others v The Home Office) which remains a leading authority for indirect discrimination. An accolade for which Kate was awarded, ‘The Times Lawyer of the Week.’

Kate has extensive experience advising in all aspects of discrimination.  She has a particular passion for disability discrimination work and has a successful track record advising claimants with complex disabilities, mental health issues and neuro diverse conditions.

More recently Kate worked at a niche discrimination practice where she continued to provide advice and representation to Claimants, helping to secure favourable settlements and outcomes.  She provided advice and representation in relation to an eagerly awaited case which it is hoped will provide much needed clarification and guidance in the field of discrimination on the ground of gender critical beliefs and in particular the  provision of single sex services.

Kate is pragmatic, down to earth, and commercially astute and goes above and beyond to deliver for her clients.

Interests & Hobbies:
In her spare time when not running around after her two children, Kate enjoys running, cycling, open swimming and is generally obsessed about food!