Paul McFarlane
Partner
Paul is a Partner in the Employment department and manages a team of lawyers providing the full range of employment law advice to health, police and emergency services clients. Paul has just under 30 years experience advising clients in the public sector, particularly in the emergency services sector and works with fellow partners: Hugh Giles and Alessandra Gettins in enhancing the firm’s development in this sector.
Paul particular specialisms include: advising employer clients on all aspects of industrial relations law, including seeking injunctions to prevent industrial action. Paul has recently advised a client on legal and practical issues involved in changing terms and conditions of part of its workforce. Paul also regularly advises clients on complex discrimination and/or whistleblowing matters. Paul was the Chair of the Employment Lawyers Association (2022 -2024) and a Director with the Black Solicitors Network (2016-2024).
Notable projects
- London Underground Ltd (LUL) v Noel (1999) IRLR 621 (time limits – unfair dismissal)
- Lead legal adviser to Royal Mail on industrial relations law
- Post Office (Consignia Plc) v Burkett, Court of Appeal - [2003] EWCA Civ 748 – (misconduct dismissals)
- Abellio London Ltd v Musse & Ors UKEAT/0283/11/CEA (meaning of ‘substantial change to their working conditions’ regulation 4(9) of TUPE)
- successfully defending a police force at an Employment Tribunal in a 15 day race discrimination whistleblowing claim
- Chambers & Partners Minority Lawyer of Year 2019
- Chair of the Employment Lawyers Association (2022 - 2024)
- Chambers & Partners ranked for work in Employment and Industrial Relations (2024 and 2025)
- Black Solicitors Network - Director (2016 - 2024)
- IMPRESS - Appointments Panel (2020 - 2024)
Publications
Paul regularly writes in the national, HR and legal press on employment law issues:
- Is the FA’s ‘Rooney rule’ the answer to business’s diversity issues? - People Management, January 2018
- Lifting police pay cap in England and Wales won't magically raise morale - The Guardian, October 2017
Memberships
- Employment Lawyers Association
- Industrial Law Society
- Black Solicitors Network, Board Member
- Appointment Panel Member of IMPRESS (Press Regulator)
CSR Activity
Paul is a keen runner, having run 5 marathons. Over the years he has raised over £10,000 for such charities as: Afro-Caribbean Leukemia Trust, Great Ormond Street Hospital and Asthma UK.
Qualifications
- LLB Law, Middlesex University, 1990
- Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism, London School of Journalism
