Direct access barrister
Richard Wayman
Barrister · Pump Court Chambers · Called 2015
Richard has a busy employment practice, representing both Claimants and Respondents in the Employment Tribunals and beyond, acting for individuals, SMEs and large employers, including the automotive and airline sectors,...
Regions served: Nationwide · London and South East
About Richard
Richard has a busy employment practice, representing both Claimants and Respondents in the Employment Tribunals and beyond, acting for individuals, SMEs and large employers, including the automotive and airline sectors, universities, police forces and other public bodies. He also accepts instructions in appropriate cases via Direct Public Access.
He is regularly instructed to appear in Preliminary Hearings dealing with issues such as time limits, employment status and territorial jurisdiction, disclosure issues, strike out and deposit orders, as well as Final Hearings on both liability and remedy, and Judicial Mediations.
Richard has extensive experience of cases involving unfair and constructive unfair dismissal; redundancy; discrimination, harassment and victimisation; whistle-blowing; restrictive covenants, and TUPE. He has particular expertise in complex discrimination claims, often involving multiple protected characteristics, including disability, age, race, religion, pregnancy and maternity, and gender reassignment.
Richard thrives on document-heavy multi-day Final Hearings in which his attention to detail and focused cross-examination come to the fore. A tenacious advocate in Tribunal, outside court he is noted for his approachable manner and ability to put clients at their ease, particularly those with mental health or neurodiversity issues. He gives clear, practical, commercial advice, whether dealing with individual litigants or senior management.
When not in Tribunal, Richard assists by drafting key documents on behalf of clients, including Grounds of Claim and Response, Schedules of Loss and Lists of Issues; advising on the merits of a case, points of law and settlement negotiations, and of course strategy and tactics at all stages of a case. Clients often find that early advice from Richard enables them to avoid costly and drawn out litigation.
About me
Richard Wayman is a specialist employment barrister who has spent nearly a decade practising in this fast-moving area of law. Prior to this he developed extensive hands-on commercial experience of employment law as Managing Director of a long-established family printing business with 80 employees.
Richard went on to read law at Magdalene College, Cambridge (Upper Second Class) and complete the Bar Professional Training Course at the City Law School (Outstanding), before being Called to the Bar and awarded the Certificate of Honour by the Middle Temple in 2015. He also holds an Honours degree from the University of St. Andrews (First Class).
Professional & academic
- Bar Professional Training Course (Outstanding), City Law School
- B.A. (Law) (Upper Second Class), Magdalene College, Cambridge
- M.Theol (Hons) (First Class), University of St. Andrews
What clients say
Selected Feedback
Richard is always my go to barrister when I have an Employment Tribunal case. Not only is he an excellent advocate but he is also great with clients, a combination that, in my experience, is not that easy to come by. His recent (successful) representation of my client in a pregnancy discrimination case demonstrated these skills in abundance. The client and my colleague were hugely impressed by Richard's meticulous attention to detail, his expert cross-examination of witnesses and his well-argued and concise submissions.
Solicitor
Richard Wayman is a master of his craft. The Respondent didn't know what hit them with his incisive cross-examination. Caring and reassuring, yet razor-sharp and across every detail of the case, and the considerable bundle! He maintained my spirits in a serious situation and almost made the experience enjoyable with his well-timed witty remarks.
Claimant
Richard Wayman recently represented one of our clients in a direct race discrimination claim which we won. He was tactical, thorough and highly effective in cross-examination. Richard has an excellent rapport with clients and he is highly responsive and easy to work with. We would recommend him and indeed have.
Partner
Very impressed with the service provided by Richard Wayman during an Employment Tribunal. His sense of humour is much appreciated when nerves are tightly strung, but this doesn't prevent him from being highly knowledgable and professional. His approach could be summed up as 'gentle and subtle, but still deadly'. It was a pleasure to watch him work., Claimant's partner
The way you conducted yourself has just been amazing, and that word deadly is right, the way you just do it, it's not like a performance, it's just so slick, but it's so effective … You come across as a consummate professional. We couldn't have asked for better.
Claimant
Areas of practice
Direct Access means you can instruct Richard directly, without going through a solicitor first. Barristers are regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB).
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