Sheila Aly

I am a highly experienced practitioner and have been ranked in the Legal 500 as a Leading Junior in Employment Law. Having spent a few years of my career doing solely Respondent work and having acted with high profile Claimants subsequent to that, I understand both sides of employment law very well. I currently act for a number of employers and aim to work with you according to your litigation goals whether that be for a quick settlement or to take your matter all the way to a contested final hearing.

I have been a specialist in employment law since I was called to the bar in 2002 and I completed my training at what remains one of the leading chambers in the UK for Employment Law, Littleton Chambers, and have since worked as both a self-employed barrister in chambers and as an in house barrister, prior to returning to independent practice many years ago. I have represented numerous satisfied employers and employees in that time.

Although the vast majority of my cases do not feature in the press and of course client confidentiality is paramount, I have nevertheless been involved in a number of high profile cases, some of which have been featured across every major newspaper, Channel 4 and the BBC. These most recently include Macken v BNP Paribas, Mulumba v Partners Group and Ms. A v Lord Ranger & other. I undertook direct access instructions in most of these and went onto win against highly resourced legal teams. In fact, I am the only practitioner in the top 10 litigation awards of all time to have taken direct access instructions, particularly when the cases have had that much complexity and media attention involved.

I have also recently been featured in a feature length documentary about equal pay - "Its Raining Women" - in which the central story line features one of my high profile matters.

I regularly assist my clients from the outset of the Tribunals process, or even prior to it if appropriate. With my skills in workplace mediation, I have often been called on to assist prior to a Tribunals process arising. However, once it has, I can also undertake work in relation to all aspects of employment law work which can range from drafting your response, to representing you at Tribunal. Some examples of the type of employment law work I have done in the past includes Unfair Dismissal, Discrimination, Wrongful Dismissal, advising on compromise agreements and drafting contracts.

I am also a mediator and have qualifications in corporate coaching which has led me to become accredited in Commercial, Workplace and Family mediation. I am also an accredited mediation trainer and have trained hundreds of professionals all over the world in mediation, as well as conducting seminars within organisations about various aspects of employment law.

My approach

I often assist my clients from the very outset of their claim. I am down to earth, and have been told that I have a knack for explaining complicated concepts in an easy way. I believe in treating everyone that I represent in a way that is both sensitive and professional. I know how stressful defending a claim can be, and I believe that it is my job to make that process as easy as possible for you. I take account of what all my clients want, and we then work together to make sure that you are achieving the best possible results that you can. My past client relationships have meant that I have had the good fortune of getting a lot of my current work through referral and repeat business.

About me

I am a great believer that emotional intelligence is an important part of my legal and mediation practices. My additional background in coaching has helped me to not only know how to ask the right questions in difficult circumstances, but to also maintain a non-judgmental attitude, no matter what the issues are in the cases concerned.

Early in my legal career, I was exposed to certain clients who used to share with me examples of mediation which had not worked for them. This drove me to study, train and engage in mediation so that I could, within my own practice, provide an outstanding example of how mediation should be conducted and to help other mediators provide an outstanding service to their clients. This is something that I remain passionate about, which is why I continue to provide mediation training as well as mediation to individuals.

My CEDR qualifications in commercial mediation and mediation training was fully sponsored and funded, based on the strength of my skills, and was an opportunity I was headhunted for as part of a worldwide selection process. I have held this qualification since 2013.

Notable cases

My services include: Advising clients on prospects of success and Tribunal tactics on how to achieve the best results Drafting Contracts, Claims, Grievances, Witness Statements, Appeals and other legal documents Representation at all levels of Employment Tribunal Commerical Mediation Family Mediation Workplace Mediation Corporate Training on Employment Law issues including but not limited to minimising disputes, handling discilinary hearings, TUPE and Redundancy. Sheila's services include: Commerical Mediation (CEDR Accredited) Family Mediation (ADR Group Accredited) Workplace Mediation (PMR Ltd Accredited) Corporate Training on Mediation (CEDR Accredited Mediation Trainer) Children Matters Injuctions (including non-molestation and occupation orders)

Professional & academic

Law LLB

CEDR Accredited Commercial Mediator and mediation trainer

ADR Group Accredited Family mediator

PMR Ltd Accredited Workplace Mediator

Diploma in Life Coaching (Association of Natual Medicines)

Leadership Training (Tony Robbins Companies)