Paul Draycott

"incredible knowledge, experience and willingness to put in the hours"

Chambers & Partners 2008

Practice

Employment and discrimination

Regular representation of employees and trade unions before Employment Tribunals, the Employment Appeal Tribunal and County Court in relation to claims of unfair dismissal, unlawful detriment, Wages Act, breach of contract, breach of collective consultation rights, trade union rights, equal pay and discrimination. Advisory work with trade unions and members.

Welfare Benefits

Representation of claimants before disability, social security and medical appeals tribunals in relation to claims for a wide range of benefits, as well as representation before the Social Security Commissioners.

Immigration and nationality

Experienced asylum and immigration practitioner with a particular interest in claims involving principles of EU immigration law.

Human Rights

Experience of litigation before the European Court of Human Rights - see Tsfayo v UK

Notable Cases

Kola & Mirzajani -v- Secretary of State for Work & Pensions [2007] UKHL 54, [2007] All ER (D) 425 (Nov) (income support appeal allowed; claiming asylum "on arrival") > news story / judgment

Hospice of St Mary of Furness v Howard [2007] EOR 170 - November 25; [2007] IRLR 944 (practice and procedure, case management) > judgment

Wilmot and others v Selvarajan [2007] All ER (D) 163 (Oct) (unfair dismissal; statutory procedure; delay between lodging and hearing of employees' appeals) > judgment

Jackson v Wigan MBC [2007] All ER (D) 328 (May) (unfair dismissal; Education Act 2002 statutory guidance) > judgment

Forest Mere Lodges v (1) Watt and (2) Cameron [2007] All ER (D) 61 (Feb); [2007] UKEAT 0426_06_0602 (whether claimants were employees - claim for unfair dismissal - respondent appeal dismissed) > judgment

Tsfayo -v- UK [2006] All ER (D) 177 (Nov) (Housing Benefit Review Board; important guidance for claimants bringing Article 6 ECHR challenges against decisions made by similar judicial bodies) > read news story and link to judgment

Knapton and ors v ECC Card Clothing Limited [2006] ICR 1084; [2006] IRLR 756 EAT;[2006] IDS Brief 806/2006;9, UKEAT/0664/05/MAA (unfair dismissal - early pension payments - compensatory awards) > read news story / judgment

Mendes Machado v. Secretary of State for the Home Department [2005] 2 CMLR 43, CA (Removal order issued to illegal immigrant who had then married EU national - Denial of residence rights on grounds of public policy).

ECC Card Clothing Limited v (1) Mr M Knapton, (2) Mr Van Bellen, (3) Mr A Daniel [2005] UKEAT/0361/05/DA judgment

Gina Goldwater v (1) Miaguard National Security Ltd (2) Elite Security (UK) Ltd (3) Dean Hudson [2005] EOR No. 144 - August (pregnancy dismissal/sex discrimination case - injury to feelings award £12,000, aggravated damages £8,000 (2004's highest award in a SD claim), costs order against the Respondents £10,000).

Roberts -v- Fisher Gauge Ltd [2004] EOR No.132 (disability discrimination case - non-pecuniary loss of £21,000.00 was awarded) August

Khalid Akram v (1) Chorley & South Ribble NHS Primary Care Trust 2) Denise Frisby CASE No: 2405311/2003 (long running race discrimination case)

Spence -v- Manchester United Plc [2004] UKEAT/0285/04/TM

UNIFI -v- Stella Massey [2004] UKEAT/0223/04 judgment

Groves -v- AstraZeneca UK Ltd [2004] UKEAT/0232/04/MH

Royal Mail Group Plc -v-Spence [2004] UKEAT/0992/03/RN

Harries & Simpson -v- (1) Alan Paine Knitwear (2) J. Carty (3) Islecroft Ltd [2004] UKEAT/0012/04/SM

Lewis -v- Corus Group Ltd [2003] EAT/0026/03/MAA

Recommendations

Leading junior in Employment : Northern (2008) "Local law firms admire the 'incredible knowledge, experience and willingness to put in the hours' displayed by Garden Court North's Paul Draycott . He has a mixed employment tribunals and human rights practice." (Chambers & Partners 2008)

Publications

"Extending legal aid to tribunals" by Paul Draycott (GCN) and Steve Hynes (Director of LAG) - first published in Legal Action June 2007 and reproduced in Adjust Newsletter December 2007

Other Activities

Member of UNHCR panel of pro-bono Counsel

Provides seminars on employment law and immigration law.

Delivered comprehensive training to EHRC (Equalities and Human Rights Commission) on conducting Judicial Review proceedings (2008)

Pro bono work on behalf of Fulham Legal Advice Centre.

Professional Associations

Amnesty International

CPAG (Child Poverty Action Group)

Industrial Law Society

Legal Action Group

Liberty

LSE Alumni

Background and Personal profile

Previously practiced employment law as an in-house advocate with a Trade Union firm of solicitors.