Deborah Boylan
Head of Employment Unit
01423 566666
01423 724637 (DDI)
deborah.boylan@raworths.co.uk
Background
Born in Northamptonshire
Educated: Huddersfield University (LLB (Hons)) and College of Law
Previous roles: In-house lawyer at Dawsongroup Plc, Hammond Suddards (Squire Sanders) and Coates & Co
Joined Raworths 1998
Accredited CEDR Mediator since 2007
Member of Employment Lawyers Association
Recommended in Chambers Legal Directory
Vice President of the Harrogate and District Law Society
Trustee for Disability Action Yorkshire
Legal Specialisation
Deborah specialises in employment law including strategic advice on all manner of human resources issues and dealing with contentious claims in the Employment Tribunal. Deborah leads a team of talented employment lawyers and runs a regular programme of seminars for clients dealing with employment issues. Deborah is also a trained mediator and provides a unique workplace mediation service.
Experience
Matters Deborah advises upon include the following:
- Executive terminations
- Strategy and HR planning
- Drafting and advising upon employment contracts
- Drafting and advising upon Employee Handbooks
- All manner of disciplinary matters
- Greviance handling
- Exiting employees at any level of a business
- Drafting and negotiating compromise agreements
- Dealing with Employment Tribunal claims (as well as how to avoid them)
- Advising on enforceability and drafting of restrictive covenants
- Work place dispute mediation
- Transfer of undertakings
What Other People say about Deborah
“an acute mind and focuses on achieving a resolution for her clients”.
Chambers Directory 2010
“We have had to deal with a particularly difficult situation involving a very senior employee. Deborah immediately identified the considerable dangers and worked tirelessly with us to resolve the situation and avert costly litigation. She was very quick to respond and her team focussed on supporting us as client during this difficult time. We have worked with a number of large international legal firms in the past and I have no doubt at all that the service and advice that we received from Deborah and her team could not have been matched”
Mike Wood, Vice President of PI Europe Limited
In conversation
What have you done in a former life ?
One of my first jobs was working for Dawsongroup Plc dealing with a wide range of legal issues relating to their vehicle, hire and leasing business. This was an invaluable experience as it gave me an insight into what business owners want from their legal advisors.
How can mediation work in the context of an employment dispute ?
By way of example, I helped a board of directors who between them had a difference of approach as to how to deal with a rogue employee. I managed to mediate a resolution of the dispute between the directors and agree a course of action to deal with the offending employee.
What area of employment law do you believe provides an unacceptable level of administration on employers ?
I am tempted to say all of it ! The burden of employment regulations on business is huge. I believe that part of my role as an advisor is to help to reduce the burden by giving practical and concise advice so that the regulations become manageable. I help to navigate a way through and allow the business owners to concentrate on running their business.
Can you give an example of an important case you have been involved with ?
One of the most high profile cases I have dealt with involved a well known local peer namely Lord Mountgaret and his gamekeeper. The gamekeeper had been unfairly dismissed. We were successful at the Employment Tribunal and were chased from the Tribunal by journalists with the case been heavily reported in the major newspapers the following day.
Have you dealt with a case that was of public interest ?
We have been involved in a number of important “whistle blowing” cases which have highlighted the issues thrown up by the law in this area.
What are the strengths of the team you work with ?
Apart from the excellent advice and cohesive approach from my team, we strive to provide more than just legal advice. We want to become part of your business and go into your company to immediately help with grievance meetings and other HR difficulties as soon as they arise.
What else do you do at Raworths ?
I am the partner responsible for the firm’s people. I am also a member of the Board of Management.
