Rhiain Lewis

Partner
T: +44 (0)1392 333927
F: +44 (0)1392 336927
r.lewis@ashfords.co.uk

Rhiain is a Partner in the Employment Team. She has 18 years of PQE experience in employment litigation matters .Rhiain read law at Birmingham University. Having qualified in 1990, Rhiain joined Ashfords in 1995 and was made a partner in 1999. She primarily acts for public sector organisations in connection with contentious and non-contentious employment issues, and is the lead public sector partner in the Employment department, but also advises businesses and senior executives. She has experience of advising local authorities, education institutions, NHS Trusts, development corporations and Magistrates' Courts Committees.

Rhiain has an in-depth understanding of the type of issues that frequently challenge  public sector clients, including political sensitivities.

Recent Experience:

• defence of and supervising the defence of unfair dismissal, equal pay  and discrimination claims for Wandsworth Borough Council;
• defence of a claim against a FE college for unfair dismissal & detriment on Trade Union grounds by a Trade Union representative;
• defence of a sex discrimination (gender re-assignment) claim against a FE college,  including obtaining a £5,000 costs order;
• defence of an unfair dismissal claim against a local authority by an in-house lawyer;
• advising Plymouth City Council on the defence of part-time pension claims;
• strategic advice to several local authorities on the Single Status and Job Evaluation projects, to include advice on the process and drafting of collective agreements, and negotiating with trade unions;
• TUPE advice to City College Plymouth, to include due diligence and consultation obligations;
• advising Swindon College on an internal restructure and redundancy programme including complex information and consultation procedures;
• advising Torbay Council on the Externalisation of service contracts including input on employment aspects of the project, including related pay modernisation issues / equal pay;
• advising Plymouth City Council on defending claims of unfair dismissal, wrongful dismissal and breach of contract, including obtaining a costs order for £4,000; and
• advising on the politically sensitive removal of the Chief Executive of a public sector client.

Rhiain is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association.  She is also an experienced speaker, and has provided training to other employment lawyers through a national training company, and training to College HR Managers through a FE HR Forum. 

 

"highly rated and 'deals promptly with matters'"
Legal 500, 2010 Edition

Ranked as a leader in the field by Chambers 2010

"Clients praise Rhiain Lewis for her excellent grasp of complex and technical issues" Legal 500, 2008 Edition"very experienced partner Rhiain Lewis"Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession, 2008 Edition"The most impressive Rhiain Lewis-Legal 500, 2007 Edition"exceptionally good lawyer"Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession, 2007 Edition-Clients praise Rhiain Lewis for her excellent grasp of complex and technical issues"
Legal 500, 2008 Edition

"very experienced partner Rhiain Lewis"
Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession, 2008 Edition

"The most impressive Rhiain Lewis"
Legal 500, 2007 Edition

"exceptionally good lawyer"
Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession, 2007 Edition