Emmeline’s practice is focussed on employment law and employee competition, public law and human rights, and sports law. She is instructed on matters at all levels, including the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. She also has a busy unled practice. She is recognised as a "rising star" in Employment in the Legal 500 and is a member of the Attorney General’s C Panel of Counsel.
Recent highlights of Emmeline’s practice include:
Before coming to the Bar, Emmeline qualified and worked as a social worker in child protection services. She went on to practice in a family court team, working with children and their families in care proceedings.
Emmeline is recognised as a "rising star" in employment law by Legal 500. Her practice spans both statutory employment law in the Employment Tribunals, focussing on whistleblowing and discrimination, and employee competition law in the High Court.
Emmeline appears unled in the Employment Tribunal on a regular basis, frequently dealing with substantive preliminary issues and final hearings. Emmeline has particular experience of dealing with interim relief applications, and claims involving allegations of pregnancy/maternity discrimination and disability discrimination.
Emmeline taught Employment Law at the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford between 2017 and 2022.
Acted as sole counsel for the Respondent during proceedings and at the final hearing, successfully defending a challenge to its maternity provision for drivers on the grounds that it was directly and/or indirectly discriminatory on the basis of sex.
Acted as sole counsel for the Respondent in a successful strike out application on grounds of abuse of process.
Acted as junior counsel for the Claimant bringing allegations of disability discrimination (with Craig Rajgopaul KC).
Acted as sole counsel for the Respondents in a successful strike out application concerning, inter alia, the scope of the protected characteristic of "marriage" under the Equality Act 2010.
Acting for a financial institution and individual respondents in relation to wide-ranging and high value claims including pregnancy and sex discrimination, and equal pay.
Acting as junior counsel for a financial institution in response to wide-ranging whistleblowing and sex discrimination claims, having successfully defended an application for interim relief.
Acted as junior counsel for an employer in response to whistleblowing allegations and an application for interim relief, raising complex issues of legal professional privilege.
Acting for a company in response to claims for pregnancy, maternity and sex discrimination.
Acted for a local authority in response to claims for unfair dismissal and discrimination arising from disability. The claim settled shortly before the final hearing.
Acting for a financial institution in response to wide-ranging and high value claims, including sex discrimination and equal pay (with Diya Sen Gupta KC).
Acted for the successful respondent in a 3-day final hearing in response to claims for disability discrimination and race discrimination. The Tribunal found that the Claimant was not disabled and that his claim for race discrimination raised issues of judicial proceedings immunity, with the result that all claims were struck out.
Acted for the claimant bringing claims of unfair dismissal and sex discrimination.
Acted for the respondent in response to wide-ranging allegations of whistleblowing and unfair dismissal, and an application for interim relief. The matter settled shortly before the interim relief hearing.
Acted for the corporate respondent and individual respondents in response to wide-ranging claims, including for unfair dismissal, indirect disability discrimination, failure to make reasonable adjustments and harassment.
Acted for an agency business in response to a claim for race discrimination and unpaid sums. Following a strike out application, the matter settled.
Acted for the respondent in relation to claims for various claims of discrimination, unpaid sums and unfair dismissal. The majority of claims were struck out following a preliminary hearing to establish the date of termination and applicable time limits.
Acted for the corporate respondent in response to a claim for whistleblowing dismissal. The claim was struck out.
Advised a regulator regarding the application of TUPE in light of its administrative powers.
Acted (led by Craig Rajgopaul) for the former CEO of Imagination Technologies in his whistleblowing claim in relation to his high-profile dismissal, following allegations he made relating to national security concerns about a proposed boardroom coup by appointees of the Chinese government.
Acted for the successful Respondent in a preliminary hearing to determine whether the Tribunal had jurisdiction to hear the Claimant's claims. The issues included whether the Tribunal had (a) territorial jurisdiction; (b) employment status and (c) was brought within time. The judgment can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/62d7cf628fa8f50c0a8a4028/Mr_A_Beydoun_v_Hummingbird_Technologies_Ltd_.pdf
Acted for the respondent company, resisting claims of disability and sex discrimination by a former employee. The matter settled following several preliminary hearings.
Acted for a headteacher in a claim for constructive unfair dismissal as a result of bullying and harassment. The claim settled.
Emmeline (led by Craig Rajgopaul) acted for the claimant, a senior trader, in a 6-week trial in the Employment Tribunal during September and October 2021, bringing claims for whistleblowing and parental leave detriment.
Emmeline (with Kerenza Davis) acted for the employer against claims for maternity discrimination and unfair dismissal.
Emmeline is recognised as a "rising star" in employment by Legal 500. She has experience of acting both led and unled in the High Court, for both employers and employees, in relation to all employee competition issues. She taught Employment Law at the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford between 2017 and 2022.
Acting as junior counsel for the Eighth Defendant in an employee competition claim, which was heard at a speedy trial in the High Court in November to December 2025. Judgement is awaited (with Craig Rajgopaul KC).
Acting as junior counsel for the First to Fifth Defendants in an employee competition claim, listed for trial in January 2027.
Acted for the defendant in relation to a partnership dispute (with Tom Croxford KC).
Acted for a technology company in relation to potential claims for springboard relief and damages (with Tom Croxford KC).
Acted for one of four defendant employees facing urgent applications for delivery up, provision of information and enforcement of restrictive covenants, and an application for a speedy trial. The employer brought claims for breach of contract, misuse of confidential information, unlawful conspiracy and inducing breach of contract. The matter settled before the speedy trial.
Acting for an employer in relation to former employees' potential breaches of their duties while on garden leave, their restrictive covenants, and their use of confidential information.
Providing advice to an employer on the availability of injunctive relief in respect of confidential information retained by a former employee and the enforceability of restrictive covenants.
Emmeline (led by Diya Sen Gupta QC) acted for the insurance broker defendants in a dispute which included claims for breach of a non-solicitation covenant and misuse of confidential information. The matter settled shortly before the expedited trial.
Emmeline (led by Diya Sen Gupta QC) acted for a digital media company where there had been a team move.
Emmeline accepts instructions in all areas of public law and regulation. She has experience working both for claimants and for public bodies, including government departments and regulators, and is a member of the Attorney General’s C Panel of Counsel.
She has particular experience where issues of public law, employment law and regulation overlap, as well as issues relating to the rights of children and young people, whether in educational, health or other contexts.
Acted as junior counsel for the ARC claimants in their challenge to the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 (with Monica Carss-Frisk KC and Jason Pobjoy KC).
Acted as junior counsel for the Secretary of State in successfully defending the claimants' appeal to the Supreme Court (with James Eadie KC and Jason Pobjoy KC).
Acted for multiple claimant families who successfully challenged the defendants’ failure to bring them to the UK, having made offers under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Programme (with Tom Hickman KC and Naina Patel).
Acted for the successful Secretary of State for Transport in response to the claimants’ challenge to the decision to detain the superyacht, the Phi, under the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, both in the High Court (with Jason Pobjoy) and in the Court of Appeal (with James Eadie KC and Jason Pobjoy). The case has been appealed to the Supreme Court.
Acted for the Law Society in its challenge to the Lord Chancellor’s response to the recommendations made in the Criminal Legal Aid Independent Review (with Tom de la Mare KC, Jason Pobjoy and Gayatri Sarathy). The Law Society successfully established that the Lord Chancellor had acted irrationally and breached his Tameside duty.
Advised a regulator in relation to proposals to tackle harassment and sexual misconduct.
Advised a regulator regarding the application of TUPE in light of its administrative powers.
Acted (led by Monica Carss-Frisk KC and Jason Pobjoy) for the Claimants in this commercial judicial review challenging the Secretary of State's decisions relating to enfranchisement of Service Family Accommodation. The matter is currently on appeal.
Acted for the successful Respondent in response to two habeas corpus applications brought by two British citizens detained in North-East Syria in the Divisional Court ([2022] EWHC 2772 (Admin)) and in the Court of Appeal (with Sir James Eadie KC and Jason Pobjoy).
Acted for the AAA Claimants, individuals who have sought asylum in the UK, and who were subject to decisions by the Secretary of State to remove them to Rwanda, before the Divisional Court ([2022] EWHC 3230), the Court of Appeal ([2023] EWCA Civ 745) and the Supreme Court (with Jason Pobjoy, Will Bordell and Rayan Fakhoury).
Acted for Ofgem following the judgment of Mr Justice Fordham in a judicial review of its refusal to accredit the Claimants as participants in a state subsidy scheme for renewable energy production ([2021] EWHC 84 (Admin)). A claim for compensation for breach of the right to property (A1P1) is now proceeding in the TCC.
Acting pro bono in relation to several applications under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Programme following the collapse of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
Acted for a regulator in an application for a statutory injunction to enforce compliance with regulatory requirements (led by Alan Maclean QC).
Emmeline acted for Ofgem in the RIIO-2 energy price control appeals (with Emily Neill and Natasha Simonsen). The CMA's final determinations can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/energy-licence-modification-appeals-2021
Emmeline (with Jason Pobjoy) acted for four charities granted permission to intervene in the appeal from the High Court's decision regarding the right of children and young people under 18 to consent to puberty blockers.
Representing the Secretary of State for Justice in using the 21-day reconsideration mechanism introduced following the Warboys case (led by Jason Pobjoy).
Successfully acted for the mother in her appeal against the Court of Appeal's decision that her daughter had to have made a separate independent asylum application in order to be entitled to protection from refoulement. The Supreme Court held that a child will be an asylum applicant, and be entitled to protection from refoulement, where he or she is objectively understood to be making an application, regardless of whether a separate application is made in the child's own name (with Jason Pobjoy).
Following the Divisional Court’s judgment dismissing the claimant’s challenge to the Crown Court’s decision to impose notification requirements under s.97 of the SOA 2003, the application for permission to appeal under the AJA 1962 was successfully dismissed (assisting Hanif Mussa).
Emmeline accepts instructions in all areas of public law and regulation. She has experience working for both claimants and public bodies, including government departments and regulators, and is a member of the Attorney General’s C Panel of Counsel. She has particular experience regarding human rights issues arising in the refugee and immigration context, and A1P1 claims arising in commercial contexts.
Acted as junior counsel for the ARC claimants in their challenge to the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 (with Monica Carss-Frisk KC and Jason Pobjoy KC).
Acted as junior counsel for the Secretary of State in successfully defending the claimants' appeal to the Supreme Court (with James Eadie KC and Jason Pobjoy KC).
Acted for multiple claimant families who successfully challenged the defendants’ failure to bring them to the UK, having made offers under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Programme (with Tom Hickman KC and Naina Patel).
Acted for the successful Secretary of State for Transport in response to the claimants’ challenge to the decision to detain the superyacht, the Phi, under the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, both in the High Court (with Jason Pobjoy) and in the Court of Appeal (with James Eadie KC and Jason Pobjoy). The case has been appealed to the Supreme Court.
Advised a regulator in relation to proposals to tackle harassment and sexual misconduct.
Acted for Ofgem following the judgment of Mr Justice Fordham in a judicial review of its refusal to accredit the Claimants as participants in a state subsidy scheme for renewable energy production ([2021] EWHC 84 (Admin)). A claim for compensation for breach of the right to property (A1P1) is now proceeding in the TCC.
Acted (led by Monica Carss-Frisk KC and Jason Pobjoy) for the Claimants in this commercial judicial review challenging the Secretary of State's decisions relating to enfranchisement of Service Family Accommodation. The matter is currently on appeal.
Acted for the successful Respondent in response to two habeas corpus applications brought by two British citizens detained in North-East Syria in the Divisional Court ([2022] EWHC 2772 (Admin)) and in the Court of Appeal (with Sir James Eadie KC and Jason Pobjoy).
Acted for the AAA Claimants, individuals who have sought asylum in the UK, and who were subject to decisions by the Secretary of State to remove them to Rwanda, before the Divisional Court ([2022] EWHC 3230), the Court of Appeal ([2023] EWCA Civ 745) and the Supreme Court (with Jason Pobjoy, Will Bordell and Rayan Fakhoury).
Acting pro bono in relation to several applications under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Programme following the collapse of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
Emmeline (with Jason Pobjoy) acted for four charities granted permission to intervene in the appeal from the High Court's decision regarding the right of children and young people under 18 to consent to puberty blockers.
Representing the Secretary of State for Justice in using the 21-day reconsideration mechanism introduced following the Warboys case (led by Jason Pobjoy).
Successfully acted for the mother in her appeal against the Court of Appeal's decision that her daughter had to have made a separate independent asylum application in order to be entitled to protection from refoulement. The Supreme Court held that a child will be an asylum applicant, and be entitled to protection from refoulement, where he or she is objectively understood to be making an application, regardless of whether a separate application is made in the child's own name (with Jason Pobjoy).
Emmeline (with Iain Steele) advised Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services in relation to its thematic inspection on the policing of protests. This involved reviewing existing police powers and criminal law, and advising on the compatibility of reforms with the European Convention of Human Rights.
Emmeline’s practice in employment, public, human rights and sports law frequently raises issues under the Equality Act 2010 and the Human Rights Act 1998, whether in relation to the provision of employment, goods or services. Her clients include individuals, employers, employees, sports bodies, and charities. She is instructed frequently in claims of pregnancy discrimination in the workplace, and in claims of disability discrimination in the workplace and in the provision of services. She has particular experience in claims raising issues around neurodiversity.
Acted as sole counsel for the Respondent during proceedings and at the final hearing, successfully defending a challenge to its maternity provision for drivers on the grounds that it was directly and/or indirectly discriminatory on the basis of sex.
Acted as junior counsel for the Claimant bringing allegations of disability discrimination (with Craig Rajgopaul KC).
Acting for a company in response to claims for pregnancy, maternity and sex discrimination.
Acted for a local authority in response to claims for unfair dismissal and discrimination arising from disability. The claim settled shortly before the final hearing.
Acting for a financial institution in response to wide-ranging and high value claims, including sex discrimination and equal pay (with Diya Sen Gupta KC).
Acting for a financial institution and individual respondents in relation to wide-ranging and high value claims including pregnancy and sex discrimination, and equal pay.
Acted for the successful respondent in a 3-day final hearing in response to claims for disability discrimination and race discrimination. The Tribunal found that the Claimant was not disabled and that his claim for race discrimination raised issues of judicial proceedings immunity, with the result that all claims were struck out.
Acted for the corporate respondent and individual respondents in response to wide-ranging claims, including for unfair dismissal, indirect disability discrimination, failure to make reasonable adjustments and harassment.
Acted for an agency business in response to a claim for race discrimination and unpaid sums. Following a strike out application, the matter settled.
Acted for a respondent company in relation to a dispute with a customer about whether it had complied with its duty to make reasonable adjustments. The matter settled.
Acted for the respondent company, resisting claims of disability and sex discrimination by a former employee. The matter settled following several preliminary hearings.
Emmeline (with Kerenza Davis) acted for the employer against claims for maternity discrimination and unfair dismissal.
Employment Tribunal, 2019
Assisted Diya Sen Gupta QC with a successful strike out application in a victimisation claim.
Emmeline (with Jason Pobjoy) acted for four charities granted permission to intervene in the appeal from the High Court's decision regarding the right of children and young people under 18 to consent to puberty blockers.
Emmeline accepts instructions in all areas of sports law. She has experience advising on the full range of commercial, regulatory and employment issues for professional sports bodies, and particular experience of issues relating to young people and sport, whether that involves safeguarding, or the regulation of the training and compensation for young players. She has appeared before a range of tribunals in first instance hearings and appeals, especially in disciplinary and safeguarding matters, drawing upon her previous experience in social work practice.
Acted for a football club in relation to a contractual dispute over contingent sums under an agreement relating to a player.
Advised the Premier League regarding the application of its rules relating to the fair market value of a transaction by a club (with Jason Pobjoy).
Represented Brighton and Hove Albion FC in a claim before the Professional Football Compensation Committee for compensation against Chelsea FC concerning former Academy players Zak Sturge and Shumaira Mheuka (with Nick de Marco KC).
Successfully represented a sports safeguarding body that had banned a coach for inappropriate behaviour. The appeal was dismissed.
Advised a sports body in relation to proposals relating to young players, which raised issues of trade union law and competition law.
Acted for a sports funding body in relation to an appeal against its decision to withdraw funding. The appeal was dismissed.
Acted (with Ravi Mehta) for the successful European Tour in relation to challenges brought by professional golfers against their suspensions from playing in the Scottish Open and two other DP World Tour tournaments.
Instructed by the Premier League to investigate whether a young player's move between clubs was in accordance with the Youth Development Rules.
Advised a sports body regarding the participation of Russian and Belarusian players in light of the war in Ukraine (with Nick de Marco KC).
Represented a sports body at multiple hearings relating to charges of misconduct under the sports body’s Disciplinary Code, including incidents of verbal and physical abuse.
Acted for a sports club in response to a threatened claim for inducing breach of contract in relation to a player's move.
Advising a sports club regarding termination of a manager's contract.
Acting for a sports body in relation to a complex safeguarding investigation involving sexual abuse and multiple defendants.
Emmeline is growing a strong investigatory practice in a range of fields, including the sport and employment contexts. Her work often involves young people and draws on her experience in social work practice.
Acting for a media company in relation to a confidential investigation (with Jason Pobjoy).
Instructed by the Premier League to investigate whether a young player's move between clubs was in accordance with the Youth Development Rules.
Prizes and scholarships
Research interests
Emmeline has worked with Professors Catherine Barnard and Amy Ludlow on research projects on EU-8 migrants’ use of employment tribunals, and with Professors Jeremias and Abi Adams-Prassl on the impact of digital court reforms on access to justice.
Volunteering and Pro Bono
Emmeline interned at the Texas Defender Service, which provides legal services and representation for prisoners on death row in Texas, USA. She has also been a volunteer at FRU since 2016 and with Advocate since 2020.
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