About Paul Upson
Paul Upson is a Director and Head of Employment at Napier Solicitors. He studied law at Queen’s University and has over 20 years’ experience as a specialist employment law practitioner. He advises a wide range of clients including public and private sector employers, religious orders, charities and employees.
Paul has a particular interest in the education sector. He acts for the Education Authority, the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools, voluntary grammar schools and integrated schools.
Napier Solicitors are appointed to provide independent legal advice to staff witnesses to the Muckamore Abbey Hospital Inquiry. Paul advises staff witnesses on the public inquiry process, their evidence and any potential implications for their ongoing employment.
Paul has specialist knowledge of all areas of employment law, including all forms of unlawful discrimination; unfair dismissal; TUPE issues; protected disclosures (whistleblowing); and cases involving part-time workers and fixed-term employees. He routinely represents clients in high value employment related litigation in the Industrial Tribunals, the Fair Employment Tribunal, the High Court and the Court of Appeal.
Paul provides training to clients in relation to employment law issues. He also lectures on discrimination and equality issues on the Advanced Employment Law Course at the Institute for Professional Legal Studies at Queen’s University Belfast.
Paul is a committee member of the Employment Lawyers Group for Northern Ireland.
He is recognised by Chambers and Partners as a leading lawyer in both the Employment and Education fields with sources saying:
- “Paul Upson has wide experience of the employment law arena. He has worked on both plaintiff and defendant sides and this experience has proved invaluable."
- "He has a wealth of knowledge with every issue."
- "Paul takes the time to listen to employment queries and provides considered and balanced advice in clear terms.
- "Paul is very professional and has a wealth of knowledge. He provides invaluable documents and advice, and he has developed an amazing working relationship with us.”
- "Paul gave good, clear advice and was very responsive to our queries. He had a deep appreciation of how the case would develop from an early stage and was proved right."
- “He provides prompt responses with clear, comprehensive guidance.”