Annual Review of Employment Law 2021: Printed Notes Pack

Programme

The printed note pack contains access to the notes and presentations for all 19 sessions from both days of our Annual Review of Employment Law:

• Review of the Year (Part 1  - Looking Back) with Mark McAllister
• Brexit and the Irish Protocol: The Impact on Employment Rights
• Roundtable Discussion: Philosophically Speaking, You’re Sacked
• The Legal Aspects of Hybrid Working and How to Minimise Employer’s Liability
• Contractors v Employees Gig Economy and Worker Status
• Managing Workplace Disputes with Christine Swail
• Workplace Domestic Violence Policy
• Roundtable Discussion: Necessary Workplace Conversations: Pregnancy Loss and Other Sources of Grief
• Understanding Long Covid: An Employer’s Response
• How Far Are We Falling Behind? Understanding the Growing Gulf Between NI and GB Employment Laws
• Employee Data Subject Access Requests: Updated ICO Guidance
• The Northern Ireland Case Law Review with Jason Elliott
• Who picks up the tab? Vicarious Liability for Employers in Staff Activities Outside Work
• Roundtable Discussion: How Long is the Working Week? Spoiler Alert – it’s Four Days in Future. 
• Long Term Absence and the Law
• Boosting your Working Parents’ Wellbeing and Resilience
• Roundtable Discussion: Transitioning to a hybrid model - How to navigate complexities, make and communicate decisions and arrive at the right destination… 
• Right to Work Checks and Lawful Employment Requirements
• Review of the Year (Part 2) with Mark McAllister

Testimonials

"The content and speakers are amazing and the amount that is packed into this course is fantastic.  It is the must attend course for HR professionals."
Ruth Mulholland, Senior HR Business Partner, Habinteg Housing Association

"Digital platform is very user friendly and with all sessions recorded I can now go back and watch the sessions I couldn't attend at a time that suits me best - so I don't miss out on anything anymore. Also supports our Net Zero Carbon strategy with reduced business travel."
Jennifer Cruickshank, Group HR & CR Manager, Henry Group

"Excellent conference, great chairs in the sessions, and the speakers as usual were really good. Lots of great learning and take-aways from the two days."
Margaret Davern, HR Adviser, Irish League of Credit Unions

"Although the Annual Review was remote this year, the delegate experience was excellent. The speaker sessions were highly informative and interesting and the platform was very user friendly and interactive. The chairs played a key role over the two days."
Maeve McKavanagh, HR Consultant, Willis Employment Services

"Excellent course with a variety of different topics discussed. Speakers were all very clear and knowledgeable. Thoroughly enjoyed the case law reviews and roundtable discussions."
Joanne Mallon, HR Manager, Inspire Wellbeing

"I really enjoyed the conference it was very well put together and well structured and the technical aspects and navigating my way around the stages etc were exceptional."
Petra McGuirk, Human Resources Manager, Southern Regional College

"Straight forward platform and up to date information on stages. Time management was excellent."
Linda McSparron, Payroll Supervisor, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council

"Excellent conference, very informative and lots of practical advice. "
Melissa Hasson, HR Advisor, North West Regional College

"The days were jam pact with topics, chat and the interaction was super!"
Tracey McCabe, Director of Human Resources, Mount Charles

"Very well set up and organised. Great selection of speakers and materials were available in advance. I really enjoyed the whole event."
Nicola Strahan, HR Officer, NIAO

"Some of the presenters were fantastic. I liked the ability to network/ direct message and setup calls with people that you normally meet at the in person events  Facilitators were great, timings/ breaks good."
Marie Matthewson, HR Manager, AXA

Presenters

• 

  Becky Jones Consultant, Coach & Speaker

  Becky is a qualified lawyer in England and Wales and Ireland with significant commercial and legal leadership experience from law firms and leading FMCG companies. She is a commercial, practical and solution focused lawyer who is passionate about businesses and their employees, most recently she worked as Global Employment Lawyer for Citco Group.
  
  Through SPARC 2C Limited, Becky works with a range of clients (businesses and individuals) on HR, GDPR and commercial legal matters as well as providing Personal, Leadership and Executive Coaching.
  
  Becky is passionate about diversity and inclusion, gender inequality, mental wellness in the workplace, mentoring and employee engagement. She co-founded a number of women’s and diversity networks and is an active mentor/coach. She also speaks regularly on various topics including D&I.
  
  Formerly the Legal Director, Company Secretary and Compliance Officer for the Island of Ireland (IOI) responsible for strategic leadership and legal advice across Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company's IOI business and a member of the Senior Management Team.
  

• 

  Seònaid Ó Murchadha Workplace Coordinator

  See Change - The National Mental Health Stigma Reduction Partner

  Founder of Amputee Disability Federation Ireland, Seònaid Ó Murchadha (pronounced ‘Show-nid Oh Muraku’) has been promoting the employment of disabled people for more than two decades, regularly contributing pieces across news media, Irish national radio, and television.

  With certification from the International Disability Management Standards Council as well as recognition from the Canadian National Institute of Disability Management & Research (NIDMAR), she helps organisations embrace disability and difference by providing creative solutions to disability inclusion at work, facilitating inclusive recruitment processes, and advising on policy. She also represents the Independent Living Movement Ireland on employment issues at government level and was honoured to be elected to their board of directors last year. She currently lectures at Maynooth University on Disability Studies and provides HR support for members of the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association.

  Nicknamed the Bionic Business Woman by broadcaster Conall Ó Morain when she received her new bionic arm in 2017, she uses the moniker as her social media handle as it is much easier for others to spell or remember!

• 

  Sam Davidson Group HR Director

  Henderson Group

  Since graduating from Queen’s University, Belfast in 1985, Sam has spent his entire career working within the HR field. Starting in Northern Ireland Electricity, Sam spent five years learning the ropes of what was then ‘personnel management’ as a graduate and during this time helped to set up the first Equal Opportunities unit in the organisation. Sam left NIE to join Nortel Networks, and has acted as HR Business Partner for a number of international business units. Sam joined Henderson group in 2004, as their first Group HR Director, and is still thoroughly enjoying the journey as they continue to grow and become a truly leading organisation within the food sector on the island of Ireland and indeed Great Britain.

• 

  Mark McAllister Director of Employment Relations Services

  Labour Relations Agency

  Mark McAllister is Director of Employment Relations Services with the LRA and part-time lecturer in Law. He specialises in employment law, dispute prevention and strategic collaborative working in industrial and employment relations. Mark is the former Northern Ireland Convenor of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, and the Chair of the NI ICSA Governance Institute. He is an accredited mediator,  a member of the Employment Lawyers’ Group and the Industrial Law Society and is a regular speaker on the employment law circuit and contributor to employment law publications.

• 

  Ciara Fulton Partner, Head of Office

  Lewis Silkin LLP

  Ciara Fulton is partner and Head of Lewis Silkin (NI) LLP.

  Ciara is dual qualified and advises on all aspects of employment law in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. She has significant experience of advising clients on the full range of employment issues including complex discrimination issues, bullying and harassment claims, disciplinary and grievance matters, business reorganisations, senior executive severances, restrictive covenants, employment related litigation and TUPE.

  Ciara’s approach is to partner with clients providing practical, commercial advice to resolve HR issues whether contentious or non-contentious. Ciara works with a variety of sectors with particular experience in the construction and infrastructure sector.

  Ciara regularly speaks on a range of employment issues at internal and external events and delivers bespoke training to clients on the differences between NI and ROI employment law. Ciara is a member of the Employment Lawyers Group and the NI Representative for the Employment Lawyers Association. Ciara is also a legally qualified member of the Appeals Tribunals NI.

• 

  Emer Hinphey CEO

  Think People Consulting

  Emer Hinphey is an experienced HR and talent development professional.   In her role as CEO in Think People Consulting, Emer has worked with a range of local and global companies across industry sectors, developing strategy, managing complex HR projects and delivering successful leadership development. 

  Prior to setting up Think People Consulting, Emer worked as HR Manager for AIB International Financial Services and as Head of HR for a Telecommunications company.

• 

  Paul Gillen Partner

  Lewis Silkin LLP

  Paul is a partner in Lewis Silkin’s Employment, Immigration and Reward division based in Belfast. He is qualified in England & Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. He provides cross jurisdiction and comparative law advice to clients throughout the UK and Ireland. Paul advises clients on contentious and non-contentious matters, including HR support, mergers & acquisitions, restructuring, executive management, performance management, TUPE, outsourcing, discrimination law, and a full range of employment litigation.

  Prior to training as a lawyer Paul had more than a decade of experience working in in-house HR roles, including being Head of HR, across sectors covering retail, construction, manufacturing and logistics.

  Paul is a Band 1 ranked Employment Partner in Northern Ireland, Chambers noting my ‘wealth of experience assisting clients with a broad range of employment matters including TUPE and post-acquisition restructuring, in addition to day-to-day HR support.’

• 

  Mary Kitson Senior Legal Officer

  Equality Commission for Northern Ireland

  Mary Kitson is employed by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland as a Senior Legal Officer.  Mary qualified as a solicitor in 1992 and after 1 year working in a commercial law firm joined the Fair Employment Commission in 1993.

  Mary commenced employment with the Equality Commission in 1999.  Her role involves providing advice and assistance to people who believe that they have been subjected to unlawful discrimination and to help the Commission choose appropriate cases to support.

• 

  Peter Daly Partner

  Doyle Clayton

   Peter Daly is a partner at Doyle Clayton Solicitors.  He specialises in claimant litigation and has acted in two of the most prominent philosophical belief cases of recent years: Casamitjana -v- League Against Cruel Sports, which established Ethical Veganism as a protected philosophical belief under the Equality Act 2010, and Forstater -v- CGD Europe, which established the same protection for gender critical and gender identity beliefs.  He is currently acting for several gender critical clients pursuing claims of discrimination arising from their beliefs. 

  Peter qualified in 2009, and previously worked at Bindmans LLP and Slater and Gordon Lawyers.  He is recognised in the directories for his work in discrimination and whistleblowing law.  While his work concentrates on employment disputes, he also acts in County Court, High Court, regulatory and specialist tribunals as required. 

• 

  Gareth Walls Partner

  A&L Goodbody

  Gareth Walls is partner and Head of the A&L Goodbody's Employment and Incentives group in Belfast. Gareth represents a number of local, national and international brands in business support, strategic workforce planning and high profile tribunal matters. He also has significant experience in corporate immigration, redundancy, re-structuring and TUPE issues. Gareth is an accomplished commercial litigator with particular emphasis on procurement challenges and injunctive relief in the Employment context, as well as being a sought after speaker on Employment issues in Northern Ireland.

• 

  Adrienne Brock Partner

  Elliott Duffy Garrett

  Adrienne is a Partner in EDG and the Head of the Employment Law Unit. After graduating from Queen's University, Belfast with an LLB (Hons), Adrienne was admitted as a solicitor in Northern Ireland in 1986.

  Adrienne provides advice and representation in relation to employment law issues, mainly to employer clients, across a wide range of sectors including private, voluntary public and regulated sectors. This includes, in summary, advising in relation to the management of employment and employment related issues from recruitment/selection/appointment to termination of employment, including contracts of employment, policies and procedures, conduct of grievance, harassment and disciplinary procedures, dismissals and compromise agreements.

• 

  Christine Swail Director & Co-Founder

  People Management Solutions

  Christine is Director and Co-Founder of People Management Solutions, an award winning HR Consultancy with offices in Belfast and Dungannon. Christine works with small to medium sized organisations putting best practice HR in place as well as working with larger multi-nationals on specific HR projects and complex workplace disputes.  Christine has worked in HR throughout Ireland for over 25 years with some of the leading and most innovative companies. Key areas of expertise include workplace investigations, mediation, employee relations and HR related training. Christine was recently awarded the CIPD NI HR Consultant of the Year award.

• 

  Jacqui Kennedy Director of Human Resources & Organisational Development

  Belfast Health & Social Care Trust

  Jacqui is the current Director of Human Resources & Organisational Development at Belfast Health & Social Care Trust. Previously she held the role of Co-Director of Human Resources and Assistant Director of Human Resources.

• 

  Samantha Whann Senior HR Manager

  Belfast HSCT

  Samantha Whann is Senior HR Manager within Belfast Health & Social Care Trust. She is the Trust lead for Improving Working Lives, Attendance Management & Employment Equality.

  Samantha has a keen interest in all matters relating to improving working lives and the correlation with physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing.

  As a HR professional employed within NI’s largest health and social care Trust, Samantha is keen to share what has worked for the Trust and also, importantly, learn from other employers within NI and beyond to ensure best practice in supporting staff and their families.  

• 

  Michelle Halloran Trainer

  MH Human Resource Management Services Solutions

  Michelle Halloran is an experienced Human Resource Management professional and an accredited workplace mediator providing training and consultancy services to organisations nationwide, in the Public and Private sector. She has spent a long career originally in executive and general management roles, then specialising in Human Resources management in Ireland, the UK and Europe, across various sectors including investment banking, information technology, manufacturing and services plus some time in the public sector, before starting her own HR consultancy business 17 years ago. Her key areas of expertise are in workplace investigations, disciplinary and performance management and employee relations, and the practical application of employment law in a HR context.

   

• 

  Jayne Gallagher Managing Director

  Legal Island

  A graduate of the University of Edinburgh (MA Business Studies), Jayne is also a Chartered Marketer. After completing her studies, Jayne entered a career in event management, working in Belfast and Glasgow before becoming Event Manager for Legal Island. Within 3 years Jayne was promoted to her existing role of Managing Director leading the company to significant growth and awards such as the successful accreditation of Investors in People Platinum, Mark of Excellence (EFQM), ISO 9001 and the Gold Star Customer Service Award (EFQM).    Jayne is a TedX speaker, has previously sat as Vice Chair on the Board of the Orchardville Society, is a Belfast Board member of the Business Beats Cancer for Cancer Research UK and has coached and mentored through both Business in the Community and Women in Business.

• 

  Olga Pollock HR Manager

  Firmus Energy

  Olga started her HR career back in 2002 at Administrator level and worked her way up to Human Resources Manager responsible for managing the entire HR life-cycle in a fast-paced tech environment.

  After leaving the software sector Olga worked in the public sector in an interim Employee Relations position before moving to Phoenix Natural Gas as Human Resources Manager responsible for both HR and payroll. Here Olga digitised the recruitment process and created a health and wellbeing strategy among other things.

  Still within the utilities sector, Olga moved to firmus energy as HR Manager in August 2019 where she focuses on  employee engagement through an array of engagement interventions.

• 

  Stuart Nottingham Director

  Sun Rehabilitation

  Stuart is a registered occupational health chartered physiotherapist with over 20 years’ experience in the field of occupational health. He is also an NLP Master Practitioner with a keen interest in Ergonomics, Active working strategies, and Mindfullness in the workplace. Out of work Stuart is a keen cyclist, walker and yogi.

• 

  Adam Brett Partner

  Lewis Silkin NI LLP

  Adam Brett is a Partner in Lewis Silkin NI LLP. For many years Adam jointly headed the litigation department of a major Belfast Commercial Practice, and for the last 20 years he has concentrated increasingly on employment and discrimination matters. Adam has throughout his career advised a wide range of educational and charitable bodies, including Schools, Universities, Colleges, and other educational institutions in relation to employment, student and other concerns.

   

• 

  Laura Gillespie Partner

  Pinsent Masons

  Laura Gillespie is a Partner in the Pinsent Masons Litigation & Regulatory team and heads the Regulatory Compliance team in Northern Ireland, with a particular specialism in data protection and cyber security.  Laura supports clients in managing data protection compliance, including DSARS, policies and international transfers as well as contentious issues such as cyber breaches and compensation claims.  

• 

  Jason Elliott BL BL

  Ulster University

  Jason Elliott was called to the Bar of Northern Ireland in 2013 and is the Associate Head of School of Law at Ulster University.  As a practising barrister, he has developed a largely civil practice representing individuals, companies and public bodies in litigation.  This covers a wide range of areas including personal injuries, wills and employment law. In terms of employment law, he has represented both applicants and respondents in the Industrial Tribunal. At Ulster University, Jason lectures extensively on the civil areas of practise such as Equity and Trusts and delivers employment law lectures for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. 

• 

  Louise McAloon Partner

  Worthingtons

  Louise leads and manages the employment department of Worthingtons Solicitors, which is currently the largest employment law practice in Northern Ireland.

  With over 15 years’ experience in employment law, Louise’s knowledge and attention to detail provides an expert and pragmatic approach that her clients value in relation to internal employment issues and employment litigation including Public Interest Disclosure, Equal Pay, Discrimination, Unfair Dismissal and restrictive covenants. One of few practitioners in the jurisdiction to have successfully obtained a Tribunal Costs Order against an opposing party for the maximum statutory amount of £10,000.

• 

  Joe O'Connor Director of Campaigning

  FÓRSA

  Joe O’Connor is a driven and dynamic activist and campaigner, with extensive leadership experience, a passion for social justice and progressive change, and a flair for modern communications.

  He currently works as the Director of Campaigning with Fórsa Trade Union, Ireland’s largest public service union. He is responsible for coordinating Fórsa’s national campaigns, developing and leading a campaigning culture and capacity, and building a greater profile for the union’s concerns and policies.

  Joe is also the chairperson of the Four Day Week Ireland campaign, having coordinated the formation of the coalition in 2019, and the successful launch of a pilot programme and government-funded research project in 2021.

   

• 

  Margaret Cox Owner & Director

  ICE Group

  Margaret is a committed leader with unique experience managing a thriving multi-faceted business, she is a passionate advocate for the 4 Day Work Week. With a dual vision to Change Lives and Be Bloody Brilliant, Margaret and ICE Group pioneered the 3 Day Weekend pattern to give back to her hard-working staff, who spend every day striving to upskill, retrain, and place people into their dream careers.

  With 30 years of success in business management and leadership, Margaret also spent 10 years as an elected member of Seanad Eireann, during that time she successfully represented Ireland on European and UN platforms, speaking on IT, E-Business and the Status of Women in Ireland.

• 

  Michelle Murphy Head of Operations & HR

  JMK Solicitors

  Michelle qualified as a Solicitor in Northern Ireland in 2007, and worked in both commercial and general practice.  Michelle’s interest in law and business management led her onto the role of Head of Operations and HR with JMK Solicitors in 2010 and additionally with CRASH services since 2017.

  Michelle has responsibility for a collective of team of over 160 in a wide variety of professions within the business. Overseeing all aspects of Human resources, employee wellbeing, benefits, remuneration, recruitment, systems, policy and Health and Safety for the group.

  Michelle has been instrumental in developing a range of workplace strategies including introducing the ‘4 day working week’ and ‘Working in the Sun’ initiatives, putting employee health and wellbeing at the heart of our business.

• 

  Christine Crawford Senior HR Consultant

  Willis Insurance and Risk Management

  Christine is Senior HR Consultant at Willis Insurance & Risk Management, joining the team in late 2015. Christine has recently undertaken her CIPD Advanced Diploma in Strategic People Management.

• 

  Seamus McGranaghan Director - Commercial

  O'Reilly Stewart Solicitors

  Seamus McGranaghan qualified as a Solicitor in O'Reilly Stewart Solicitors in 2003 and is an experienced Commercial Lawyer dealing with employment, commercial and education cases.

  He has experience in the Industrial Tribunal representing both Claimants and Respondents and has provided seminars in relation to particular areas of employment law. Seamus is the only member of the Education and Law Association in Northern Ireland. He specialises in advising schools and colleges on policy matters, employment issues and student welfare. He is also responsible for the Education Law Quarterly Review.

• 

  Caroline van der Feltz HR Director

  Danske Bank

  A native of Northern Ireland Caroline has been HR Director for Danske Bank UK since September 2015. Caroline has operated outside of NI for the majority of her career having held senior HR roles within the financial services and FMCG area based out of London. She spent 11 years with the RBS Group working in the payments, retail banking and RBS/Natwest Private Banking area and before moving on was an Executive  HR Director with Private Bank Coutts & Co.  Prior to relocating to Belfast take up her current role with Danske Bank she was a Global HR Director for RB (Reckitt Benckiser) a FTSE 20 FMCG company well known for its Home, Health and Hygiene business with a significant global remit across both developed and developing markets. She now resides in Co Down with her family.

• 

  Lisa Thompson Head of People Services

  Danske Bank

  Lisa is Head of People Services for Danske Bank in Northern Ireland. Her role encompasses Remuneration & Benefits, HR Systems, Employment Policy, Industrial Relations and Diversity & Inclusion.  Lisa has previously held HR Business Partner and Head of Resourcing roles and is a Chartered Fellow of CIPD.

  Professionally, she has specialised in various Human Resources roles since graduating from QUB with an MSc in Occupational Psychology. Lisa has worked for various private and public sector organisations across the UK over the last 20 years, settling back in Northern Ireland in 2012 to focus on balancing work with family life.

• 

  Orla McGarry Head of People Experience & Employer Brand

  Deloitte UK

  Orla has had a varied HR career, from HR Consultancy advising a range of private and public sector businesses on HR strategy development and delivery, to leading in-house HR delivery in Banking and Professional Services. She was Head of Wellbeing and Inclusion for Deloitte Consulting for much of the pandemic, leading the response to ensuring the wellbeing of Deloitte people was a priority. She is now responsible for People Experience and Employer Brand for Deloitte UK, working with the leadership team to deliver an exceptional and distinctive experience for 22,000 people across the UK.

• 

  Kevin Empey Director

  WorkMatters

  Kevin has specialised in organization development, leadership development and people strategy for over 25 years.

  With a background in technology and business development, Kevin developed an international career in people consulting and leadership development working across a wide range of organizations, sectors and geographies.

  Before establishing WorkMatters, he founded and led several start-up companies and was a Partner and Director in Willis Towers Watson where he led the firms HR and Talent consulting business in Ireland from 2002 to 2015. He also established the firm’s ‘Future of Work’ offering in Ireland.

• 

  Sarah Balmforth HR Director

  Hughes Insurance

  Sarah is an experienced HR professional, working within HR for over 15 years. Sarah is a Chartered Member of the CIPD and has a BA Hons in Psychology and Postgraduate diploma in Human Resource Management; Sarah is currently HR Director at Hughes Insurance, with responsibility for HR and Learning & Development. She has worked at Hughes Insurance for just over 6 years and her work has primarily focused on Cultural Change, Organisational Development and Employee Experience.

  Sarah's role allows her to work at both a strategic and operational level, partnering with the key leadership team to deliver results through people and culture. Sarah has a passion for getting the right people into the right roles and Hughes is committed to investing in talent and dedicated to attracting and retaining the best people. 

• 

  Jill Michael Talent Manager

  A&L Goodbody

  Jill Michael completed a BA Hons in Human Resource Management at University of Stirling and in 2016 a Level 7 Advanced Award in Employment Law. Jill is an experienced HR professional with over 15 years’ Human Resources experience within the fields of Law, Financial Services, Oil and Gas, and Engineering. Currently at A&L Goodbody she leads the Talent Strategy in NI, working closely with the partnership and their Dublin office with a core focus of development and progression of talent at all levels.

   

• 

  Gordon Milligan Deputy Group CEO

  Translink

  Gordon was appointed to the position of Deputy Chief Executive in Translink during September 2015.

  Before joining Translink Gordon’s previous experience included executive roles within large global organisations including Bombardier Aerospace, Nortel Networks and Dunbia.

  Gordon was appointed Chair of the Institute of Directors NI in April 2018 and Chair of the Labour Relations Agency in May 2021. He has served on Boards within both the private and public sector.

  He has an MBA, is a Fellow of IoD, Chartered Fellow of CIPD and is a Visiting Professor at the Ulster University Business School.

• 

  Lisa Bryson Partner

  Eversheds Sutherland

  Lisa is a partner in the employment and immigration team of Eversheds Sutherland.  Lisa trained and qualified with Eversheds LLP (as was then) in Nottingham and London before moving back ‘home’ in 2009.  She has led the employment and immigration practice in Northern Ireland since re-joining the firm in 2017.

  Lisa has considerable experience of providing contentious and non-contentious employment law advice to private and public sector clients.   She specialises in restructuring and TUPE work, major change programmes, executive matters and severances and Industrial and Fair Employment Tribunal litigation.  Lisa is an experienced Tribunal advocate and has appeared in numerous hearings both in Northern Ireland and England.  Lisa advises clients across a broad range of sectors with a particular interest in the financial and professional services, retail, media and telecommunications, transport and logistics and manufacturing sectors.