Recent Successes of Cambridge Legal Practice

For solicitors in Cambridge with national reach and who get excellent results, contact Cambridge Legal on 01223 776200 or email enquiries@cambridgelegal.co.uk. These are our recent successes.

• Won landmark whistleblowing case in employment tribunal for Professor Wyn Evans against The Chancellor, Masters and Scholars of the University of Cambridge, its Vice Chancellor (Professor Deborah Prentice), its former Registrary (Emma Rampton) and its former Head of the Institute of Astronomy (Professor Richard McMahon)                                                                                                                              Here is the judgment: https://www.gov.uk/employment-tribunal-decisions/professor-n-w-evans-v-the-chancellor-masters-and-scholars-of-the-university-of-cambridge-and-others-3307960-slash-2023-and-others                                                                                                 https://21percent.org/? p=4153https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-15908225/Wicked-university-boss-blamed-culture-misogyny-prestigious-astronomy-institute-saw-female-colleagues-hounded-tribunal-hears.html           https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/jun/15/university-of-cambridge-accused-of-tolerating-misogyny-and-bullying-in-tribunal https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/national/26457603.cambridge-university-tried-shut-whistleblower—tribunal/                                          https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/aug/11/university-cambridge-whistleblower-wyn-evans-wins-employment-tribunal                                 https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/cambridge-university-tried-shut-down-whistleblower https://unherd.com/newsroom/cambridge-vice-chancellor-found-liable-for-silencing-whistleblower/#comment-f952074b-27f6-46a8-9959-c19b51328a63 https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/cambridge-university-astrophysics-press-association-b3031755.html                                   https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/08/13/university-cambridge-review-all-hr-procedures-jason-arday/                                                                         https://www.varsity.co.uk/comment/32046

• Successfully defended and defeated a County Court claim of unjust enrichment brought by Cambridge University NHS Foundation Trust against a former senior manager. The Trust claimed that the manager had been mistakenly overpaid over a period of four months. Our defence succeeded on the ground that the manager had actually been wrongfully dismissed because the Trust had breached the implied contractual duty of trust and confidence.

• Acted for a secondary school pupil suing Gosfield School Limited, its Principal, and its Chair of Governors for race discrimination and victimisation under the Equality Act 2010. This multitrack case in the County Court required expert psychiatric evidence and resulted in a settlement with costs of £54,000. The Defendants were represented by DAC Beachcroft LLP of Bristol.

• Won direct disability discrimination and other claims against Gravity Supply Chain Solutions Limited and its Chief Executive, Graham Parker concerning the dismissal of their Sales Director while he was caring for his terminally ill wife. The total award made by Nottingham Employment Tribunal, including aggravated damages, was £89,891.94 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13448921/High-flying-sales-executive-wins-90-000-sacked-wife-diagnosed-terminal-cancer-tribunal-hears.html        https://www.personneltoday.com/hr/associative-discrimination-disability-graham-v-gravity-supply-chain-solutions-parker/    https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66449a374f29e1d07fadc80b/David_Graham_v_Gravity_Supply_Chain_Solutions_Limited_and_Other_2600849.2022_Judgment.pdf

• Successfully defended a biomedical scientist before a tribunal of the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) concerning allegations brought by Synnovis Group LLP of professional misconduct including racial abuse, resulting in a decision of “no impairment” of fitness to practice.

• Successfully defended a farrier in proceedings brought by the Farriers Registration Council concerning multiple allegations of abuse of an apprentice with autism spectrum disorder, resulting in complete exoneration of professional misconduct after a 5 day hearing.

• Sued The Chancellor, Masters and Scholars of the University of Cambridge in the County Court for negligence and malicious falsehood in providing a poison pen reference that led to their former employee being dismissed from her new job, resulting in early settlement and the payment of compensation and legal costs.

• Used judicial mediation in Employment Tribunal Proceedings to negotiate settlements for three employees, two of whom received six figure sums.

• Sued University of Cambridge and Dr James Knapton, Information Compliance Officer, for refusing to disclose an employee’s personal data in breach of GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) resulting in a pre-hearing settlement and the provision of previously withheld information.

• Defeated a prospective appeal at the EAT (Employment Appeal Tribunal) before John Cavanagh QC, Deputy Judge of the High Court against a finding by an employment tribunal of disability under the Equality Act 2010, and won legal costs.

• Negotiated five figure settlement of our client’s County Court action against TWI Ltd (The Welding Institute) for breach of the Data Protection Act 1998 after deploying a part 36 offer.

• Sued ACAS and its Chief Executive, Anne Sharpe, in the London Central Employment Tribunal for a Higher Executive Officer alleging disability and age discrimination, unfair dismissal and multiple breaches of the ACAS Code, resulting in a substantial settlement.

• Successfully sued Plain English Design Ltd of Suffolk in Cambridge County Court resulting in payment of a long outstanding debt owed to their sub-contractor.

• Obtained change of residence for 9 year old girl to her Father and grandparents following Mother’s abusive parental alienation designed to thwart contact: Child Arrangements Order and Prohibited Steps Order under Children Act 1989 granted by the Family Court in Norwich. http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWFC/OJ/2017/B24.html

• Won unfair dismissal and breach of contract claim concerning non-payment of discretionary bonus for a Principal Engineer against Cambridge Consultants Limited.

• Successfully settled a debt action for the Claimant against Platinum Contract Furniture Ltd brought in Aylesbury County Court under the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982.

• Negotiated full settlement from Iron Mill College, Exeter after suing it for a former student in the County Court for repayment of academic fees and associated expenses.

• Sued international law firm in Bristol employment tribunal for disability discrimination and unfair dismissal which resulted in a six figure settlement following mediation.

• Won appeal at the EAT, Underwood v Wincanton PLC UKEAT/0163/15/RN, concerning the interpretation of the ‘public interest’ test in whistleblowing claims in the light of Chesterton Global Ltd v Nurmohamed [2015] IRLR 614 (EAT). http://www.bailii.org/cgi-bin/format.cgi?doc=/uk/cases/UKEAT/2015/0163_15_2708.html

• Recovered £137,315 owed to a British corporate events company by suing an overseas registered international financial services company at the High Court in London.

• Won appeal at EAT against a cost award for client who had been penalised after her solicitor and barrister abandoned her in the middle of an employment tribunal hearing. This case has been widely reported.

• Won unfair and wrongful dismissal claims against Wincanton Group Ltd t/a Pullman Fleet Services for a vehicle fitter who was dismissed for ‘smoking’ shortly after complaining that his signature was being forged on vehicle service records. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-36274741

• Won unfair dismissal claim against Royal Mail for client dismissed for alleged theft, obtaining award in excess of £60,000 and one of only seven re-engagement awards made that year from over 200,000 claims.

• Strategically obtained enforcement of employment tribunal award working with Mike Gapes MP for Ilford South.

• Won discrimination claim including award for costs for legal secretary on grounds of religion and belief against solicitors represented by Matrix Chambers.

• Negotiated pre-tribunal settlements against investment banks for sexual discrimination against female workers totalling £70,000.

• Within two weeks of engagement, obtained withdrawal of a discrimination claim against New York based financial institution after the original solicitor, a part-time judge, had mismanaged the case over seven months and incurred considerable unnecessary expense.

• After cross-examining a witness and exposing perjury, obtained £50,000 settlement mid-tribunal for client who had been dismissed for gross misconduct.

• Represented various nursing clients at the Nursing and Midwifery Council to reduce the severity of professional sanctions previously awarded against them.

• Obtained £50,000 pre-tribunal claim settlement through careful negotiation for a woman who had been sexually harassed.

• Conducted professional negligence complaints against other firms of solicitors which included working with the Legal Ombudsman to achieve resolution.

• Advised major retailer on multiple claims brought against it by former employees arising from a TUPE transfer.

• Defended manufacturer facing vexatious attempts by a worker to encourage staff unrest by meticulous preparation and tribunal advocacy resulting in restoration of workforce stability and setting an important precedent.

• Represented senior social worker threatened by dismissal for gross misconduct concerning 25 alleged breaches of child protection and mental health protocols through in depth cross-examination of the social worker’s line manager and representation at disciplinary meetings which resulted in client reinstatement followed by ‘retirement’ of his line manager.

• Sued a county council for sexual orientation discrimination under Equality Act 2010 arising at a job interview.

• Advised on enforceability of post termination restrictions including restrictive covenants and how best to defend threatened litigation involving alleged tort of inducing breach of contract.

• Investigated for employer the theft and sale of Land Rover accessories by two employees resulting in disciplinary action and dismissal of employees, thereby minimising business disruption.

• Overturned dismissal of Santander Bank employee accused of theft through detailed analysis and presentation of evidence and advocacy at appeal hearing, obtaining retrospective reinstatement of the employee including her full entitlement to maternity pay.

• Rectified major career problem caused by damaging reference using the Data Protection Act  and County Court action, resulting in an agreed reference and financial settlement.

• Represented a mental health nurse dismissed by an NHS Foundation Trust following false allegations that he had assaulted and verbally abused an elderly patient suffering from dementia, achieving complete exoneration and reinstatement.

• Advised firm of solicitors on revision of its staff handbook and drafted equality and anti-discrimination procedures for corporate clients.

• Won substantial County Court action for Marble Arts Ltd against a supplier of stone cutting machinery involving instruction of technical experts to establish breaches of safety legislation and the Sale of Goods Act 1979.  

• Represented a mother opposing a contact order under the Children Act 1989 before Lord Justice Kitchin in the Court of Appeal.

Many of our successes cannot be disclosed. That is because they are hidden behind confidentiality agreements, what Americans call non-disclosure agreements or ‘NDA’,  so that all parties are prevented from disclosing any details. The most secret arrangements include confidentiality agreements that after signature are not themselves held by the parties and that are so secret that they can only be viewed on the premises of a nominated lawyer by appointment. Confidentiality is often the price paid for an outstanding settlement.