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HCR Law Events

About me

Employment law is all about people. So, just like people, the law around the area evolves constantly – it’s never boring!

I’m a down-to-earth, pragmatic lawyer who gets to know my clients and their businesses really well. I build a rapport with them, so they see me as one of their team.

I get results for a wide range of organisations. From global tech businesses to family-owned food and drinks businesses to SMEs and further education colleges, my experience brings benefits to a variety of employers and employees facing HR challenges.

My specialisms include employment tribunal cases, disciplinary, grievance and dismissals, ill health and performance management along with senior executive exits and restructuring and redundancy to name a few.

Outside work, my passions include my daughters, my dogs, travelling, swimming and pilates!

I am described in the Legal 500 as a recommended lawyer – client quotes include ‘Our key contact is Catherine Mitchell who quite simply exemplifies every quality a client could want in their legal representation,’ and ‘Catherine Mitchell is brilliant, engaging, customer-focussed, goal-oriented and looks to achieve practical solutions.

Employment and Immigration Partner praised for providing continued support to college

Weston College need highly responsive and wide-ranging HR, employment law and compliance support. For this, they looked to Catherine Mitchell and HCR’s Employment and Immigration team for expertise in the sector. They advise them across the range of employment issues which arise in a fast-paced environment such as a college. Catherine has acted for the college for several years. Andrea Greer, the Deputy Principal of Weston College, provided this testimonial following Catherine’s continued support: “Catherine and her colleagues have become trusted advisors who are without fail highly responsive, supportive and most importantly, proactive. “They keep pace with the fast-moving needs of the college, and offer a pragmatic, cost-effective service which is results-focused. Their understanding of the needs of our organisation is unparalleled, and the team’s expertise in the FE sector instils absolute confidence. They are focused on helping us to achieve our business objectives and are on hand to deliver skilled advice whenever a need arises.”
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College praises Employment Partner for comprehensive legal support

South Gloucestershire and Stroud College needed comprehensive employment law support with a full understanding of the further education sector for their experienced HR team. They turned to Employment and Immigration Partner Catherine Mitchell for advice and guidance. Catherine and the Employment and Immigration team have extensive capability around the particular pressures facing the education sector. Catherine has provided a fixed support package which  has delivered excellent value and budget certainty for over a decade. Following Catherine’s advice, Moira Foster-Fitzgerald, Chief Group Services Officer and Designated Safeguarding Lead for South Gloucestershire and Stroud College provided this testimonial thanking her for her support: “Catherine has a refreshing approach that is client-focused and very responsive. What differentiates her from other legal advisers is that her advice is enhanced with a deep knowledge and understanding of our sector and business. “Her advice and guidance is not delivered in the form of a dry legal ‘tome’ but provides an incisive point of view on a series of options, along with a realistic assessment of risk for each approach. Crucially, this also get to grips with the practical steps needed to put their advice into action. “Catherine and the team are friendly and supremely professional, providing pragmatic, astute legal advice and guidance. They translate complex legal matters into clear understandable language that can be used practically by non-lawyers.”
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High praise for Employment and Immigration Partner following continued support

As a leading wine company, Direct Wines, trading as Laithwaites, needs a highly responsive  HR and employment support solution. Catherine Mitchell, Employment and Immigration Partner has provided this support to them for over 12 years. Catherine and the team supply guidance across a range of requirements for the company, including operational HR back-up and advice on legal risk. Describing Catherine and the team’s continued help over  the years, Matt Wayne, Group HR Director of Direct Wines, said: “Catherine Mitchell has been our principal employment law partner since 2009 and worked exclusively with us since 2016. Over the years we have developed a very strong working relationship with her built upon mutual trust. “Catherine has made it her priority to fully understand Direct Wines and Laithwaites, our culture and preferred ways of working to provide a highly professional service across all elements of employment law. She is pragmatic, responsive, measured and very driven to deliver the results we expect as a client. “She possesses excellent interpersonal skills and provides high levels of confidence throughout our business. Direct Wines has complete trust in Catherine’s professional abilities and highly recommend her without hesitation.”
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Legal 500 - Catherine Mitchell

Our key contact is Catherine Mitchell who quite simply exemplifies every quality a client could want in their legal representation.
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Chambers and Partners - Catherine Mitchell

She provides practical legal advice and guidance, not just by quoting the law, but by providing an incisive point of view on a series of potential solutions.
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My Case studies

My Awards

Top Tips & FAQs

Discover my top tips

Focus on what you want to achieve for your business – I’ll help you find the right outcome and make sure we succeed.

If you have an HR problem, call me at an early stage to discuss it – as we might be able to devise a better solution together.

If you weren’t able to speak to me before the problem became an issue don’t worry – we’ll find a solution together.

My frequently asked questions

Can I just make my poorly-performing staff member redundant?

Yes, and let’s discuss the risks. There may be other options which achieve the right result at lower costs with less risk.

Can we stop this dispute becoming an employment tribunal claim?

By following your business’s policies, acting reasonably and taking advice at an early stage, we have a good chance of avoiding litigation. If the situation deteriorates and a claim is made, having evidence that you followed a reasonable process will put you in the best position for a reasonable defence.

Can an employee who is off sick refuse to attend an occupational health appointment?

Many employment contracts require an employee to attend an occupational health appointment, but they cannot be compelled to do so. If they refuse to attend without good reason, the employer is usually entitled to continue with a process such as disciplinary proceedings. It’s usually in the best interest of everyone to get specialist advice about the employee’s fitness, and more likely to lead to a resolution of any existing dispute.

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