Clive Dobbin

Partner and Head of Employment & Sports

My experience

I am a partner and head up our Employment team. My main areas of expertise are in:

discrimination issues;
settlement agreements, including settlement agreements for senior executives often involving shareholder and restrictive covenant issues;
employment tribunal claims, including complex discrimination claims;
the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006; and
restrictive covenant and confidentiality issues.

I work closely with my clients, getting to know their businesses, so that I can provide commercially orientated practical advice, taking account of the particular needs and circumstances of each client. I am an excellent strategist, ensuring that from the beginning of a matter or case I have agreed a clear way forward with my client.

I am responsive to the needs of my clients, ensuring a prompt response to queries. I am also flexible in my approach, including in relation to fees.

Specialist Sectors

I have particular expertise in both the Education and Sports sectors. In regard to Education, I am chair of governors at HSDC College, where I also sit on the HR Committee, Finance and Estates Committee, Estates Strategy Committee, Curriculum, Quality & Learning Committee, Search & Governance Committee and the Remuneration Committee.

As for Sport, I sit as a chair on the judicial panels for UK Athletics, the Lawn Tennis Association, the British Equestrian Federation, together with being a Legal Member on the National Panel for Sports Resolutions.

I am a member of the management committee of the Employment Lawyers Association. I am also the Employment Lawyers Association’s representative on the Law Society Council.

Work highlights/reported Decisions:

Represented clients in respect of a number of substantial tribunal cases, including discrimination cases (including cases resulting in a 12 day, and a 20 day, tribunal hearing)
and TUPE cases (including one resulting in a 9 day case on whether TUPE applied).
Represented clients in numerous cases before the Employment Appeal Tribunal and the Court of Appeal.

Notable cases include: