The Lawdown Episode 45: University of Sussex fined for not upholding Freedom of Speech; Ben & Jerry’s CEO removed for promotion of political views; Citi Bank Assistant VP settles maternity discrimination claim
April 11th, 2025 by Neha Jannath
In our latest episode of The Lawdown, Wonu Sanda, Emma Bartlett, and Beth Hale discuss the following: The treatment of a professor at the University of Sussex, after she was accused of transphobia and subsequently left the University; this dispute led to the University being issued a fine of £585,000 for failing to uphold Freedom of Speech. […]
The Lawdown Episode 44: Chelsea football player Sam Kerr found not guilty of racially aggravated harassment; Luis Rubiales convicted of sexual assault after Spain’s 2023 Women’s World Cup win; and the US driven rollback on DEI
March 17th, 2025 by Stuart Smith
In our latest episode of The Lawdown, Emma Bartlett, Sarah Chilton, Wonu Sanda and first-time contributor Liz Pearson discuss the following: Sam Kerr (a high profile Australian and Chelsea football player) being found not guilty of racially aggravated harassment. We dig deeper into the circumstances that led to the criminal prosecution and the context behind the headlines. We also consider whether Kerr’s […]
The Lawdown Episode 43: 200 Companies adopt a permanent 4-day week; Lord Rose claims working from home is not proper work; Marcus Rashford publicly criticised by manager; and can/should lawyers compete on the BBC’s hit show “The Traitors”?
February 10th, 2025 by Stuart Smith
In our latest episode of The Lawdown, Partners Beth Hale and Emma Bartlett and Senior Associate Wonu Sanda discuss the following: 200 companies implement a permanent 4-day week and Tokyo’s 4-day working week plans to increase the fertility rate. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a 4-day week without a reduction in pay, including the potential impact on […]
In celebration of Black History Month 2024, Partner Emma Bartlett and Senior Associate Wonu Sanda discuss this year’s theme “Reclaiming Narratives” with Kelvin Akhigbe. “Reclaiming Narratives” marks a significant shift towards recognising and correcting the narratives of Black history and culture. By emphasising “Reclaiming Narratives,” we shine a brighter light on our stories, allegories, and history. Kelvin participated in CM […]
The Lawdown Episode 40: Jermaine Jenas’s BBC dismissal; far-right riots & considerations for employers; Starbucks CEO commute via private jet
September 5th, 2024 by Stuart Smith
In our latest episode of The Lawdown, Partners Sarah Chilton and Beth Hale, Senior Associate Wonu Sanda and Associate Kia Aoki discuss the following: The dismissal of Jermaine Jenas following allegations of inappropriate behaviour, which has been the latest in a string of scandals surrounding the BBC. We consider the speed with which the BBC took action to dismiss Jenas, the increase of […]
The Lawdown Episode 39: Gareth Southgate, Vaughan Gething and US President Biden’s departures – when is the right time to go; Strictly Come Dancing abuse allegations; Apple employee unfairly dismissed after taking pictures of a female colleague
July 26th, 2024 by Stuart Smith
In our latest episode of The Lawdown, Partner Beth Hale, Senior Associate Wonu Sanda and Associate Kia Aoki discuss the following: 1. The departures of Gareth Southgate as manager of the England men’s national football team, Vaughan Gething as Welsh first minister and President Joe Biden dropping out of the US presidential race. We explore how to determine the right time […]
The Lawdown Episode 38: Scottie Scheffler’s arrest – key employment law takeaways; unfair dismissal claims from Virgin Atlantic employees; departure of Klopp and Hayes from Women’s Football Clubs; and publication of Inclusion at Work Panel report
July 4th, 2024 by Stuart Smith
In our latest episode of The Lawdown, Partners Beth Hale and Emma Bartlett, Senior Associate Wonu Sanda and Associate Kia Aoki discuss the following: Scottie Scheffler, the current number one ranked golfer in the world, was arrested and charged with assault of a police officer and three misdemeanours during the PGA Championship. All charges were later dropped. In light of this, we explore when […]
The Lawdown Episode 36: Ethnicity pay gap reporting; The inequality between CEO and worker pay; A race discrimination claim against the British Army and developments in the law around industrial action
January 24th, 2024 by Stuart Smith
In our latest episode of The Lawdown, Partners Beth Hale and Sarah Chilton, Senior Associate Wonu Sanda and Associate Kia Aoki discuss the following: Recently published statistics reveal that women of Bangladeshi and Pakistani heritage are earning on average almost a third less an hour than white British men in the UK. In light of this, we discuss the importance of ethnicity pay […]
The Lawdown Episode 35: Justine Blainey – teenage ice hockey sex discrimination case; Benjamin Mendy suing Man City over unpaid wages; Phillip Schofield refusing to co-operate with ITV inquiry; Tesla whistleblowing on self-driving car safety
December 14th, 2023 by Stuart Smith
In our latest (interesting and non-Christmas themed) episode of The Lawdown, Partner Emma Bartlett and Senior Associate, Wonu Sanda discuss the following: The historical case of Justine Blainey, a teenager, who in the 1980s brought a successful sex discrimination claim in the Supreme Court of Canada, to strike out provisions in the Ontario HR Code which prohibited girls from playing sports […]
The Plague of the Narcissistic Leader – IFSEA Post-Conference Podcast Recording
October 19th, 2023 by Stuart Smith
Following the recent 4th IFSEA International Conference on Risk, Reward and Reputation Management Issues for Senior Executives & Founders, we are delighted to share with you a follow up podcast on the closing plenary session, ‘The Plague of the Narcissistic Leader. In this discussion between the IFSEA annual conference panellists, this brilliant panel examine the damage that narcissistic leaders can […]