Jude Shepherd is Head of the Employment Team at 42 Bedford Row and practises exclusively in employment law. Her field of expertise embraces all aspects of employment law and she has extensive experience of dealing with complex discrimination claims.

Jude is ranked as a leading junior in employment law by both the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners legal directories.

In addition to her many appearances in the Employment Tribunals, Employment Appeal Tribunal and higher appellate courts, she also regularly advises organisations on how to avoid litigation in this increasingly complex field of law. Jude prides herself on taking a partnership approach to resolving problems with her clients. She also regularly provides training for lay and professional clients and can tailor training courses for any client’s needs.

Jude is often commended for her pragmatic and practical approach to problem solving with her cases, not just during litigation but also in resolving conflict in the workplace before litigation. Her instructing solicitors often comment on the team approach that she takes to get her clients the best possible results.

Jude has been instructed by a wide variety of clients and has a particularly strong following from clients in the transport, retail, education and public sectors.

Accreditations

Highly knowledgeable in all aspects of employment law, with a particular focus on discrimination cases. She has extensive experience at tribunal and appellate level.
Strengths: “She immerses herself in the facts and skilfully applies the law. She is professional, constructive, and highly persuasive in her written and oral advocacy.” “She is very practical in her advice and has excellent advocacy skills.”
Successfully acted for the employee in an unfair dismissal claim against the BBC. Chambers and Partners 2018
Chambers and Partners 2017 says ‘Discrimination and employment lawyer who is widely lauded by clients and peers for her outstanding level of client service and support. She often acts at both the ET and EAT, and is highly knowledgeable in all aspects of employment law. “She is very technical and always has time to speak with you about the issues.” “She is very straightforward and down to earth, technically excellent and a brilliant advocate”.’
Legal 500 2017 says ‘She is an excellent employment lawyer; clear thinking and well organised, with fine judgment’.
Previous entries in the directories include: “She is exceptional. Her rapport with clients, her preparation and her advocacy skills are second to none.” “A barrister who epitomises her set’s pragmatic, sensible and down to earth approach. A convincing advocate, she puts clients at ease and argues intelligently.”
Joanne Boyle, Partner at Bond Dickinson LLP says “Gone are the days where a barrister should just receive papers and turn up to Tribunal. We expect a high quality partnering service with appointed Counsel and Jude Shepherd never disappoints. Indeed, she regularly exceeds expectations.”

Ranked in UK Bar Chambers 2019 Legal 500 logo

Professional memberships

Employment Law Bar Association
Employment Lawyer’s Association
Industrial Law Society
Jude is accredited to undertake public access work

Selected cases

Bandara v British Broadcasting Corporation UKEAT/0335/15/JOJ
Deangate Ltd v Hatley and others [2015] ICR 890
Quadri v London Underground Ltd UKEAT/0176/16
Anglo Beef Processors Ltd v Longland and Meat and Livestock Commercial Services Ltd UKEATS/0025/15
Makauskiene v Rentokil Initial Facilities Services (UK) Ltd [2014] All ER (D) 149
Haq and others v Audit Commission (Court of Appeal) [2013] IRLR 206
Prowse-Piper v Anglian Windows Ltd and others [2010] EWCA Civ 428
Bone v London Borough of Newham [2008] IRLR 546

News & events

Ranked in Chambers & Partners 2019

Chambers are thrilled to have 17 individual recommendations/rankings in the new Chambers & Partners 2019.

8th November 2018 Read more

Jude Shepherd delivers a webinar in partnership with Masterclass Training

Jude Shepherd delivers a webinar in partnership with Masterclass Training, looking at the causes of the gender pay gap and the steps being taken to close the gap by introducing mandatory gender pay gap reporting. The new Regulations have a target introduction date of 1 October 2016. Listen to the recording of the webinar to

25th July 2016 Read more

Haq -v- Audit Commission – Judgment

In a new equal pay decision Haq v Audit Commission the Court of Appeal upholds the Respondent’s “genuine material factor” defence based on a form of “pay protection ”. The policy entailed that on reorganisation, employees kept the higher pay level of their old jobs where the new and old jobs were in the same

7th December 2012 Read more

Our strengthis in our groups

Areas of Expertise

Jude Shepherd

Introduction

Accreditations

Professional memberships

Selected cases

News & events

News & events

Ranked in Chambers & Partners 2019

Jude Shepherd delivers a webinar in partnership with Masterclass Training

Haq -v- Audit Commission – Judgment

Our strength
is in our groups