James Boyd
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Practice Areas
- Employment
- Commercial Litigation
Year of Call: 1994
Recommendations:
”James Boyd of Kings Chambers is an experienced employment specialist who counts NHS entities, local authorities and large multinational companies among his client base. He impresses with his "ability to cut quickly to the heart of the matter" and with his "commercial and pragmatic approach" to cases.” – Chambers and Partners 2013
"James Boyd undertakes a range of employment work including unfair dismissal and discrimination cases" - Legal 500 2012
“James Boyd is ‘one of the strongest barristers in the North West’, able to ‘get to grips quickly with a case, notwithstanding any complexity’ and is a ‘skillful and commanding advocate’'” – Legal 500 2011
“James Boyd ..is renowned for, among other things, his expertise in TUPE cases arising from insolvency and gangmaster licensing. Commentators attest to his being “particularly good at taking the fear out of the litigation process”” – Chambers and Partners 2011
“James Boyd has a reputation as “something of a ‘silent assassin’ due to the quiet, fuss-free way he goes about ripping his opponents to shreds. He is a particularly good choice for high-profile sensitive litigation”” – Chambers and Partners 2010
“He really understands the barrister-solicitor relationship and is extremely good at managing the client” “He’s not a Rumpole type but more of a silent assassin” – Chambers and Partners 2009
“very bright, thorough and client friendly advocate” ,“smooth practitioner” – Chambers and Partners 2008
“He knows what he is doing and has a good robust approach” “Terrific advocate” – Chambers and Partners 2007
Practice:
- Unfair and Wrongful Dismissal
- Public Interest Disclosure Act disputes
- Discrimination and Equal Opportunities claims
- TUPE
- Collective Labour Disputes and Trade Union litigation
- Litigation arising from Employment Contracts /Contractual disputes
- Restrictive Covenants and Confidential Information
James specialises in Employment Law, and practises as a member of the Employment team in Chambers.
He undertakes work for both employers and employees. He tends to be instructed in multi-day tribunal claims at the ‘local’ Circuit centres (Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds), as far north as Edinburgh and Glasgow, and south as far as Southampton and Truro. He has appeared on a number of occasions in the Fair Industrial Tribunal in Belfast for one particular client.
He was led in the EAT in the case of Meter U v Hardy / Ackroyd – a landmark decision on what is meant by the term ‘workforce’ in Regulation 7 of TUPE.
James was successful in the Court of Appeal as the Junior in the Fecitt matter – a case which revolved around the correct test of causation in whistle-blowing cases, and vicarious liability.
He recently appeared in the Court of Appeal to present an argument about the breadth of the ‘special circumstances’ doctrine (CF Capital v Willoughby).
He has recently represented numerous Trusts in a variety of cases including contentious TUPE transfers, whistleblowing claims, race discrimination matters and internal disciplinary hearings.
James successfully defended Manchester City Football Club in relation to a claim of maternity discrimination by an ex-employee.
A sample of the other clients James has acted for include:
Bank of America, BNFL, British Telecom, Burton Foods, CS Lounge Suites, DHL, Iveco, Jark PLC, JD Wetherspoon, London Waste, Nimogen Limited (Prestons of Bolton), Phones4U, Roadchef, Shop Direct, Tigi International, The Association of Labour Providers (Gangmaster Licensing Act appeals), The Gangmasters Licensing Authority,
Manchester City FC, Queen’s Park Rangers FC, Paul Stretford, Kukri Limited, Yorkshire Cricket Club,
Manchester University, Nelson & Colne College, Liverpool John Moores University, The Manchester College,
Cheshire West County Council, Denbighshire County Council, Salford City Council, Liverpool City Council, Sefton Borough Council, Ruthin School, St. Brigid’s School, City West Housing Trust,
Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust, Barnsley Primary Care Trust, Central & Eastern Cheshire NHS Trust, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust, Kirklees Primary Care Trust, Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust, Manchester NHS Trust, Pennine Care NHS Trust, Wakefield District Primary Care Trust, Merseyside Police Authority.
Significant cases:
Meter U v Hardy / Ackroyd [2012] IRLR 367 (EAT)
-the meaning of ‘workforce’ inregulation 7 of TUPE
Fecitt v NHS Manchester [2011] IRLR 111 (Court of Appeal)
- the correct test as to causationin public interest disclosure claims / vicariousl liability
Willoughby v C F Capital PLC [2011] IRLR 985 (Court of Appeal)
- application of “specialcircumstances” in the context of unambiguous words of dismissal
White v Burton Foods [2010] UKEAT/0514/09
– application of section 1(6) of the Equal Pay Act 1970
London Waste v Scrivens [2010] UKEAT/0317/09
- sufficiency of findings on aPolkey argument
Countrywide Estate Agents v Rice [2009] UKEAT/0392/08
- test for disabilitydiscrimination under s.3A of the DDA 1995
Brown & Ors v MANCAT [2007] UKEAT/0460/06
- redundancy of College’s Trade Union Education Department
Career & Education
Manchester University
Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
Georgetown University (USA)
Diploma in US Legal Studies
Indiana University (USA)
Master of Laws (LLM)
