Robyn Barron

Robyn acts for both employees and employers, as well as high-net-worth individuals and organisations across a range of industries and sectors. While employment law is a strong focus of her practice, she also has experience in commercial disputes and outsourced General Counsel work. This breadth of experience gives her a well-rounded commercial perspective, allowing her to approach each matter with an understanding of the wider issues and objectives at play.

She takes a straightforward and pragmatic approach, first understanding what her clients are trying to achieve before providing advice tailored to their circumstances. Her aim is to deal with matters proportionately and efficiently, while giving clients the confidence to make informed decisions.

Employment law is a central part of Robyn’s practice. She advises on settlement agreements, whistleblowing, dismissals, disciplinary and grievance procedures, discrimination, redundancy, TUPE, restrictive covenants and employment contracts.

Robyn has a particular focus on advising employees on settlement agreements. She regularly advises on the terms and effect of agreements, negotiations and the implications of bringing an employment relationship to an end. She has developed a dedicated online settlement agreement service and regularly writes practical articles and guides on settlement agreements and related employment issues (for general information only), they are available at employmentsettlementsolicitor.co.uk. Robyn’s approach is clear and jargon-free. She recognises that negotiating an exit from employment, or any change in working life, can be stressful and aims to make the process as straightforward as possible, giving clients clarity and allowing them to focus on what comes next.

Alongside her employment practice, Robyn has extensive experience in commercial litigation, including high-value and complex disputes involving breach of contract, professional negligence, misrepresentation, shareholder disputes and debt recovery. She also provides outsourced General Counsel support, advising businesses on commercial contracts, company law compliance and intellectual property matters.

Robyn has acted in proceedings before the Employment Tribunal, County Court, High Court and Court of Appeal, and has experience using mediation, Early Neutral Evaluation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution. She regularly negotiates settlements and seeks to resolve disputes without unnecessary escalation, while also having the litigation experience to provide robust representation where proceedings cannot be avoided.

Dr Susan Gilby v Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Ian Haythornthwaite [2025] (securing £1.4 million in compensation following a successful whistleblowing and unfair dismissal claim — one of the highest recorded payments made to a former NHS employee)

Irwell Riverside Developments Ltd v Arcadis Consulting (UK) Ltd [2024] (professional negligence dispute arising from a large-scale construction project)

Law By Design Ltd v Ali [2022] (contractual and employment dispute involving restrictive covenants)

Harmony Hambly-Smith v Simon de Pury and Michaela de Pury [2021] (successful removal of the Second Respondent to Employment Tribunal proceedings on the basis she was not the Claimant’s employer at the relevant time)

Telecom Centre (UK) Ltd v Thomas Sanderson Ltd [2020] (Commercial Agents (Council Directive) Regulations 1993 dispute relating to contractual termination and payment)

Outside of work, Robyn enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and travelling — ideally combining all three.