Abi Pawlett

Expertise

Abi is a solicitor in the employment team and has experience working on both contentious and non-contentious employment matters.

Abi advises employers on how to deal with employment issues occurring in the workplace (for example, managing long-term sickness absences, enforcing restrictive covenants and running disciplinary procedures) and also provides support after proceedings have been issued in the Employment Tribunal. Abi has worked on proceedings involving claims for unfair dismissal, discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment and victimisation.

Abi provides advice to employees on the terms of settlement agreements and has provided support to senior employees seeking advice on their exit.

Abi also assists in corporate transactions handling the employment aspects of deals. This includes reviewing employment contracts, policies, and procedures to identify potential risks and liabilities and drafting employment-related arrangements to be entered into on completion.

Abi has experience drafting and negotiating various employment documents including employment contracts, settlement agreements and consultancy agreements.

Experience

1. Providing support on over ten corporate acquisitions for Babble Cloud Limited (partnered with private equity investor LDC) in 2023.
2. Running an Employment Tribunal matter involving a claim for unfair dismissal that resulted in the claimant withdrawing their case.
3. Advising clients on how to manage grievances raised in relation to harassment in the workplace and the steps employers should be taking to comply with the legislation that will be introduced by the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023 to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace.
4. Successfully enforcing restrictive covenants against a former employee for a client in administration, without needing to initiate proceedings.
5. Working as part of a team to retrieve highly confidential information stolen by an employee and negotiating settlement terms restricting the employee from working in the industry for a significant period.
6. Advising on an employer helpline on a range of issues including sickness absences, reoccurring lateness and probation reviews.