Abi Pawlett

Expertise

Abi is a solicitor in the employment team and has experience advising employers and senior employees on a wide range of both contentious and non-contentious employment law matters.

Abi has experience dealing with employment tribunal claims, including claims of unfair dismissal, discrimination, sexual harassment, equal pay and whistleblowing. As the day-to-day contact for clients, Abi has experience running tribunal files, including attending preliminary hearings, and preparing relevant documents for final hearings including witness statements and bundles. Abi also has experience liaising with ACAS and has successfully settled employment claims outside of the Tribunal. Abi is dedicated to maintaining open communication with clients to progress matters.

Abi is experienced in drafting employment documents such as employment contracts, policies, consultancy agreements, and settlement agreements. Abi also provides tailored advice on workplace disputes, including managing long-term sickness absences, enforcing restrictive covenants, and running disciplinary and grievance procedures.

Abi works with corporate clients on the employment-related aspects of transactions, including reviewing employment contracts, consultancy arrangements, and identifying potential risks. For example, whether the correct calculation of holiday pay is being used. Abi recommends how any potential risks can be addressed, for example, by way of indemnity. Abi also drafts any employment-related documents relevant to the transaction. 

In addition to advising employers, Abi also advises employees on the terms of settlement agreements and has provided support to senior employees seeking guidance on their exit.

Experience

1. Leading on an Employment Tribunal case involving allegations of unfair dismissal, race discrimination, harassment, pregnancy discrimination, and victimisation. After attending the preliminary hearing and drafting the position statement to assist Counsel at the public hearing, all claims in that case were dismissed as the Judge accepted our position that these were out of time (despite this being a high bar), and the four-day final hearing in December 2025 was vacated.
2. Advising multiple clients on the management of complex employee grievances raised while individuals are on sick leave. The matters involve allegations of failures to provide reasonable adjustments, breakdowns in senior employee working relationships and disputes about access to health insurance benefits. This work requires balancing grievance investigation duties with the practical and legal challenges created by ongoing long term absence.
3. Conducting an annual policy review programme for a key client, providing detailed guidance on updates needed to maintain compliance with employment legislation, including changes required under the Employment Rights Act 2025.
4. Advising on an employer helpline on a range of issues including sickness absences, reoccurring lateness and probation reviews.
5. Providing corporate support on transactional matters, including in January 2025 advising Sports Tours International on a scoped employment due diligence exercise as part of its acquisition of Golf Holidays Direct.