"phenomenally proactive, focused and practical"
Chambers UK
Peter Edwards is a rare breed of senior junior who continues to perform at a high level across a diverse range of practice areas, with a strong following in the areas of personal injury (including sexual abuse), human rights, employment and industrial relations/trade union law.
For decades, Peter has been recommended as a leading barrister, in both Personal Injury and Employment, in the leading legal directories, Chambers UK and Legal 500. His key strengths are summed-up in his most recent, 2021, profile in Chambers: "He is a supreme tactician and knows his law inside-out. He is down-to-earth, has an excellent rapport with clients, is always prepared to go the extra mile and quickly gets to the heart of the legal issues." "He's a great choice for employment and personal injury crossover claims." "He is very effective in cross-examinations and is a good communicator with clients." "He has a fantastic client manner and can cut through complex reports and get to the heart of the issue really quickly."
The diversity of his practice allows Peter to take full advantage of the increasing overlap between the fields of personal injury, human rights, data protection and employment law and to take on complex cases involving issues spanning more than one of those fields. Employment and discrimination cases involving psychiatric injury suffered by workers/employees are a key example.
In the last 10 years, largely in conjunction with Mark McGhee, the leading human rights solicitor, and his expert team at Lexent Partners, Peter has developed a specialism in complex human rights and data protection cases involving psychiatric injury, successfully pursuing claims against Police Forces, local authorities, NHS Trusts and private mental healthcare facilities in respect of breaches of Articles 2, 3, 5,6, 8 and 14 of the Human Rights Act and/or breaches of the Data Protection Acts and GDPR.
Peter’s personal injury practice is primarily of a High Court and appellate level with specialism in catastrophic injury, including spinal injury, multiple injury, and brain injury cases. He is a contributor to Lexis PSL online Personal Injury Service and author of a textbook on Deafness Claims.
Peter is an expert on all aspects of employment law, including discrimination (all the protected characteristics), restrictive covenants, injunctions, wrongful dismissal, unfair dismissal, equal pay, TUPE, trade disputes, trade unions and commercial agents. He has particular experience of claims involving large banks and financial institutions. He has an exceptional appellate-level practice, including two appearances in the Supreme Court.
Throughout his career, Peter has been the go-to junior for a range of trade union work having advised and represented both large employers and Trade Unions on all aspects of industrial relations law and practice.
Peter also has substantial experience of judicial review challenges in the Administrative Court. These have often arisen from industrial relations matters and/or Human Rights Act breaches associated to other areas of his practice.
His most notable cases include:
In addition, Peter was Junior Counsel to Sir Richard Scott’s Inquiry into the Export of Arms and Dual-Use Equipment to Iraq (aka Arms to Iraq) from 1992 to 1995.
Junior Counsel of choice for industrial relations work for Unite the Union. Advises and represents both large employers (including Coca Cola, Royal Mail and London Underground) and Trade Unions (including Unite, Unison and the FBU) on all aspects of industrial relations law and practice. Conducted and defended a number of multi- party actions up to EAT/Court of Appeal level on industrial relations issues.
Advised Unite on its internal Industrial Action Ballot Guidelines following the decision of the Court of Appeal in Metrobus UK. Also advised Unite on the contents of its Rule Book following the merger between the TGWU and Amicus.
Frequently involved in injunction applications based on industrial relations issues, including unofficial industrial action and balloting requirements.
Provides seminars, lectures and training to employers/unions on industrial relations issues, including a televised seminar to a commercial training organisation on collective redundancy consultation.
Rated as a Leading Junior in both Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 with recommendations as a “go-to junior”, “exceptionally able”, a “rock solid choice”, “phenomenally positive, focused and practical”, a “very persuasive negotiator” and “doing a huge amount of brilliant work.”
Routinely appears in high-profile inquests and maximum severity catastrophic injury cases. His employment law practice complements his personal injury offering,especially in complex EL/PL disputes and quantum calculations. He acts for both defendants and claimants in cases which often have a human rights angle. "Has a brilliant mind. Very clever." "Equally skilled at cross-examination and complex legal submissions. He also has an impressive rapport with vulnerable clients." Acted in a multi million-pound claim on behalf of the family and dependants of two friends who were killed in a road traffic accident involving a drunk driver. - Personal Injury, Chambers UK 2018
Has a broad employment law practice, with extensive experience of High Court litigation and complex EAT claims. He specialises in industrial relations work and is often instructed by high-profile trade unions. He also leverages his experience in personal injury litigation to tackle disability discrimination matters. “His attention to detail and ability to get to the crux of a case are second to none.” “Decisive, down-to-earth and robust.” Acted for the claimant in a disability discrimination claim for more than £2 million against a large inter-dealer money broker. - Employment,Chambers UK 2018
"Noted for cases at the intersection of personal injury and employment law." - Personal Injury, Legal 500 2017
"An experienced advocate." - Employment,Legal 500 2017
Routinely appears in high-profile inquests and maximum severity catastrophic injury cases. His employment law practice complements his personal injury offering,especially in complex EL/PL disputes and quantum calculations. "He's excellent. If it's a difficult case he'll handle it with absolute aplomb." Acted for the claimant in a 25-day inquest investigating whether the police used excessive force when arresting the deceased in Jordan Begley (deceased) v Greater Manchester Police.- Personal Injury, Chambers UK 2017
Has a broad employment law practice, with extensive experience of High Court litigation and complex EAT claims.
He specialises in industrial relations work and is often instructed by high-profile trade unions. "He is very experienced across the whole employment field and good to work with - he gives helpful advice." Instructed in O'Sullivan v TfL, a complex EAT case trying to ascertain whether a death in service benefit can be considered a loss following the redundancy and death of the claimant before the remedy hearing. - Employment, Chambers UK 2016
Peter Edwards is ranked as a Leading Junior in 'Employment'. "His case preparation, eye for detail and cross- examination are second to none." - Legal 500 2016
"He is able to give to provide accurate, focused and succinct advice." - Personal Injury, Legal 500 2016
Practices personal injury, employment and trade union law, and he is known for the strength of his performances in court. "A barrister with an excellent cross-examination technique, who is always willing to assist."
"He brings a thorough and practical approach to his cases." Acted in a case brought by a former senior broker at BGC International, alleging bullying, harassment and claims relating to unpaid bonuses and provision of health insurance. - Employment, Chambers UK 2016
Covers the full breadth of personal injury litigation, including catastrophic injury,industrial disease and psychiatric injury claims. He is frequently instructed on cases involving serious orthopaedic, spinal cord and head injuries.
"A fine advocate with an excellent legal mind." - Employment, Legal 500 2015
'Peter Edwards is a go-to junior for trade union work and has done a huge amount of brilliant work in this area. He represented Unite in a number of the actions brought by, and against, British Airways arising out of the highly publicised industrial action by cabin crew members' Chambers UK
“[Peter] is particularly recommended for complex trade union issues” Chambers UK
PIBA, APIL, ELBA, ELA, ILS, BSB, Member of the ELAAS scheme at the Employment Appeal Tribunal
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