Founder-Director of didlaw, Karen Jackson
“A foremost expert on disability discrimination claims for senior employees” with “an encyclopedic knowledge and complete mastery of this area of employment law (Chambers And Partners 2019).
Karen graduated from University College London in 1989 with a First and worked in the City for Arthur Andersen, J P Morgan and finally at Union Bank of Switzerland as a futures broker. After 7 years on the trading floor she graduated law school with a Distinction and trained as a solicitor at Mishcon de Reya in London. Karen then became Head of Legal UK and Eire for the cosmetics giant L’Oreal, where most of her work focussed on employment.
Undergoing a successful heart transplantation in 2006, Karen has since been at the forefront of litigation and campaign work focused on protecting and furthering the rights of employees and is an ardent advocate for equality. Karen acted for the claimant in the Supreme Court case of Williams v Swansea, the first employment case on section 15 of the Equality Act 2010 at this level and has extensive experience of employment and discrimination litigation across all tribunals and courts.
A skilled negotiator, and accredited CEDR mediator Karen is passionate about early resolution for clients and has an impressive track record of obtaining quick and fantastic settlements for her clients.
Karen was appointed a “Champion” for the legal mental health charity LawCare and regularly acts for lawyers across all arms of the profession. She is a former trustee of the Mental Health Foundation and member of the Legal Action Working Group founded by Maternity Action.
Regularly asked to comment on employment and discrimination law issues in the national press and media, Karen appeared recently on the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire Show discussing the issue of bullying and harassment in the cosmetics industry.
A force of nature, Karen also manages to find time to make up the panel of leading employment lawyers who write the bulletins for Daniel Barnett’s employment law bulletins, as well as write the odd legal text book. in 2013 she published Disability Discrimination: Law and Case Management. She also provides accredited training on employment and discrimination law and practice for other legal professionals, employers and health practitioners.
In her spare time she loves long walks with her dogs, cycling, pilates, yoga and opera, cocktails, baking and her husband’s fantastic food.
Connect with Karen
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