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Background

Charles Crow

Call: 1999

"Charles is very strong on all counts."

Chambers UK 2025

"Charles has an extremely sure command of technical law and very strong and persuasive advocacy skills. His client and witness care as well as his communication skills are excellent."

Legal 500 2025

"Charles is second to none as a barrister."

Chambers UK 2025

"Charles is an absolute pleasure to work with. He is commercially smart, technically superb, and very affable. He delivers every time." "Charles is an excellent choice to impress clients, because he is a fantastic strategist, and he is hard working and reliable." "Charles provided excellent service. He listened to what I wanted, which meant that it was easier to look after the client. His advocacy was clear, persuasive and engaging, as well as successful."

Chambers UK 2024

"Charles is bright and can understand and direct a case very quickly. He has an excellent manner with clients, quickly winning their confidence. He is a fantastic advocate for positioning questions in a way that cuts to the heart of the issue; he is good at reading the correct tone of how to position arguments."  "....exceptional technical strength and grasp of detail."

Legal 500 2024

Charles Crow has significant first instance and appellate experience in the areas of employment and personal injury litigation. He also practices in the area of costs law.

He has achieved recognition for his ability to marshal large amounts of information in complex multi-day hearings, and for his ability to see the wider picture.

In addition, Charles is an accredited mediator, accepts instructions on a direct access basis, and sits as a Deputy District Judge in the County Court.

During his training for the Bar, Charles obtained the Hardwicke Scholarship as well as the Tancred Studentship (Lincoln’s Inn).

Expertise

Employment

Ranked as Band 1/Tier 1 in the directories, Charles has a growing reputation in the field of employment law having been involved in cases at all levels up to the Court of Appeal, and appearing before the Central Arbitration Committee. Recent cases include several with values exceeding £1 million.

Charles is increasingly instructed in High Court injunction applications, in mediations, and in the performance of internal investigatory and decision-making roles (grievance and disciplinary procedures).

He has particular experience in the healthcare, social care, education, housing and banking sectors. He practises, in an advisory capacity, on behalf of both employers and employees.

Discrimination

Hugely experienced in cases involving allegations of unlawful discrimination, Charles is adept at assessing the strengths and weaknesses of a case and addressing the sometimes complex legal issues that arise. His background in personal injury work gives him a particular insight into the medical issues that arise in disability discrimination claims, and his familiarity with financial compensation principles provides a solid basis for dealing with significant future loss of earnings claims.

Settlement Agreements & NDAs

Charles has experience and familiarity with advising on straight-forward settlement agreements, and also the more complex processes involved in negotiating exists of senior employees with share options, and directorship positions, etc. He has advised and assisted with shareholder disputes.

Executive Contracts & Wrongful Dismissal

Charles’ advisory practice encompasses consultation in relation to the negotiation of new contracts of employment, including in cases where restrictive covenants have given rise to additional complication.

Industrial Action

Charles was recently instructed to appear before the Central Arbitration Committee to represent a significant employer in the airline sector. The case involved a dispute in relation to the disclosure of information in the context of collective pay bargaining.

Investigations

In recent years Charles has been increasingly instructed by large employers to undertake disciplinary and grievance investigations, or to chair disciplinary and grievance hearings or appeals. He has particular experience in the health, care, housing, education and sports sectors.

Equal Pay

Charles is experienced in advising on and arguing equal pay claims, including claims involving senior employees at board level.

TUPE

An admittedly complex area, Charles’ experience of cases involving technical aspects of the law pertaining to the Transfer of Undertakings (such as the issue of ‘fragmentation’ – see, for example, London Care and others v Henry [2018] 2 WLUK 476) enables clients to have confidence in relation to avoiding the pitfalls that exist as undertakings transfer or service provision changes take place.

Restrictive Covenants, Confidential Information & Garden Leave

Charles has a growing practice and reputation in relation to the bringing and defending of issued and intimated claims for injunctive relief arising from actual or threatened breaches of restrictive covenants and/or confidentiality clauses. In addition, he frequently advises senior employees with regard to exist arrangements and agreements.

Whistleblowing & Protected Disclosures

Over the years, Charles has developed great experience in all aspects of ‘whistleblowing’/protected disclosure law, including s.103 ERA 1996 automatic unfair dismissal claims and s.47B ERA 1996 detriment claims. He is frequently instructed for complex lengthy hearings involving alleged protected disclosures and multiple alleged detriments.

Notable Employment Cases


Lawrynowicz v. Bidvest Noonan (UK) Limited [2024] EAT 13

A v. The Forward Trust [2023]

Successfully defended FT in a 16 day (liability only) disability discrimination, whistleblowing detriment/dismissal, unfair dismissal, wrongful dismissal, and Working Time Regulations case.


Willis v. Natwest Bank Plc [2023]

£88,000 awarded, in a case pleaded in excess of £5 million (before grossing up): https://www.gov.uk/employment-tribunal-decisions/ms-a-willis-v-national-westminster-bank-plc-2205821- slash-2020


Cygnet Behavioural Health Ltd v. Britton [2022] EAT 108

Ward v. Dimensions (UK) Ltd [2022] EAT 110

Richard Baker Harrison v. Brooks [2021] EWHC 2562 (QB)

Henry and Others v. London Care and others [2018] 2 WLUK 476, EAT

Valentine v. Thera East [2017] IRLR 878 - Before HHJ Richardson

an appeal in relation to payments to a peripatetic carer for travel to and from care appointments at the beginning and end of the day, and the jurisdiction of a Tribunal to consider a claim not in fact argued by a litigant in person.


Morgan v. Royal Mencap [2016] IRLR 428 - Before Simler, J (P)

an appeal concerning the public interest provision in Whistleblowing/Protected Disclosure cases, and the limitations on a Tribunal’s power to strike out a whistleblowing case on the grounds of it lacking reasonable prospects.


Hamblett v. The Humberside Lincolnshire and North Yorkshire Community Rehabilitation Company Limited and others (2015-16)

14 day (not including remedy) unfair dismissal and disability discrimination case involving a probation officer and arising from the completion of offender records.


Rogers v. United Care Limited, 2015

7 day (not including remedy) constructive unfair dismissal and disability discrimination case, involving a care
home manager.


Ore v. Dudley, 2015

8 day unfair dismissal and whistle-blowing case


AZ v. Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust

10 day (not including remedy) unfair dismissal case, involving a Consultant Surgeon, followed by separate remedies hearing. At the remedy hearing the sum of 93,306 was awarded by way of compensation, and an award of wasted costs.


Hurley v. Hereford Hospitals NHS Trust

6 day (not including remedy) unfair dismissal case


Howell v. Easyjet, 2011

pilot, protected disclosures regarding flying hours/limitations/fatigue, detriment suffered


Hamilton v. West Midlands Ambulance NHS Trust, 2011

acting for the NHS Trust, unfair dismissal (criminal offences outside of the workplace)


Walcott v. Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS Trust, 2011

acting for the Trust, discrimination and harassment


Quashie v. Methodist Homes Housing Association [2011] UKEAT/0422/11/DM

ET procedure


Hurley v Wye Valley NHS Trust

2011
10 day unfair dismissal (capability/misconduct) ITU nurse


Bishop v. Carlisle Staffing

2010
unfair dismissal (redundancy), flexible working, maternity leave/sex discrimination, detriment


Nazir and Aslam v. Asim UKEAT/0332/09; [2010]ICR1225, [2010] EqLR 142-155, [2010] ALL ER (D) 113 (Aug)

RRA, ET procedure/unincorporated associations – remitted hearing following EAT decision, 6 days, costs awarded in favour of Respondents


Harber v. Kelly Residential UKEAT/0105/CEA

Human Rights, right to representation at internal disciplinary proceedings, ‘substitution’ by Employment Tribunal, limits of EAT’s appellate jurisdiction


Bryan v. Reverend Enever

employee status (church organist), unfair dismissal


Cpt. Mason v. Thomas Cook

Telegraph, 20 March 2009
acted for Thomas Cook in multi-day, publicised unfair dismissal claim


Dr Elaine Storkey v. Wycliffe Hall

8th January 2008 religious discrimination


Chohan v. Derby Law Centre [2004] IRLR 685; [2004] ALL ER (D) 132 (Apr)

Birmingham City Council v. Mtize; and others [2004] IRLR 516

Personal Injury

In addition to being an accredited mediator, Charles practices in all areas of personal injury law with particular experience in the areas of travel/holiday illness litigation, RTA fraud, health and safety at work/employers’ liability, highways cases, Coroner’s Inquests, CICA hearings, industrial diseases, and general road traffic accident litigation including MIB claims.

He is increasingly involved in fatal accident and serious injury work.

Charles regularly acts for both Claimants and Defendants at all stages of the litigation process, including drafting and advising.

He has experience of various aspects of Motor Indemnity work, including: policy coverage issues, MIB and Article 75 insurer status, dual insurance, and the Untraced Drivers agreement.

Instructions are accepted on a direct access basis.

Costs & Litigation Funding

Charles has been involved in costs litigation for nearly 20 years, including cases involving high value (multi-million) costs bills and complex arguments of costs law and principle.

International Travel Litigation

For many years Charles has been involved in substantial travel illness and injury claims, including many group action claims in relation to large hotels and cruise ships. His experience in the field of costs strengthens his appeal to solicitors where additional complexity arises due to the number of claimants involved in consolidated claims. Due to his lengthy experience, Charles is able to satisfy the requirement, in many cases, for an advocate with familiarity with local standards issues or conflicts of laws.

Related News, Resources and Events

Uncategorised


Costs Vlog – Autumn 2020 – Part 2: Solicitor/Client Assessments and Success Fee reclaims

LISTEN ON YOUTUBE WATCH PART 1 Christopher Perry is once again joined by Adam Burrell, Charles Crow and Richard McLoughlin where they discuss solicitor/client assessments,…

Uncategorised


Costs Vlog – Autumn 2020 – Part 1: Remote hearings, Early Neutral Evaluation & Mediation in costs cases

LISTEN ON YOUTUBE WATCH PART 2  The recent Court of Appeal (and eagerly awaited Supreme Court) decision in Ho v Adelekun [2020} EWCA Civ 517 relating…

View all related news

        

"Charles is an excellent barrister. He is technically brilliant and able to position arguments for clients in a way they can understand. Charles demonstrates an impressive intellectual grasp of the legal issues, command of the factual detail and strong practical advocacy skills. He is extremely thorough and very good both on paper and on his feet."


"Charles is bright and can understand and direct a case very quickly. He has an excellent manner with clients, quickly winning their confidence. He is a fantastic advocate for positioning questions in a way that cuts to the heart of the issue; he is good at reading the correct tone of how to position arguments." "Charles has strong technical skills, particularly in relation to disability discrimination. He also has an excellent forensic dissection of the issues."


"Charles is very experienced. He sees the wood from the trees in terms of legal issues and subsequently makes succinct and persuasive submissions. He is a robust advocate who takes a pragmatic approach to complex issues." "I consider him to be an excellent advocate who gets on well with clients and is always very thorough and insightful." "He's a very authoritative and decisive barrister who breeds confidence quickly in clients who instruct him. He's very intelligent, academic and able to explain complex concepts in a straightforward fashion."


"Charles approaches matters carefully and confidently leaving no stone unturned without being too aggressive."


"One of his strengths is the ability to quickly assimilate a large amount of information and then use it to his advantage in cross-examination. He can then succinctly express the key points to the judge." "He is a very intelligent opponent and he really fights his client's corner." "A bit of a brainiac, and very calm under pressure."


  • BLS Barrister of the Year 2022 nominee
  • Deputy District Judge (since 2019) Accredited Mediator
  • LLB, Barrister-at-Law
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Related News, Resources and Events

Uncategorised


Costs Vlog – Autumn 2020 – Part 2: Solicitor/Client Assessments and Success Fee reclaims

LISTEN ON YOUTUBE WATCH PART 1 Christopher Perry is once again joined by Adam Burrell, Charles Crow and Richard McLoughlin where they discuss solicitor/client assessments,…

Uncategorised


Costs Vlog – Autumn 2020 – Part 1: Remote hearings, Early Neutral Evaluation & Mediation in costs cases

LISTEN ON YOUTUBE WATCH PART 2  The recent Court of Appeal (and eagerly awaited Supreme Court) decision in Ho v Adelekun [2020} EWCA Civ 517 relating…

View all related news

Clerk Team

Oliver Lee

Practice Director, Employment

oliverl@no5.com

07538 212479

Clare Smith

Practice Manager, Employment

clares@no5.com

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