Alice Mayhew KC

Nominated Senior Counsel of the Year at IEL Awards 2024.

Alice is a specialist in employment litigation described most recently in Legal 500 2025 as: 'having a brain the size of a planet, lashings of common sense and a warmth and charm that she deploys to great effect. She is a fantastic advocate, able to find a solution in the most complex of issues, and is articulate and persuasive on her feet.' 

Alice specialises in complex and often high value litigation and advisory work particularly involving discrimination, equal pay, whistleblowing, employment rights and breach of contract claims. She regularly appears in the Employment Tribunal, High Court and appellate courts. Alice has extensive experience acting for a wide variety of clients - those operating within financial services, aviation, construction and multi-nationals as well as individuals (often senior executives).

Alice has been consistently recommended as a Leading Junior by Legal 500 since 2013 and by Chambers UK since 2014, including being shortlisted for Employment Junior of the Year at the 2018 Chambers Bar Awards. As of 2025, Alice is ranked as a Leading Silk within Chambers & Partners UK Bar Guide for both Employment and Independent Investigations, where she is described as “extremely impressive, she offers pragmatic solutions, finds a way to cut through noise, and is unflappable”.

Alice is co-editor of Discrimination Law (Bloomsbury Professional) and a case reviewer for Advocate. She regularly appears as part of the ELAAS scheme.

• Recommendations

  "Alice is extremely impressive. She offers pragmatic solutions, finds a way to cut through noise and is unflappable." - Independent Investigations, Chambers UK 2025

  "Alice has a brain the size of a planet, lashings of common sense and a warmth and charm that she deploys to great effect. She is a fantastic advocate, able to find a solution in the most complex of issues, and is articulate and persuasive on her feet." - Employment, Legal 500 2025

  "Alice is first-class. She is cool, calm and collected." - Employment, Chambers UK Bar 2024

  "Alice is so smart and really intelligent. She translates the law into practical, commercial advice and exudes confidence with clients. She is a superstar and a go-to for anything employment-related." - Employment, Chambers UK Bar 2024

   "A silk with great breadth of experience and intellect, combined with a level-headed approach." - Employment, legal 500 2024

  "Alice is an exceptional barrister who knows when to charm and when to strike, ensuring nothing less than the best results for clients." - Employment, Chambers UK Bar 2023

  "Alice is great to work with: very accommodating and her written work is excellent." - Employment, Chambers UK Bar 2023

  ‘A formidable advocate, has a real fist for the fight, as well as being extremely articulate and very, very clever. Her drafting is a masterclass. Alice is also an absolute joy to work with - she puts clients at ease, is able to explain the most complex issues in layman's terms, and it's clear why clients always want Alice in their corner.’ - Employment, Legal 500 2023

  An experienced courtroom and Employment Tribunal advocate who is highly knowledgeable in matters involving restrictive covenants and contractual rights. She also handles an increasing amount of whistle-blowing litigation. "She is an excellent advocate, she is pragmatic, she is intelligent and she can handle the toughest of cases." "It is very hard to get her in the diary as she is such a popular barrister. She is very supportive, she is helpful in her tactical approach and we enjoy working with her." "She knows when to charm and when to strike, and she ensures nothing less than the best result for her clients." - Employment, Chambers UK Bar 2022. 

  "One of the very best senior juniors – she’s clever, commercial, relatable and great on her feet – really just the whole package – Alice is the one you want in your corner." - Employment, Legal 500 2022. 

  "Fiercely intelligent, brilliant and persuasive." "Really superb - a pleasure to work with, responsive and really 'on it'." Acted in Secarma and Others v Denneny and Others, a Court of Appeal case on springboard injunctions. - Employment, Chambers UK Bar 2021

  ‘Has a good understanding of clients' particular characteristics, is good with witnesses and technically sound.’ - Employment, Legal 500 2021

  "Her cross-examination is a masterclass and clients love her. She's so user-friendly while being utterly focused and totally fearless." "She's technically strong and takes a sensible and pragmatic approach to proceedings." Represented Jackson Rowe Dispute & Claims Solutions as defendants in a High Court interim injunction application involving overlapping restrictive covenants. - Employment, Chambers UK Bar 2020

  ‘An exceptional senior junior who knows when to charm and when to strike, ensuring nothing less than the best result for clients.’ - Employment, Legal 500 2020

  "Absolutely great to work with. Responsive, knowledgeable and dedicated." "A very pleasant advocate who engages really well with clients." Successfully represented Mr Nurmohamed in a case concerning the correct approach to the new public interest requirement introduced into section 43B of the Employment Rights Act, 1996. - Employment, Chambers UK Bar 2019

  ‘She is clearly on top of her game.’ - Employment, Legal 500 2019

  Shortlisted for Employment Junior of the Year in the 2018 Chambers Bar Awards.

  “Cuts to the detail like a knife through butter. Very diligent and always prepared. She is also a terrific cross-examiner. Fearless, articulate and lethal. She inspires confidence and has a very winning way with clients.” Represented Dentons in defence of a holiday pay, disability discrimination and Personal Health Insurance Income claim. - Employment, Chambers UK 2018

  "She is responsive, knowledgeable, dedicated and good with clients." - Employment, Legal 500 2017

  An experienced High Court advocate who is highly knowledgeable in matters involving restrictive covenants, contractual rights and whistle-blowing. Clients attest that she has a high level of client service and is a confident and impressive advocate.  "She is excellent - she is extremely good with the client and really willing to get stuck in and be a team player." Solicitors note that "her advocacy is great" and that "she is robust when she needs to be." Acted in Chesterton Global Limited and Neal Verman v Nurmohamed, a complex whistle-blowing case in which the tribunal sought to ascertain the proper interpretation of the term 'public interest' in the Employment Rights Act 1996. - Employment, Chambers UK 2017

  "She is very responsive and provides excellent legal analysis." - Employment, Legal 500 2016

  Consistently praised for her ability to work effectively as part of a wider team, she is a strong courtroom performer and an experienced tribunal and High Court advocate. "She is very good with clients and excellent to work with as part of a team." "Pragmatic, highly competent and a fierce cross-examiner." Acted successfully for the respondent, the Tullett Prebon Group, in the Employment Tribunal. The case concerned a race discrimination and unfair dismissal claim. - Employment, Chambers UK 2016

  "She gets to grips with the key issues quickly and provides a seamless service to clients." - Employment, Legal 500 2015

  Has a diverse employment practice, and regularly appears in the High Court, at appellate level and before the Employment Tribunal. She regularly works with market-leading private practice firms as well as in-house teams from large companies. "Very good with witnesses, she puts them at ease and speaks to them on their level." Advised the GMB union in relation to proposed changes to terms and conditions by Brighton and Hove City Council and on threatened strike action by cleaning staff. - Employment, Chambers UK 2015

  "Very good with clients, and a fierce cross-examiner" - Employment, Legal 500 2014

  A skilful junior whose practice embraces discrimination and breach of contract disputes. Sources particularly value her incisive cross-examination. "She doesn’t get way-laid by irrelevant points.” “She becomes part of the team and readily offers support to both clients and witnesses.” She was involved in Butler v Mellons & Another, a discrimination case brought before the EAT. - Employment, Chambers UK 2014

  "Alice is my first choice. She is great to work with, really understands the issues and is a formidable advocate. Alice is excellent with clients, and is a fierce and effective cross-examiner. She is extremely helpful and easy to work with, and really goes the extra mile." - David Von Hagen, Partner and Head of Employment, Winckworth Sherwood

  "Thank you so much for all your excellent work... You were everything a needy in house lawyer could want – technical and able to cut through the morass to understand the claims, on top of the facts, and unfailingly obliging about answering my random questions and handholding as we went through the process.  Thank you very much – it has been greatly appreciated and you’ve been a real pleasure to work with." - Lucy Kilroy, Senior Counsel, Xerox Europe

  "She was instructed in relation to a complex discrimination and whistle-blowing case in which we acted for the Claimant.  The Claim was a high value claim and involved complex issues relating to future losses. Alice was highly responsive, extremely thorough and was strong tactically in the face of an aggressive defence. I would have no hesitation recommending Alice as counsel in complex employment tribunal litigation." - Sara Frisby, Consultant Solicitor, Morgan Russell

  "Her style of cross examination effectively undermines the Claimant’s case without alienating the Tribunal by being overly aggression. Client friendly and a number one choice for tricky discrimination claims." - Associate, City Law Firm

• Employment

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  Shortlisted for Employment Junior of the Year in the 2018 Chambers Bar Awards

  Alice has extensive experience of complex, multi-day litigation which is often factually and legally complex and high value. She has in-depth experience of cases involving whistleblowing, discrimination, employment rights and complex contractual issues. Her High Court practice includes interim applications (particularly injunctions) and full hearings involving contractual disputes often involving restrictive covenants, fiduciary duties, duties of fidelity and confidence.

  Alice works for both Respondents and Claimants. She has particular expertise acting for clients within the financial services sector.

  Examples of Alice’s work are as follows:

  • Pelter v Bruro Four [2022] EAT 105: represented the Respondent in an age discrimination claim concerning the provision of permanent health insurance in the ET and EAT, successfully defending the matter.
  • Simpson v Cantor Fitzgerald Europe [2021] IRLR 238 (CA)) acting for R a large broker firm in a complex whistleblowing claim brought by an FCA registered employee at an eight day hearing in the Employment Tribunal and on appeal both at the EAT and the Court of Appeal. The appeal challenged multiple aspects of the whistleblowing legal framework.
  • Forse & Ors v Secarma Ltd & Ors [2019] EWCA Civ 215: defending corporate and individual clients in relation to springboard and other injunctive relief. The matter was set down for a speedy 12 day high court trial (led by Tom Croxford KC) before it settled. Pending the trial Alice's clients appealed to the Court of Appeal which considered the test on interim applications for springboard relief.
  • Multiple investigation including into sexual misconduct and discrimination within law firms, multi-nationals and financial organisations. By way of example undertook an extensive investigation into allegations of bullying and undue pressure made against the CEO of Stobart Group Plc, and reported to the Plc Board (see, for instance, the Financial Times article).

• Equality

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  Alice has extensive experience of equality claims in all areas of discrimination. She has represented both respondents and claimants in the Employment Tribunal, County Court and Employment Appeal Tribunal in complex discrimination claims, and is regularly instructed in multi-day discrimination claims before the Employment Tribunal.

• Dismissals & Employment Rights

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  Alice has extensive experience of dismissal claims and related employment rights, regularly appearing in complicated claims before the Employment Tribunal and Employment Appeal Tribunal. Many of Alice’s claims involve redundancy or some other substantial reason dismissals and/or whistleblowing.

• Restrictive Covenants & Injunctions

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  Alice regularly advises clients on the enforcement of restrictive covenants and implied contractual terms providing early advice aimed at reducing the likelihood of costly injunctive or other proceedings. She has also advised on the impact of garden leave provisions on restrictive covenants, the duty of fidelity, trust and confidence and fiduciary duties.

  Recent cases include:

  • Ongoing advice before and during litigation commonly in the context of restrictive covenants being contained within applicable commercial and employment agreements. Representing clients in court where required.
  • Defending corporate and individual clients in relation to springboard and other injunctive relief all the way to fully contested hearings. As an example – represented clients (led by Tom Croxford) in the Court of Appeal which considered the test on interim applications for springboard relief (see Forse & Ors v Secarma Ltd & Ors [2019] EWCA Civ 215). Assisted with strategy, disclosure and witness statements prior to matter settling before a 12 day hearing.

• Investigations

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  Alice is ranked as a Leading Silk with Chambers & Partners 2025 UK Bar Guide for Independent Investigations, where she's described "as extremely impressive. She offers pragmatic solutions, finds a way to cut through noise and is unflappable."

  Alice has conducted numerous investigations for large multinational companies, law firms, financial organisations, recruitment consultants and other organisations into grievances brought by senior employees, serious disciplinary matters and allegations of sexual misconduct.

  Recent investigations have featured allegations of bullying and harassment (for a world leading research company), concerns regarding potential gross misconduct by a CF-30 FCA registered employee and multiple investigations into serious sexual misconduct or harassment in law firms.

• Commercial Litigation and Disputes

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  Alice regularly advises and represents both employees and employers on commercial aspects of employment work including:

  • Advised a large utility company on its ability to change the executive bonus scheme part way through it.
  • Drafted a Part 20 Defence on behalf of a Part 20 Defendant in a commercial claim arising from the sale and purchase of a financial services company.
  • Represented the company in proceedings against an ex-employee whom it is believed has taken confidential information in order to compete with the company. Obtained orders for delivery up of devices and instruction of a single joint expert to carry out forensic examination of the devices.

• Industrial Relations

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  Alice has represented employers, unions and individuals in relation to industrial relations and collective consultation requirements relating to TUPE and redundancy.