Industrial Relations

"Devereux is the go-to set for trade union matters."
Legal 500

We have a strong and established team who have dealt with some of the toughest industrial relations cases for both employers and trade unions. Members of the team have advised or acted in the majority of the largest national industrial disputes in recent years including those involving Civil Service and Government agencies, national energy companies, the NHS, rail and bus companies, airlines and airports, the Royal Mail and Post Office, refuse companies, fire services, universities, manufacturing and steel companies and some retail businesses.

Our work in this field has led to a recognition of the set as a whole as “particularly good at trade union work” in the Chambers UK and Legal 500 directories with our barristers being individually recognised for their “unbeatable” expertise in industrial relations and trade union work including having “first choice KCs”. “The set can boast deep experience among its ranks covering high-profile employment disputes… Members exhibit considerable expertise in cases involving … industrial relations” (Chambers UK 2025).

Devereux assists companies and trade unions with strategic decisions relating to indus

In addition to cases arising from industrial action, members of chambers regularly appear before the Certification Officer and the Central Arbitration Committee (on claims for union recognition and transnational consultation).

We regularly provide lectures on a wide range of industrial relations topics. We also contribute to leading loose-leaf texts in the field and a leading book on Injunctions.

A list of relevant cases and appointments is included within each individual barrister’s personal profile.

Barristers with Expertise in this area

King’s Counsel


Alice Mayhew KC

Silk 2022 | Call 2001

Bruce Carr KC

Silk 2009 | Call 1986

Andrew Burns KC

Silk 2015 | Call 1993

Junior Counsel


Peter Edwards

Call 1992

Laura Bell

Call 2004

Talia Barsam

Call 2006

Thomas Cordrey

Call 2006

Samuel Nicholls

Call 2006

Kate Balmer

Call 2009

Georgina Hirsch

Call 2009

Jesse Crozier

Call 2009

Georgia Hicks

Call 2012

Bayo Randle

Call 2012

Marianne Tutin

Call 2013

Anna Greenley

Call 2009

Alice Defriend

Call 2022

Josh Neaman

Call 2024