Camilla Palmer has specialised in discrimination law for nearly 20 years. She joined Leigh Day in April 2009 and leads the employment and discrimination team.
Camilla is committed to supporting workers and employees achieve what they want, in a cost effective and supportive way. Most clients want an agreement with their employer – either to keep their job or leave with a good settlement – and to avoid the costs and stress of a tribunal hearing. Camilla specialises in guiding employees how to achieve their aims as well as negotiating high value settlements on their behalf.
For those who do want to litigate Camilla is an experienced and determined litigator, not afraid of the opposition, whatever their size. She has conducted cases up to the European Court of Justice.
The Legal Directory, Chambers, has said of Camilla that ‘she is an effective communicator who gets to the nub of the issue fast and is upfront about fees ’. One client said ‘her outstanding advice preserved my career…’ In 2012 Chambers said “Camilla Palmer is unanimously acclaimed as one of the UK's best discrimination specialists, particularly in relation to female discrimination and
maternity rights cases…. According to sources, she "is exceptionally committed to her clients' rights."
Particular areas of expertise are cases involving:
- Workers in the media,
- High value claims against City institutions,
- Law firms, including solicitors and partners,
- The armed forces,
- Voluntary organisations.
Camilla acted for TV presenter
Miriam O'Reilly in her successful high-profile landmark case against the BBC for
age discrimination. Since then she has set up the
Women’s Equality Network with Miriam, the aim of which is to provide peer to peer support and advice for women suffering discrimination at work.
Camilla is best known for her work on
maternity,
parental and flexible working rights,
harassment,
sex and
age discrimination and whistle blowing.
Camilla has written some of the leading books on discrimination including the Discrimination Law Handbook (2007 Legal Action Group: 2nd edition) and Maternity and Parental Rights, (2006 Legal Action Group 2006). She trains extensively on discrimination law including the Certificate of Discrimination Law.