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  • Sexual Orientation Discrimination Solicitors

Sexual Orientation Discrimination Solicitors

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Everyone should be able to go to work and be free of discrimination, including being targeted because of your sexual orientation. Sexual orientation discrimination is when you’re treated unfavourably because you’re gay, lesbian, bisexual, asexual, pansexual or heterosexual. We have specialist solicitors who are experts in dealing with this type of discrimination, in a sensitive and supportive manner.

Sexual orientation is a protected characteristic named in the Equality Act 2010. This means that if you face this kind of discrimination at work, we can support you in making a complaint or going through the grievance procedure. We could also help you claim compensation.

This type of discrimination can come in different forms, and it also doesn’t need to be intentional to be discriminatory. Contact our team if you need help by calling us on 0207 650 3999 or fill out our online form and we'll call you back. 

What Services Do We Offer?

If you’ve experienced discrimination at work because of your sexual orientation, we can help. You can contact online or call us, where our experts will listen carefully to your case and advise you on where to go next.

We’ll do everything in our power to make the process as straightforward and as comfortable for you as possible. Nearly all of our discrimination cases are settled out of court, so we’ll first negotiate with your employer to try and reach an agreement.

If your case does go to an Employment Tribunal or to court (for example, if you make an appeal), we can represent you and help guide you through the process.

Give us a call on 0207 650 3999  for an informal chat about what’s happened and how we might be able to help.

Who Can We Help?

Our lawyers are used to helping people in a wide range of industries, in a variety of different job roles. We also have particular experience representing directors, senior executives and other professionals with complex claims.

We can help if you’ve been discriminated against because:

  • You’re gay, lesbian, bisexual, asexual, pansexual or heterosexual
  • Someone has mistakenly identified you as any of the above
  • You are connected to someone who identifies as any of the above.

And if any of the following things have happened to you because of your sexual orientation:

  • You’re unfairly dismissed – your employer ended your employment without a reason or without following procedure
  • You’re constructively dismissed – if you were left with no choice but to leave your job due to a breach of contract
  • You’re made redundant – if you were picked for redundancy based on your sexual orientation alone
  • You’re overlooked for a promotion – if you’ve not been considered for a promotion, or even prevented from applying for one, because of your sexual orientation
  • You’re demoted – if your employer demotes you or drastically changes your job role without a reason
  • You’ve had trouble with the recruitment process – if your job application is rejected because of your sexual orientation
  • You’re bullied or harassed – if an individual or a group of people at work make you feel degraded, humiliated, offended or intimidated because of your sexual orientation
  • You’re victimised – if you’ve experienced unfair treatment after making a complaint about discrimination, or after supporting someone who has made a complaint.

Discrimination can also be direct or indirect:

  • Direct Discrimination – when you are treated worse than another person in a similar situation because of your sexual orientation. For example, you were due to represent your company at a business conference, but your boss gives the opportunity to someone else after finding out that you’re in a same-sex relationship
  • Indirect Discrimination – when a rule or policy at your workplace puts people of a specific sexual orientation at a disadvantage.

Why Choose Us?

Our lawyers are experienced in this specific area of law and will be by your side every step of the way, so you feel comfortable asserting your rights.

It doesn’t matter if you work for a small independent business or a global corporate company. We’re committed to making you feel comfortable no matter how big or small your employer is.

We also have a longstanding relationship with leading LGBT rights charity Stonewall, who have named us as one of their Diversity Champions. All our offices share their vision for an equal and inclusive workplace, and we work hard to create an environment where everyone can thrive.

We’re also recognised by the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners as industry leaders who fight hard for our clients. On multiple occasions we have lead the way on landmark decisions in the higher courts. We pride ourselves on offering a supportive and compassionate service, and are committed to getting you the best possible outcome.

If you think you need our help, get in touch via our online form or alternatively, call us on 0207 650 3999.

Experienced sexual orientation discrimination solicitors
LGBTQ+ friendly – Stonewall Diversity Champions
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Shah Qureshi Partner Meet the team
Sexual Orientation Discrimination - More Information
    • What is the process for making a discrimination claim?
    • Your first step should usually be to raise your concerns directly with your employer and give them the chance to resolve the issue internally. If this doesn’t lead to a conclusion that you’re happy with, you can start the formal grievance process.

      If the formal process still doesn’t satisfy you, it’s time to consider going to the Employment Tribunal. The first step towards this is to start the ACAS early conciliation process. ACAS helps you and your employer to try and settle the dispute out of court. This process can take a month and can be extended by two extra weeks if you and your employer agree.

      When the ACAS early conciliation process ends, you’ll be given an ACAS certificate. If your dispute is still unresolved at this point you can issue a claim in the Employment Tribunal. Your employer will get a copy of your claim and they have 30 days to send their defence.

      The Tribunal will then set a date for a full hearing in six to nine months. We’ll work with you to prepare your case during this period. Going through the full Employment Tribunal process may feel long and stressful. We’ve been through it many times before so will support and guide you through each step.

      Time limits 

      It’s important to contact us as soon as possible. You have three months minus one day to from the last act of discrimination to start the ACAS early conciliation process. These time limits can come up very quickly, so you need to move fast.

    • What redress can you seek from an employer if they have discriminated against you?
    • If your claim goes to the Employment Tribunal or to court, the outcomes could be:

      • Compensation
      • Declaration of your rights
      • Recommendation to your employer to stop the discrimination from happening again.

      If we settle your claim through negotiation, we may be able to get a reference and an apology for you, as well as a confidentiality agreement and terms which protect your reputation. Reaching a settlement this way can be less stressful than going to court or the Employment Tribunal. In our experience it’s also likely that you’ll receive a more favourable compensation settlement through negotiation. 

    • What payment options are available?
    • There are a number of ways you can pay for your legal work:

      • Hourly rate – this is how most of our cases are funded. You only pay for the time you use.
      • Agreed fixed fees – in more complex cases it might be more cost effective for us to agree a fixed fee for your work.
      • Legal expenses insurance – this is legal cover that’s often a bolt-on to home insurance. It’s worth seeing if you have this as it may cover some or all of your legal fees.
      • Trade union membership – if you’re a member of a union, they might have something in place that pays your legal fees if you have an employment dispute.
      • Your employer – in some instances your employer may pay some of your costs (this can be the case if you are negotiating a settlement agreement).
      • Third party funding – this is where someone who isn’t directly involved in your case agrees to pay your costs.
      • Crowd funding – it may be possible to crowd fund your case using the CrowdJustice website (particularly if it’s of public interest).

      We can review your options in an initial meeting and let you know how to best pay for your case.

      It’s best to have any relevant membership/insurance documents to hand, as they will help us to understand any cover you already have.

    • Where are we based?
    • Our employment lawyers are based in major cities across the country, so we can help wherever you are.

      We offer an initial consultation, either over the phone or in person, where we can discuss your case.

      Call us on 0207 650 3999 or contact us online today to find out how we can help you.

Shah Qureshi is highly esteemed for his work, pursuing the cause of discriminated professionals against large corporate entities."

Chambers & Partners, 2019

Related Information – Sexual Orientation Discrimination

Unfair Dismissal – contact us if you've been unfairly dismissed because of discrimination Read More
Employment Disputes – we can support you through every stage or a dispute with your employer Read More
Harassment & Bullying – if you're being bullied at work our solicitors can help you protect your rights Read More
Parental & Family Friendly Employment Rights – if you're being discriminated against for your family responsibilities we can help you get the support you're entitled to at work Read More

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We're always proud to be recognised for the work we do for our clients and have been named as a leading firm in the latest legal guides - which provide information and recommendations about lawyers and law firms in the UK

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Exceptional Experience
Exceptional experience of claimant work and high-quality judgement"
Legal 500, 2020
Excellent And Savvy Team
They are an excellent and savvy team with huge strength"
Chambers, 2020

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