Audrey Williams

Audrey is a partner in Eversheds’ human resources practice and Head of Discrimination Law for the national practice group. She has particular expertise in discrimination, harassment and equal pay. Audrey is also an experienced litigator and advocate, undertaking advocacy in large and complex tribunal cases, including on class actions and claims of discrimination.

Audrey has particular experience advising clients on a range of diversity issues as well as undertaking advocacy in large and complex tribunal cases, including on class actions and claims of discrimination.

Whilst the majority of her work is conducted on behalf of employers, Audrey has represented employees in a number of key discrimination cases, including one of the first transsexual discrimination cases.

Audrey has been one of a team of lawyers leading on age discrimination issues within Eversheds. Her work in this area has included training ACAS and working with their diversity advisers on the Age Discrimination Regulations; participating and advising on policy issues, strategy and action plans around retirement, redundancy and recruitment implications to a number of major employers; conducting a number of audits with Eversheds’ HR Consultancy team, to identify and advise on risk areas.

Recent projects include defending a number of public sector bodies on equal pay class actions, including one employer with excess of 800 claims; advising on cross bodies redundancies and cost and pay reductions, equality monitoring and data management pay; defending a high value commission claim in excess of £1.5 million for an IT business.

Audrey is described in Chambers and Partners as “superb at discrimination issues” and “exceptional in difficult tribunal cases – calm and incredibly responsive, she pulls out all the stops”. Clients praise her for being extremely good at making very complex matters seem very easy.

Books by this author:

	Applying the Employment Act 2002 This specially commissioned report examines each of the key developments where the Act changes existing provisions or introduces new rights. Each chapter deals with a discreet area.
	Flexible Working Recent research shows that far too many individuals, as well as firms, are unaware of flexible working rights. How employers and employees deal with them is of crucial – and increasing – importance to both. This specially commissioned report clarifies the law, sets out the rights of employer and employee and offers valuable practical advice on best practice.