She is regularly instructed on complex claims within public bodies and private institutions. Adeola acts for both Claimants and Respondents and is astute at minimising reputational risk. Adeola has a solid track record of working with vulnerable groups and has held a number of public appointments over the years. As a result, her client care skills and strategic thinking are particularly strong. Adeola’s empathetic approach coupled with her ability to cut through complexities, means that she is a highly regarded junior among solicitors and lay clients alike.

One of her lay clients recently stated:

“I would also like to add that through the whole hearing Adeola has been an absolute Diamond, I could have not wished for a better Barrister.”

Adeola has significant experience across the breadth of employment and education work including complex discrimination claims, whistleblowing claims, stress at work claims, and unfair dismissals. She has a solid foundation in personal injury, clinical negligence and advocacy in the county court, ET and EAT, having worked in her own right as sole counsel and also assisted senior juniors with complex matters. Adeola is particularly skilled at cross examination and consistently obtains favourable judgements for her clients.

Feedback from a professional client:

“We were impressed with how she dealt with this matter in a confident and assured manner, she had obviously prepared properly – I was also impressed with how engaging she was with the clients – it is a very important factor when I instruct counsel.”

Adeola has extensive experience representing parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities at the First-tier Tribunal. She obtained favourable results appealing the content of EHC plans and in ‘refusal to assess’ cases. The accuracy and strength of her written submissions has resulted in local authorities making significant concessions. Adeola’s experience as a school governor and a Sunday School teacher means she is particularly well placed to represent teachers and senior leaders in employment disputes.

Adeola was formerly appointed by former High Court Judge, Dame Linda Dobbs to Project Manage the Dame Linda Dobbs Review, a review into whether Lloyds Banking Group investigated and appropriately reported issues arising from the HBOS Reading Fraud following their acquisition of HBOS in 2009.

Adeola has a busy advisory practice advising on employment claims for both Claimants and Respondents for liability and quantum. She appears regularly in Employment disputes in Preliminary Hearings and Final Hearings and recent instructions have seen her represent Claimants in unfair dismissal claims, unlawful deduction from wages claims and disability discrimination claims. Adeola is also regularly instructed in strike out applications on behalf of Respondents in respect Preliminary Hearings on disability, Limitation and Strike Out/Deposit Order Hearings. She is well versed in dealing efficiently with Case Management Hearings and can be trusted to represent clients robustly at every stage.

Key Cases

WINS: 2023 - 2024

Respondent work

1. Mrs C Palladino v Reed in Partnership Ltd ET3303463/2022 – Adeola acted for the successful Respondent in obtaining strike out of all of the claims, including allegations of age discrimination. The Judge commended Adeola’s detailed and meticulous submissions. The case attracted media interest and was reported in the Daily Mail.

2. Mr K Afzal v Randstad Solutions Ltd ET 1301940/2022 – following Adeola’s strong submissions, on behalf of the Respondent at the Preliminary Hearing, about the weaknesses of the Claimant’s case, he promptly withdrew all claims, including sex discrimination and unfair dismissal.

3. G Palmer v Francesca Beer & 1 Other ET 1402416.2022 – Adeola successfully defended all claims of disability discrimination for the first Respondent.

4. W Odell v Randstad Solutions Ltd and Others ET 1801446/2023 - following Adeola’s forceful submissions on worker status, on behalf of the first Respondent at the Preliminary Hearing, the Claimant withdrew all claims against them.

5. M Cervantes v Reed Specialist Recruitment Ltd and NHS Blood and Transplant ET 2305833/2021 – Adeola successfully defended the First Respondent in obtaining strike out of all the Claimants claims. Adeola drafted detailed written submissions, supplemented by persuasive oral advocacy leading the Tribunal to agree that the claims had no reasonable prospects of success.

6. Phillips v Combined Technical Solutions Ltd ET 2201739/2023. After a five-day trial, Adeola acted for the successful Respondent in defeating a claim of race discrimination.

7. Abdullah v Krispy Kreme Ltd ET 3321298/2021. After a five-day trial, Adeola acted for the successful Respondent in defeating a claim of race discrimination.

Claimant work

1. N Borowiak v M Nietrzebka (sole trader) T/a Dentwizard ET 1800206/2023 – Adeola represented the successful Claimant in his claim for unlawful deduction from wages.

2. A v University of Salford 2023 – Adeola successfully represented a final year student in internal disciplinary proceedings in respect of serious plagiarism allegations which, if founded, could have resulted in expulsion. The Student Misconduct Panel found that the allegations were unfounded thus the students’ academic record remained unblemished. 

3. Miss A Joumana v Spicehaart Group Services Ltd ET 3310850/2022 – Adeola successfully defended both a costs and wasted costs application using detailed written and compelling oral submissions.

4. C Davies v Neath Port Talbot Council and Governing Body of Sandfields Primary School ET 1600320/2023 – Adeola successfully represented the former teacher in her claim of unfair dismissal after 10 years of exemplary service. 

5. H Joshi v British Telecommunications plc (BT) ET 3203279/2022 – Adeola successfully represented the claimant in proving his case of unfair dismissal. 

In her spare time Adeola enjoys going to the theatre, sewing, and keeping fit.