
Althea Brown has a specialist practice in the ‘core’ civil liberties fields of employment, equality law and professional discipline and regulation. As well as her practice as a barrister, Althea is also a busy mediator.
Her employment and non employment discrimination law practice encompass cases brought in the private and public law arena. Althea’s practice is claimant based and she has successfully and regularly arguing cases in employment tribunals, the County Court, High Court and the Court of Appeal. She is regularly instructed in substantial multi party claims which are high value, technically and legally complex and lengthy.
Althea is regularly instructed in high profile cases and is commended for her skill in successfully tackling claims which are factually, technically and legally complex, which often involve lengthy hearings requiring forensic cross examination of witnesses (including experts) and which are frequently sensitive and controversial.
Althea is also accredited to accept public access instructions.
For information on the type of Mediation that Althea offers click here to view her specialist brochure.
Althea is a Registered Mediator for Civil/Commercial mediation with the Civil Mediation Council.
Aslam v The British Broadcasting Corporation [2010] A highly respected television and radio journalist was successful in her claim for unfair dismissal. Against a background of union activism, major organisational restructuring and perceptions of deep seated historical disadvantage.; Johnstone & others v University of Bath and University of Plymouth [2011] a complex multi party claim under TUPE; O v South Staffordshire and Shropshire NHS Foundation Trust [2010] The Claimant a Consultant Psychiatrist claiming unfair dismissal and victimisation on grounds of race; Ingram v East of England Ambulance Trust [2010] successful outcome to a claim of constructive dismissal by reason of redundancy.
Althea has acted for registrants from across the range of social welfare, health and financial services professions and regulators. These individuals faced the most serious and potentially career ending allegation of misconduct and/or lack of competence.
Althea is highly experienced in dealing with the most complex and sensitive cases before the full range of social welfare, teaching, financial services and healthcare professions regulators including the Care Standards Tribunal, the Health Care Professions Council, The General Dental Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council The Teaching Authority, and the Financial Services Authority. Her disciplinary and regulatory law practice is defined by her commitment to liaising closely with instructing solicitors and registrants on all aspects of case preparation, management, presentation and advocacy. Her strengths include the ability to assimilate complex material quickly and thoroughly coupled with persuasive, effective advocacy. Althea has an established reputation for working successfully to achieve the best possible outcomes for individuals facing what are often the most difficult challenges of their professional career whether facing allegations of lack of competence, gross negligence or professional misconduct. Feedback from professional clients and Registrants consistently report that her advocacy skills and sensitive and insightful approach is highly valued.
Before the Care Standards Tribunal – TM v Secretary of State [2012] A nurse applied under s.86(3) of the Care Standards Act for the tribunal to determine the issue whether her name should be included in the list maintained by the Secretary of State of those unsuitable to work with children and vulnerable adults. social welfare;D v GSCC [2011] A social worker dismissed for gross misconduct facing professional misconduct charges for inadequate record keeping.; M v GTC [2012] – A teacher facing striking off from the register for assaulting a pupil; E v NMC [2012]- A specialist paediatric nurse facing charges of gross misconduct relating to neonatal/special care babies in her care; R v HCPC[2012]- A dietician specialising in patients with head and neck cancer accused of providing inadequate care and poor record keeping; DT v HCPC [2011] – A senior Psychologist/university lecturer accused of plagiarism; MS v FSA [2012] –Appeal against the refusal of the Financial Services Authority to grant registration to a independent financial adviser; H v HCPC [2013]- A male physiotherapist accused of sexually assaulting a female patient; W v HCPC [2013] – A paramedic accused of misconduct in failing to provide adequate care to a child.
Althea Brown is an accredited mediator and barrister specialising in employment and discrimination. Mediation has been a central element of her practice since 2004 and since then she has participated in mediations involving a wide variety of issues.
Althea’s mediation practise is defined by her commitment to liaising closely with participants to facilitate communication between participants and establish an environment where they can negotiate safely and effectively. Throughout the process the aim is to identify and focus on the essentials, encourage progress, and highlight fresh perspectives to bring understanding and agreement.
Her strengths include the ability to assimilate complex material quickly and thoroughly and enhanced by her knowledge of legal process and an appreciation that participants may be facing what are often the most difficult challenges of their professional and personal lives.
Examples of her mediation experience include participation in mediations concerning
Over the years this breadth of experience has secured a keen understanding and appreciation of the variety of working practices, information management systems and protocols in place across a broad range of organisations public and private.
The feedback from professional and lay participants consistently report that her knowledge , commitment, hard work and sensitive, insightful approach is highly valued.
For information on the type of Mediation that Althea offers click here to view her specialist brochure.
Feedback
Feedback on Althea’s recent mediations from both professional and lay participants consistently evidence that her knowledge, commitment, long experience, diligence in preparation and sensitive, insightful approach is highly valued. Comments include:
“I have to say, I was not hopeful that mediation would work for this one given the nature of the dispute. In fact it allowed the parties to discuss directly an alternative way of resolving the dispute which would not have been open to the court. The matter was then resolved without the need for an expensive contested hearing.”
“Althea managed an extremely difficult mediation magnificently. She was patient and attentive with all of the parties involved.”
“I was very impressed by the quality of work put in both in the mediation and behind the scenes.”
“Althea played a significant role in helping us reach a very useful result in our workplace mediation and encouraged the parties to think outside the box.”
“In our commercial mediation Althea displayed real skill and empathy…she had prepared very thoroughly.”
“Althea was very helpful in guiding the process.”