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Paul Gilroy QC’s reputation is principally based on his employment practice. He has for some years been recognised by Chambers & Partners, The Legal 500, and Legal Experts as a leader in this field. Paul has been recognised as a leading silk within the Employment Northern Circuit.
"The leading barrister on the employment side of sports law, particularly acting for managers and coaches; well connected to key individuals." (Legal 500 2018 (Sport))
"He is very hands on, approachable, knows the sector very well, and he is combative when you require him to be.”
(Chambers and Partners 2018 (Sport))
"He is a leading light in football cases."
(Chambers and Partners 2018)
"He knows and is instructed by everyone in football."
(Legal 500 2017)
"Paul has a very robust and persuasive style."
(Chambers and Partners 2017)
"Focuses on employment law and is frequently instructed on complex or high level work at the Employment Tribunal, Employment Appeal Tribunal and High Court, such as whistleblowing, discrimination, class actions and executive matters."
(Chambers and Partners 2016)
"A noted employment specialist who is frequently instructed in employment disputes in the sports sector. He is a favourite for high-profile footballers and managers who are facing difficulties with their clubs. 'He is very tenacious and personable and is renowned for getting a fantastic deal for managers.' 'He is an outstanding trial lawyer.'”
(Chambers and Partners 2016)
"He is an excellent advocate who has the gravitas to deal with complex tribunals. He is very thorough and focused."
(Chambers and Partners 2015)
Paul Gilroy has over three decades of experience of employment-related litigation at all levels. He has particular expertise in substantive High Court actions and proceedings for injunctive relief (including strike action injunctions) and high value/multi-party employment tribunal work.
He also conducts investigations into employment law-related matters.
He has a particular interest in sports-related litigation and regulatory matters, both generally and in sport in particular.
In his capacity as Retained Counsel for the League Managers Association, he has advised and acted for a stellar list of football clients, including Roy Hodgson, Martin O’Neill, Gianfranco Zola, Sir Alex Ferguson, Harry Redknapp, and David Moyes, amongst others.
Most appearances as Counsel before the FA Premier League Managers Arbitration Tribunal (7).
He is a specialist member of the FA's Judicial Panel and the FA Judicial Appeal Board.
He has been instructed in high profile public inquiries (Ashworth Hospital and Harold Shipman), and has wide-ranging experience in the field of professional discipline, both acting in and conducting disciplinary hearings for Universities and sports bodies and in the NHS.
He contributes to professional publications, has annotated employment legislation for Current Law Statutes, has been engaged by Sweet & Maxwell to assist in editing the Encyclopaedia on Employment Law, and is a frequent speaker on employment law topics to professional and other audiences.
Notable recent work
Paul Gilroy has extensive High Court experience, with a particular emphasis in the following areas:
Sectors covered include banking and financial services, sport, media, national and local government, retail and technology.
Paul Gilroy is a specialist Employment Tribunal practitioner who is instructed in cases of the greatest value, complexity and sensitivity. His Tribunal practice spans the full range of workplaces, from local and central government, the NHS, commerce and industry to the professions and academia.
Notable recent cases
Appointments
Paul Gilroy is renowned for his sports law practice, covering advisory work, litigation and all regulatory aspects of sport.
His experience covers football, rugby union, rugby league, cricket, tennis, cycling, boxing, athletics, weightlifting, gymnastics, and table tennis. He has extensive experience of issues relating to selection/non-selection, anti-doping and safeguarding in sport.
He has advised and acted for a stellar list of clients from the world of domestic and international football.
Paul Gilroy’s football practice covers the High Court and arbitration proceedings, principally FA Rule K8 matters and proceedings before the FA Premier League Managers Arbitration Tribunal.
He has the most appearances as Counsel before the FA Premier League Managers Arbitration Tribunal (7).
Notable Cases
Appointments
In addition to sitting as a Part-time Judge of Employment Tribunals (appointed 2000), Paul Gilroy holds the following sports law appointments:
Legal Arbitrator for Sport Resolutions UK.
Member of:
Thematic Arbitration Panels of Sport Resolutions UK.
FA Judicial Panel Specialist Member.
FA Judicial Appeal Board Specialist Member.
Paul Gilroy is retained Counsel to the League Managers Association.
Paul Gilroy has wide-ranging regulatory experience, advising in relation to, acting in and conducting hearings in particular for Universities and sports bodies and in the NHS.
He has particular expertise in the conduct of Interim Orders and Fitness to Practise Panels before the GMC.
Notable cases
Paul Gilroy has also been instructed in high profile public inquiries (Ashworth Hospital and Harold Shipman).
