An accomplished and highly experienced lawyer, Fflur has been head of Darwin Gray’s talented Employment and HR team since 2013. In November 2021 she also became Darwin Gray’s Managing Partner. Tenacious and dedicated, she advises on all aspects of employment law, with a particular expertise and interest in discrimination law.
Fflur thrives on bringing and defending complex Employment Tribunal claims. Her advice also ranges from unfair dismissals and redundancy consultations to whistleblowing matters. She often advises on thorny internal disciplinary and grievance issues, including conducting detailed investigations into such issues.
A regular contributor to national radio and TV programmes, Fflur is also described by clients as an ‘engaging’, ‘clear’ and ‘informative’ trainer, and delivers courses bilingually on a wide range of employment law topics, including Equality and Diversity, Mock Employment Tribunals, and Managing Difficult Conversations in the Workplace. She is also an acclaimed public speaker, participating regularly in different functions and conferences on employment law issues, including managing employees’ mental health in the workplace.
To encourage best practice within the employment sector, in 2016 Fflur conceived the idea behind the Wales HR Network. Every year the Network hosts a variety of educational events for HR professionals, and also hosts the prestigious annual Wales HR Awards to celebrate the achievements of HR professionals across Wales.
Rebecca Cooper, Head of HR, ACT Training
For employers
Delivering a significant training programme on Equality and Diversity to a large global education provider employing hundreds of employees in the UK
Successfully defending several high value unfair dismissal and discrimination cases in the Employment Tribunal
Advising several national institutions and charities through collective consultation exercises involving changes to terms and conditions, pensions and redundancy processes
Providing advice and assisting with several GDPR and data protection issues for Housing Associations including dealing with the reporting process to the ICO
Advising a leading engineering company on a complex TUPE situation, including negotiating affected employees’ redundancies
Advising on the negotiated exit of senior members from many organisations including national cultural and arts organisations, and Housing Associations
Drafting contracts, handbooks, consultancy agreements and advising on the implications of the changes to the IR35 rules for manufacturing and tech companies
Advising a leading Welsh education provider on a whistle blowing claim, including dealing with regulatory issues surrounding the claim
Delivering training to Housing Associations on managing sickness absence, and new sickness absence procedures
Providing significant support to many national business and charities on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including guiding them through furlough, working from home, hybrid working, and helping them to implement suitable policies and procedures, including risk assessments and health and safety policies
Providing bilingual training on directors’ and trustees’ duties and board governance to many charities and leading national institutions
Successfully defending an application to add individual Respondents to a claim, including successfully defending the matter at a Reconsideration Hearing at the Employment Tribunal
Advising several GP practices on their partnership agreements, exiting GP partners from their roles, and providing training to Practice Managers
Advising organisations on the implications of the Welsh Language Standards
For individuals
Successfully bringing a high-profile disability discrimination claim against the Bishop of Llandaff School on behalf of a teacher, widely reported in the press and securing significant compensation reflecting career long losses and injury to feelings for the Claimant
Advising the chief executive of a leading charity and successfully negotiating their exit in return for a substantial compensation payment from their role, despite adverse press coverage of their tenure being reported in the national media
Achieving the exit of a senior executive from a major house builder in return for financial compensation despite facing allegations of sexual harassment and gross misconduct
Advising many senior executives and managing directors on exit packages and the terms of their settlement agreements
Regularly bringing successful discrimination claims on the grounds of maternity, sex, disability and other types of discrimination to the Employment Tribunal
Advising a senior executive on bullying and harassment and age discrimination issues arising from their treatment by their board of non-executive directors
Successfully guiding a teacher following Part 4 proceedings resulting in an alteration made to her DBS record, by assisting her in the face of allegations of gross misconduct against her. The allegations were successfully dismissed at appeal stage
Successfully negotiating an exit from an organisation for a senior executive who had faced harassment on the grounds of her nationality and had been bullied and harassed by her line manager
Collective agreements and bargaining
Complex disciplinary and grievance processes and investigations
Contracts and Policies
Data Protection / GDPR
Discrimination contrary to the Equality Act 2010
Employment Tribunal claims
Freedom of Information Act Requests
Governance, Directors and Trustee Duties
Partnership agreements
Post-termination restrictions
Projects arising out of aspects of public and administrative law
Redundancies and Restructures
Regulatory Compliance, including the Welsh Language Standards
Training
TUPE transfers
Unfair dismissal
Experience
Managing Partner – November 2021 – present
Head of Employment and HR – 2013 – present
Partner, Darwin Gray – 2010 – present
Solicitor, Darwin Gray – 2003 – 2010
Trainee Solicitor, Eversheds – 2001 – 2003
Education
Ysgol Y Berwyn, Y Bala
Cambridge University (Newnham College)
University College London
The College of Law, London
Member of Employment Lawyers Association
Board Member – the Aloud charity
Chair, Menter a Busnes
Board Member – Sinfonia Cymru
I have worked with Darwin Gray for a number of years and the level of service, professionalism and timely response is second to none. I would highly recommend Darwin Gray to any business.”
Darwin Gray have provided us with a first-class service for many years now. They really take the time to understand our business and develop relationships which results in advice and support that is contextualised and effective.”
We have worked with Darwin Gray for several years and have always found their services and advice to be first class.”
An extremely professional and sincere firm who make time for your queries and understand the need to break down certain facts and information to ensure everything is understood perfectly. I would highly recommend the firm to anyone looking for any type of legal advice”
PSS has worked with Darwin Gray for many years. We have always received an excellent service. Prompt and professional advice and support.”
Darwin Gray have acted for myself and my company over a number of years and at all times we have been treated with a professional manner yet maintain a common-sense approach at all levels. We couldn’t recommend them more highly.”
We have been clients of Darwin Gray for many years; they’ve always dealt with all of our legal matters with such professionalism. They work around us, even during awkward hours, and we feel confident we can always rely on them.”
Darwin Gray has been acting for Siltbuster for more than ten years. We would have no hesitation in recommending Darwin Gray to other organisations small or large.”
From the very first conversation, I had no doubt that Darwin Gray should be the firm to receive our instructions on this matter. I would have no hesitation in recommending Darwin Gray.”
We regularly instruct Darwin Gray. Their service in dealing with our transactional matters and disputes is always professional, prompt and efficient.”
Darwin Gray guided me through a long and extended process that would have been much more difficult had it not been for their patience and constant support.”
Excellent and efficient service. Great result achieved, highly professional and transparent on pricing. Would recommend.”
Superb legal service provided. Exceeded expectations. They went above and beyond in order to provide the best service possible.”
Very professional and understanding. They were a calming influence in a very troubling situation and they brought it to a very successful conclusion”
We have used Darwin Gray and have been seriously impressed. The personal approach is what Darwin Gray are excelling on and is the reason why we will continue to work with them in the future.”
