Sonya O’Reilly

Sonya O’Reilly is an employment law partner, the Head of our Independent Schools group and a key member of the Birketts Resolve Team.  

Sonya has more than 20 years’ experience of advising employers and senior executives on contentious and non-contentious employment issues arising out of the employment relationship. A CEDR accredited mediator, Sonya O’Reilly regularly advises on difficult staff grievances and the mediations and employment tribunal claims that can ensue.   

Sonya has particular expertise in senior executive settlement agreements, large and small scale redundancy situations, TUPE transfers, changes to terms and conditions and a full range of ad hoc employment-related advice for a variety of clients. She is skilled in handling complex discrimination claims often including multiple claims and also has experience in running volume/bulk settlement agreement projects.  

From a sector perspective, Sonya has particular expertise within the education sector; partnering with independent schools to provide them with tailored and strategic employment advice. Sonya has acted for teachers in professional conduct proceedings before the Teaching Regulation Agency and is experienced in supporting education clients in dealing with safeguarding concerns with employees. She is also active in the charities and not for profit sector and advises charities on the full range of employment issues.  

Sonya provides both in-house and public training on many employment-related topics through Birketts’ Shaping Excellence programme. She has delivered sessions including Essential Employment Law for Managers, Professional Boundaries and ED&I, as well as legal updates at large-scale conferences.   

Sonya trained with Eversheds, qualifying in 2002 and joined Birketts in 2005. 

Sonya is an accredited CEDR (Council of Effective Dispute Resolution) Mediator.