Tom Sharpe
- Experience
Tom qualified as a Solicitor in September 2001 and joined Birketts in October 2010. He is a Legal Director in our Employment Team.
Tom advises both public and private sector clients on all aspects of employment law. He undertakes the whole spectrum of contentious work, ranging from day to day advice on disciplinary and grievance issues to a wide array of claims before the Employment Tribunal, Employment Appeal Tribunal and High Court.
Recently he has advised on the successful defence of a whistle blowing claim against an educational establishment, together with the subsequent appeal (also successfully resisted). He also advises a number of NHS Trusts on the specialist subject of disciplinary action against NHS doctors and dentists. Tom regularly advises on restrictive covenant disputes and has successfully obtained injunctions against former employees who have attempted to unlawfully compete with their former employer.
In the non-contentious arena, Tom advises on redundancy exercises both small and large and in relation to TUPE in its various guises. He also regularly advises on the employment aspects of corporate and real estate transactions.
Tom enjoys steering clients through often complex scenarios in a practical and pragmatic manner, and is valued for presenting technical legal concepts in an easily comprehensible manner. Tom regularly presents training to both clients and the public on a wide variety of employment law subjects and also undertakes investigation work.
Tom is based in our Norwich office.
Tom is named as an ‘Associate to Watch’ by Chambers [UK 2020]. He is valued by sources for being “pragmatic and pleasant to deal with”. The previous edition describes him as “diligent, hard-working and efficient”.
Tom is also recommended by Legal 500 [UK 2021]. In previous editions clients describe him as “helpful and timely when giving advice”.
Outside of work Tom is a keen sportsman and regularly competes in triathlons and sportive rides.