A Hendy man to know

[Geezer]

http://www.thelawyer.com/a-hendy-man-to ... 96.article

4 November 2009


Think you’ve got a busy week? Chances are it’s nothing compared to Outer Temple Chambers silk John Hendy QC.

The London barrister will take centre stage this week on two of the UK’s largest current trade union battles - against British Airways and Royal Mail (see story).

As we report today, on Friday will appear for the Communication Workers Union in an attempt to stop Royal Mail from employing 30,000 agency workers while its members are on strike.

By then he’ll have already performed a similar task for Unite to stop BA from introducing new employment contracts for its 14,000 cabin crew that the union considers constitute a breach of contract.

Hendy was head of chambers at Outer Temple until April but it looks as if he’s still managing to keep busy. Same silk, similar rows, one day apart. Nice work if you can get it.

Meanwhile, the members he represents will simply be hoping he can manage to keep them in work.

Incidentally, Hendy looks like a shoo-in for the bar category in next year’s The Lawyer Hot 100. The Lawyer editorial team is starting the research process for next year’s run down of the market’s great and good. Contact matt.byrne@thelawyer.com with your nominations.



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Old Square silk to represent unions in actions against BA and Royal Mail

http://www.thelawyer.com/1002493.article

4 November 2009 | By Katy Dowell


A silk from London set Old Square Chambers is about to step back into the limelight after being instructed in injunctive actions against both British Airways and Royal Mail.

John Hendy QC has been instructed by partner Steve Cottingham at trade union firm OH Parsons & Partners to act for the Unite union in its High Court action against BA. The hearing takes place tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Hendy will appear in the High Court on Friday to represent the Communication Workers Union (CWU) in an effort to stop Royal Mail from employing 30,000 agency workers while its members are on strike.

For CWU Hendy has been instructed by Pattinson & Brewer partner Paul Statham.

Hendy, who stood down as head of Old Square Chambers in April, is used to acting on high-profile cases, appearing on behalf of crash victims in the Ladbroke Grove train crash inquiry in 2000.

On the BA case, Hendy will go head to head with Devereux Chambers’ Timothy Brennan QC, who has been instructed to act for BA by Baker & McKenzie partner John Evason.

Hendy will argue that imposing new employment contracts on BA’s 14,000 cabin crew constitutes a breach of contract. The unions wants the High Court to intervene to stop the changes, which will come into force on 16 December.

For CWU, it is understood that Hendy will argue that by taking on temporary workers Royal Mail will be in breach of the Conduct of Employment Regulations 2003, which stipulate the conditions under which temporary workers can be employed.