Kikuyu Thompson

Employment

Kikuyu’s extensive background in employment law, honed over two decades as a solicitor, allows her to provide insightful, practical advice to both employers and employees. Her experience spans the full range of employment law issues, including:

• Unfair dismissal and discrimination: Providing expert representation in contentious disputes and advising on best practices to avoid litigation.
• Whistleblowing and harassment claims: Guiding clients through complex legal frameworks with empathy and diligence.
• TUPE and redundancies: Assisting organisations with compliance during transitions, restructures, and workforce changes.
• Employment contracts and policies: Drafting and reviewing clear, compliant documents that protect businesses while ensuring fairness to employees.
• Restrictive covenants and employment disputes: Advising clients on the enforceability of post-termination restrictions, ensuring both legal compliance and commercial protection.

Featured cases

• Disability Discrimination: Represented both Claimants and Respondents in cases involving allegations of failure to make reasonable adjustments, breaches of contract, and safety legislation.
• Indirect Race Discrimination: Advised a Claimant in a case alleging indirect race discrimination due to restrictions on applying for a fixed-term contract.
• Unfair Dismissal Procedures: Represented both Claimants and Respondents in disputes concerning unfair dismissal procedures.
• Disability Harassment & Breach of Contract: Successfully advocated for a Claimant alleging disability harassment and breach of contract for failing to pay notice, while also representing Respondents in related matters.
• Harassment & Disability Adjustments: Acted for both Claimants and Respondents in cases involving harassment and failure to make reasonable adjustments for disabilities in the workplace.
• Constructive Unfair Dismissal: Represented a Claimant claiming constructive dismissal following a breach of contract and poor treatment in the workplace.
• Injury Leave & Disability Claims: Advocated for a Claimant alleging unfair treatment related to injury leave and disability adjustments. Also advised Respondents on best practices for managing disability-related workplace issues.
• Race & Disability Discrimination: Successfully represented a Claimant claiming discrimination on the grounds of both race and disability, while also providing defence advice to Respondents in similar cases.
• Part-Time Worker Discrimination: Acted for a Claimant alleging discrimination based on part-time worker status.
• Time-Limited Constructive Dismissal Case: Represented a Claimant in a time-limited constructive dismissal claim related to relocation policies, overcoming challenges posed by strict time limits.
• Misconduct Dismissal Challenges: Defended Claimants and Respondents in cases alleging unfair dismissal for misconduct, breach of security policies, and Equality Act claims related to sex, race, and age discrimination.
• Protected Characteristics Allegations: Advocated for Claimants alleging discrimination on the grounds of sex, sexual orientation, disability, race, and religion, leading to successful unfair dismissal claims.
• Employer Harassment Claims: Represented a Claimant alleging harassment and unfair treatment by a line manager on multiple protected grounds and provided guidance to Respondents facing harassment claims.
• Employment Appeal Tribunal: Provided advice on an appeal to the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) in relation to the misapplication of the law and bias.
• Ad Hoc Employment Advice: Delivered comprehensive, practical ad hoc employment law advice, addressing a diverse range of workplace challenges for both Respondents and Claimants.

Availability

Kikuyu offers expert advice and representation across a wide spectrum of employment law matters. With in-depth experience in data protection compliance, breach response, and related disputes, she is well-equipped to assist businesses and individuals navigate complex employment challenges. Kikuyu’s expertise spans issues such as workplace data handling, employee rights, workplace disputes, discrimination claims, and unfair dismissal cases. She provides clear, pragmatic solutions, ensuring compliance with evolving legal standards while protecting her clients’ interests.

Whether you need guidance on data protection regulations in the workplace or representation in an employment tribunal matter, Kikuyu’s extensive knowledge and strategic approach make her an invaluable asset for employers and employees alike.

Commercial

Kikuyu is increasingly recognized for her growing practice in commercial law, including both contentious and non-contentious matters:

• Commercial disputes: Representing clients in high-stakes contract disputes, shareholder disagreements, and director liabilities.
• Chancery litigation: providing legal support on complex commercial cases in the High Court, breach of contract cases.
• Advisory services: Providing businesses with strategic advice on corporate governance, compliance, and commercial contracts.

Featured cases

Represented defendants in an insolvency-related dispute which concerned director liability in a £5 million commercial dispute heard in the Hight Court.

Represented clients in litigation arising from breaches of contract, shareholder disagreements, and partnership disputes.

Availability

Kikuyu brings a wealth of experience in commercial law, advising clients on a variety of issues, including compliance, and business disputes.

With her understanding of both data-related issues and commercial litigation, Kikuyu provides strategic, practical advice tailored to businesses’ specific needs.

Data protection & cyber law

Kikuyu’s experience in data protection law spans a variety of industries and organisational settings, reflecting her ability to handle sensitive and intricate matters. She has experience advising on data protection law, particularly in the context of employment. She has advised individuals and organisations on Subject Access Requests and has guided employers on handling employee data, including monitoring, performance reviews, and disciplinary actions, whilst adhering to GDPR and employment law obligations.

Featured cases

1. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Compliance:

• Advised businesses and non-profits on aligning their data processing activities with GDPR requirements, including conducting data protection impact assessments (DPIAs) and ensuring lawful bases for processing.
• Assisted local authorities in protection policies and their obligations when working with others, ensuring transparency and accountability in handling personal data.

2. Data Breaches:

Provided advice on mitigating reputational risks and navigating potential litigation related to breaches of personal data.

3. Employment Data Protection:

• Guided employers on handling employee data, including monitoring, performance reviews, and disciplinary actions, while adhering to GDPR and employment law obligations.
• Advised employers and employees on Subject Access Requests.
• Drafted and reviewed privacy notices for employees and contractors.

Approach to Data Protection

Kikuyu’s understanding of data protection law is complemented by her practical experience in employment, commercial, and public sector settings. She takes a proactive approach to compliance, helping clients anticipate and mitigate risks while embedding privacy considerations into organizational practices.

Availability

Kikuyu is available to advise on data protection matters, including compliance, breach response, and data-related disputes, as well as her other areas of specialisation in employment, commercial, and chancery law.

Associations

• Employment Lawyers Association
• Honourable Society of the Inner Temple

Education & Qualifications

Education

• 2022 – Higher Rights of Audience (Civil Courts)
• 2000 – 2002: University of Westminster, London Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice, Commendation
• 1998 – 2000: University of Westminster, London Postgraduate Diploma in Law
• 1991 – 1994: Goldsmiths’ College (University of London), BA (Hons) Sociology, First Class

This is the Privacy Policy for:

Barrister: Kikuyu Thompson

Address: 1EC, 3 King’s Bench Walk North, Inner Temple, London, EC4Y 7HR

The Purposes for which Personal Data is Processed:

Personal data will be processed in order to enable the provision of legal services, ie:

1. advice;
2. representation in court;
3. the drafting of legal documents.

It may also be necessary to retain personal data for conflict-checking purposes or for use in the defense of potential complaints, legal proceedings or fee disputes.

The Lawful Basis for Processing Personal Data

In some cases the subject of the personal data will have given consent to the processing of his or her personal data. Where explicit consent has not been given, personal data will be processed only when:

1. it is necessary for the performance of a contract with the person whose personal data is processed (or prior to entering such contract, in order to take steps at the request of the person whose personal data is processed); or when
2. it is necessary for the purposes of providing legal services.

Special Categories of Personal Data

It may be necessary to process personal data which constitute particularly sensitive special categories, ie personal data revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, or trade union membership, and the processing of genetic data, biometric data for the purpose of uniquely identifying a natural person, data concerning health or data concerning a natural person’s sex life or sexual orientation.

Such data will only be processed where processing is necessary for the establishment, exercise or defense of legal claims.

Who will receive Personal Data

The recipients of the personal data processed will be:

1. instructing solicitors and clients;
2. courts and other tribunals to which documents are presented;
3. witnesses and potential witnesses, including expert witnesses;
4. other barristers, pupil barristers and other legal representatives;
5. regulatory authorities.

Retention Periods for Personal Data

Personal data in case files will generally be kept at least the end of one year after the maximum relevant limitation period has expired. The limitation period will be measured from the latest date it is possible to bring any appeal.

The retention period will be reviewed when the work has been completed. The retention period may be adjusted at that time.

International Data Transfers

In cases involving international disputes, it may be necessary to transfer personal data to countries outside the European Economic Area which have different data protection standards to those which apply in the European Economic Area. This will only be done for the purposes set out in this Privacy Policy. In the event this is necessary, appropriate safeguards will be in place to protect personal data, such as European Commission approved standard contractual clauses or the EU-US Privacy Shield. You have a right to ask for a copy of the relevant safeguard.

Individual’s Rights

If your personal data has been processed or held, you have a right to request access to (and rectification or erasure of) personal data; or to request restriction of processing concerning the data subject; or to object to processing; as well as the right to data portability. These rights may be limited where there is a legal requirement, or other legitimate grounds, to process your data.

If you wish to exercise these rights, please use the contact details above.

If you have unresolved concerns you also have the right to complain to data protection authorities.