Bond Pearce

Christina advises on discrimination issues, reorganisations and change management, dismissals, termination packages, contracts of employment and employment policies, trade union issues and employment aspects of transfers of undertakings. She is also an experienced employment law trainer. She has particular expertise in the education sector (both further and higher education) and in the retail sector, leading the team for clients such as B&Q, Specsavers, New Look and the Signet Group. She is the lead partner for the RNLI and is regularly instructed by Carnival plc, Southampton Solent University, the Arts University College at Bournemouth and Richmond upon Thames College.

Examples of experience include:

• advising a college on the implementation of a new pay structure following a job evaluation exercise
• defending a college against employment tribunal proceedings for constructive dismissal and sex discrimination
• defending a charity in a constructive dismissal and whistle blowing tribunal claim
• advising a charity on seconding its staff overseas
• defending a number of retailers against various employment tribunal claims including race, sex, age or disability discrimination, unfair and constructive dismissal, whistle blowing, unlawful deductions and breach of contract
• advising a retailer on all employment issues arising from the integration of two businesses it had acquired into its current business
• advising the employee representatives on a European Works Council on their role in a restructuring exercise
• advising an employer on the legal and commercial implications of terminating a supply agreement and appointing new providers
• drafting employment contracts for an Embassy
• advising a local employer on the threat of strikes at its distribution depot
• negotiating a number of senior level departures either on behalf of the company or the executive
• representing a higher education establishment in connection with sensitive race discrimination, victimisation and constructive dismissal claims brought by a senior staff member against both the institution and a number of named individuals, which involved not only handling the litigation, but also advising senior managers on case management and media relations and briefing various stakeholders
• advising a further education college in connection with two consecutive management reorganisation and redundancy exercises from the initial advice stage through to defending claims in the employment tribunal, including advice on the relationship with the funding body and other external stakeholders

Christina is recognised by Chambers Guide to the UK Legal Profession which says she is 'highly regarded' and 'singled out for inspiring clients' trust and friendly manner'.

Christina is a qualified Finnish lawyer and a member of the Finnish Bar Association.  She was appointed Honorary Consul of Finland for Hampshire, Dorset and West Sussex in November 2011.