Kirsty MacDonald

Partner

Experience

Kirsty is a Partner in the employment and pensions division in the Leeds office. Kirsty advises and represents healthcare providers in respect of a wide range of employment law services including discrimination, dismissals, grievances, terms and conditions, policies, TUPE and complex re-organisations.

Expertise

Having worked with NHS organisations for over 15 years, Kirsty has developed a particular niche in advising NHS Trusts in connection with the employment of doctors, including the appointment of consultants and disputes about job planning and revalidation. She has significant experience in advising NHS Trusts who have conduct or clinical concerns about doctors under Maintaining High Professional Standards in the NHS (MHPS).
Kirsty regularly defends NHS organisations in respect of claims in the Employment Tribunal. She also has experience defending injunctions and judicial review proceedings in the High Court.

Notable projects

  • Carl v University of Sheffield UKEAT/0261/08; [2009] IRLR 616 (appropriate comparator under the Part Time Workers Regulations)
  • Somerset County Council and another v Pike [2009] EWCA Civ 808 (appropriate pool for comparison for claims of indirect sex discrimination brought by a number of part time teachers)
  • Successfully defending an NHS Trust in Judicial Review proceedings and injunction in the High Court brought by a consultant surgeon, challenging an internal inquiry into breakdown in departmental working relationships.
  • Successfully defending an NHS Foundation Trust against a breach of contract claim/injunction in the High Court brought by a consultant radiologist: MHPS was found not to have been contractually incorporated.

Chambers rankings 

  • Chambers and Partners 2017, 2018 and 2019: Ranked Lawyer (Tier 5): Employment Law in the North West.

Admitted as a Solicitor

  • 2006

Qualifications 

  • BA (Hons) Economics with First Class honours (University of Northumbria at Newcastle) 2001
  • Graduate Diploma in Law (College of Law, York) 2003
  • Legal Practice Course (College of Law, York) 2004

Contact Kirsty MacDonald