Dawn Gallie

Dawn is an Associate Director and a leading employment solicitor in the South West with more than twenty years’ experience in her field, having qualified in February 2002. She is an accomplished expert in all aspects of employment law for both employers and employees. Based in our Yeovil office, she provides advice on disciplinary and grievance processes, managing sickness absence, providing bespoke contracts of employment and handbooks and preparing and negotiating settlement agreements. Dawn focusses exclusively in helping clients with Employment Law. Dawn has extensive experience in advising on TUPE matters, business reorganisations and redundancies. Her clients range in size from small, family-run businesses to large, multi-site national organisations. Having set up BattensHR on joining in 2011, Dawn and the team offer commercial and practical advice and solutions to everyday HR and employment issues for a fixed annual fee. This ensures employers can concentrate on running their business with the knowledge that ongoing support is only a short email or call away. Dawn has a loyal employer client base across a number of sectors for which she provides ongoing or ad hoc assistance on the full range of HR and employment matters. Where claims are made, Dawn has considerable experience in representing employers in employment tribunals across the country and advising in appeals to the employment appeal tribunal defending claims ranging from discrimination and whistle blowing to unfair dismissal and breach of contract.  Dawn has successfully defended a Tribunal claim brought by a Claimant against their former employer and two members of staff, including representation at the Employment Tribunal, resulting in the claim being struck out at preliminary hearing. She has advised and supported an employee in securing a settlement package, resulting in a positive resolution and exit from a difficult working environment. Employment law changes at a fast pace, Dawn regularly provides training to businesses and conducts seminars on topical employment issues and legal updates, including at Battens quarterly Employment Advice Team Lunches. For employees, she provides advice and representation in claims for discrimination, whistleblowing and equal pay, in addition to claims for unfair dismissal, including those arising from redundancy. Dawn also advises on internal grievances, contractual matters and on settlement agreements. She is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association (ELA).