Bernadette is Employment Of Counsel at Simmons & Simmons. She advises both employers and employees on all matters arising out the employer-employee relationship and represents her clients before the Workplace Relations Commission, the Labour Court and the Courts including injunction proceedings. She has particular expertise in advising on complex grievance and disciplinary processes, conducting investigations, and negotiating settlements. Bernadette supports corporate HR functions in the defence of legal claims, including unfair dismissals and equality claims, as well as in negotiating employment-related aspects of corporate acquisitions, reorganisations, and implementing changes to HR policies and procedures to reflect changes in the law.
Prior to joining Simmons & Simmons, Bernadette spent 15 years as in-house legal counsel with a professional services firm in Dublin, where she provided internal legal support on all aspects of employment law. Bernadette holds a BA in European Studies (Law and German) from the University of Limerick, as well as a University College Dublin Professional Diploma in Employment Law, and is a member of the Employment Law Association of Ireland and of the European Employment Lawyers Association. She is regularly invited to contribute as a speaker at employment law and HR conferences, events and webinars for CMG Training and Legal-Island.
