Who? Slade De Lacey, head of employment, Amicus Law.
Why is he in the news? Successfully represented army reservist Major Charles Milroy in the Employment Appeal Tribunal (Scotland) in a pay and pension rights claim against the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
Thoughts on the case: ‘Major Charles Milroy instructed Amicus Law to assist him with an equal treatment claim for his service as a reservist in terms of pay and his pension. I had previously worked for several years on the part-time judges’ pension litigation. It was clear that there was inequality in terms of the pay and pensions afforded to reservists compared to their full-time counterparts. In battle, bullets and bombs do not discriminate between full- or part-time soldiers. Unfortunately, the MoD does and has shown that, by appealing the original decision, the intent to continue to do so. Two eminent judges – Judge Eccles and Lord Fairley – have unanimously applied the correct principles in O’Brien and McMenemy to the case of Milroy and found that the MoD has discriminated. In passing this judgment, the president [of the EAT (Scotland)] paves the way for equal treatment of service personnel regarding pay and pensions. The MoD’s legal representatives have been courteous and respectful throughout the proceedings.’
An MoD spokesperson said: ‘We are disappointed with the outcome and are reviewing the judgment in detail to establish next steps. A further update will be provided once that assessment is complete.’
Dealing with the media: ‘The media have reported the case evenly and portrayed it well. With so many national, international and political stories in the media, we are fortunate to have been prioritised as much as we have.’
Why become a lawyer? ‘At 14, Martin Luther King’s books on the civil rights movement sparked my interest in law. My A-level tutor, the late Colleen South, daughter of barrister Lord South, was an inspirational mentor. Years later, a chance meeting with her encouraged me to apply to the University of Hertfordshire, where she taught.’
Career high: ‘My family have served in every war since the Boer War. My grandfather (Sergeant major) served in Egypt and Europe in the second world war. My father (army reservist) fought in the Falklands and first Gulf War, taking bullets for his country. More recently, my cousin had a prestigious active service army career. It has been an honour to work on this case for Charles and all the brave personnel who will benefit from the outcome. This is the most important contribution of my career.’
No comments yet