Tributes have flowed in for Employment Judge Veronica Dean after her death at the age of 65. Veronica began her career at Philips & Buck in Cardiff - now Eversheds - and was admitted as a solicitor in 1984.
She then moved to Edge & Ellison (now Squire Patton Boggs) in the Birmingham office in 1986 and was made a partner in the employment team. Although based in the Birmingham office, she was also a major contributor to the success of the Edge & Ellison London office.
She moved to Averta Employment Lawyers in 2005 as a consultant to coincide with the start of her judicial career as a part time fee paid employment tribunal judge. She sat in Shrewsbury, Telford and Wolverhampton before becoming a full time employment judge in 2009 sitting in Birmingham.
Birmingham Law Society also benefited from Veronica’s expertise as she served as a council member, chair of the PR/Media Committee, editor of the Birmingham Law Society Bulletin and on the Employment Committee.
Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the 1990s, Veronica never let her illness hold her back. She was always generous with advice to those coping with illness. Her kindness knew no bounds as she was also a volunteer for many years with the Samaritans.
Jennifer Jones, West Midlands Regional Employment Judge, said: 'Veronica was an employment judge for 21 years of her career, the last 16 years of which were spent as a full-time employment judge in Birmingham. She was a hard-working and clever judge and a funny, kind and supportive colleague who will be missed very much by her fellow judges and the tribunal staff.’
Sophie Garner, employment barrister at St Philips Chambers, noted: 'Personally, I always enjoyed being in front of Veronica, in particular because of her little acerbic observations (sometimes about me!) and her underlying good humour and sharp mind. Replacing her with someone of those same qualities will, I fear, be impossible.'
James Retallack, former senior partner and head of employment with Edge & Ellison, said: 'She was a specialist employment lawyer before we even knew such people existed! A fierce intellect which led to her long and successful career in private practice and, after that, as an employment judge. Given her long illness and physical challenges, her achievements were even more noteworthy.’
Ramez Moussa, partner and head of employment with Squire Patton Boggs Birmingham, commented: 'Such sad news. She was my supervisor when I was first a trainee in the team in 2000. Her desk was always messy but she had a real super brain and taught me so much.'
Jayne Willetts, solicitor advocate, said: 'We began as professional colleagues at Edge & Ellison in 1988 and soon became close personal friends which we were for the next 37 years. Edge & Ellison was ahead of its time and we were fortunate to have a close-knit group of seven lady partners in those early days. It has to be said that we gave our male partners a run for their money. Veronica was a force to be reckoned with, did not suffer fools gladly and yet was still full of compassion and empathy towards others. She was the kindest of us all and we will miss her.'
For details of the funeral email Jayne Willetts – jayne@jaynewilletts.co.uk.
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