Melanie Yates joined the Birmingham office’s labour and employment team in September 2010 following completion of her training contract with the firm. She has responsibility for the day-to-day running of numerous tribunal claims for unfair dismissal, constructive dismissal, unlawful deduction of wages and breach of contract. She also drafts letters, ET3s, witness statements, counter schedules and instructions to counsel. She regularly organises and completes disclosure, carries out settlement discussions with ACAS, and reviews and drafts COT3 agreements, contracts of employment, policies and compromise agreements.

Prior to joining Squire Sanders, Melanie completed her legal education. She studied law at Durham University, followed by the Legal Practice Course at the College of Law in Birmingham. Melanie has also spent four months on secondment with a large commercial client of Squire Sanders, assisting the in-house legal team providing advice to the UK operation on strategic commercial issues.

Melanie is closely involved in "Business in the Community" initiatives and regularly advises at the Birmingham Legal Advice Clinic.

Publications

'Competencies', Complinet, 12 November 2010