Robert Dunn
Robert is one of our go-to barristers. We all love him; we love his experience and knowledge, his ability to get to grips with the issues quickly, his approach with clients and his advocacy generally.
Chambers and Partners (2025) - Employment (Up and Coming)
About
Robert has a very strong employment law practice.
He regularly acts for both Claimants and Respondents, and takes instructions for matters throughout the Tribunal process. This ranges from PHs of all types, to multi-day Final Hearings, and from the drafting of advices and pleadings, to Judicial Mediation. He takes instructions from across Great Britain, and is on the Attorney General Panel.
Robert is very popular with clients, and is happy to assist at all stages of the Tribunal process. He writes for Chambers’ website on interesting employment law issues and regularly undertakes Webinars.
Robert studied law at Downing College, Cambridge University, where he was awarded a First Class Honours Degree. He is a Senior Harris Scholar of Downing College, and recipient of the Middle Temple Queen Mother’s Scholarship. Robert went on to achieve a Outstanding Grade on the BPTC at Northumbria University, before joining Parklane Plowden in 2016.
“The client could not have been more complimentary about Rob. She thought that he was considerate, thorough and highly recommends him” – Respondent Employment Solicitor
“Robert Dunn was very good. He was well prepared for the call on Tuesday and it was evident he had read through the case and had full awareness of what the claim was; the preparation continued into today with thorough questioning. Very professional both in the court room and with us. If we are in this situation again (fingers crossed we are not!), I wouldn’t hesitate in using him again.” – Rachel, DAC Beachcroft
Robert also has a strong personal injury practice, taking instructions in a vast array of personal injury matters. He acts for both Claimants and Defendants, in Fast Track and Multi-Track matters, Small Claims, all types of Applications, MOJ Stage 3s, and Approvals. Moreover, Robert is happy to draft pleadings and provide advice at all stages of litigation. Robert has experience successfully running RTA-fraud cases for Defendants. On the Claimant side, Robert is popular too, and takes instructions in CFA matters, where appropriate.
Robert has also developed a healthy credit hire practice, regularly appearing for both Claimants and Defendants. He appears in both Small Claim and Fast Track Credit Hire matters, provides advice on pertinent legal issues, and has given training on recent cases and litigation tactics.
Before joining Parklane Plowden, Robert undertook legal aid work in Kampala, Uganda, advising and drafting court documents for disadvantaged clients. When not at work, Robert can often be found running, on the terraces of his beloved St. James’ Park, or satisfying his love of non-league football at Hillheads Park.
Areas of Expertise
Contact Robert Dunn
Robert Dunn
Robert is one of our go-to barristers. We all love him; we love his experience and knowledge, his ability to get to grips with the issues quickly, his approach with clients and his advocacy generally.
Chambers and Partners (2025) - Employment (Up and Coming)
About
Robert has a very strong employment law practice.
He regularly acts for both Claimants and Respondents, and takes instructions for matters throughout the Tribunal process. This ranges from PHs of all types, to multi-day Final Hearings, and from the drafting of advices and pleadings, to Judicial Mediation. He takes instructions from across Great Britain, and is on the Attorney General Panel.
Robert is very popular with clients, and is happy to assist at all stages of the Tribunal process. He writes for Chambers’ website on interesting employment law issues and regularly undertakes Webinars.
Robert studied law at Downing College, Cambridge University, where he was awarded a First Class Honours Degree. He is a Senior Harris Scholar of Downing College, and recipient of the Middle Temple Queen Mother’s Scholarship. Robert went on to achieve a Outstanding Grade on the BPTC at Northumbria University, before joining Parklane Plowden in 2016.
“The client could not have been more complimentary about Rob. She thought that he was considerate, thorough and highly recommends him” – Respondent Employment Solicitor
“Robert Dunn was very good. He was well prepared for the call on Tuesday and it was evident he had read through the case and had full awareness of what the claim was; the preparation continued into today with thorough questioning. Very professional both in the court room and with us. If we are in this situation again (fingers crossed we are not!), I wouldn’t hesitate in using him again.” – Rachel, DAC Beachcroft
Robert also has a strong personal injury practice, taking instructions in a vast array of personal injury matters. He acts for both Claimants and Defendants, in Fast Track and Multi-Track matters, Small Claims, all types of Applications, MOJ Stage 3s, and Approvals. Moreover, Robert is happy to draft pleadings and provide advice at all stages of litigation. Robert has experience successfully running RTA-fraud cases for Defendants. On the Claimant side, Robert is popular too, and takes instructions in CFA matters, where appropriate.
Robert has also developed a healthy credit hire practice, regularly appearing for both Claimants and Defendants. He appears in both Small Claim and Fast Track Credit Hire matters, provides advice on pertinent legal issues, and has given training on recent cases and litigation tactics.
Before joining Parklane Plowden, Robert undertook legal aid work in Kampala, Uganda, advising and drafting court documents for disadvantaged clients. When not at work, Robert can often be found running, on the terraces of his beloved St. James’ Park, or satisfying his love of non-league football at Hillheads Park.
Robert frequently takes instructions from both Claimants and Respondents in a variety of personal injury matters, attending Court, drafting pleadings and providing Advices on liability and quantum. Robert is very experienced in both Small Claim and Fast Track matters, and commonly takes instructions in higher value matters also. This includes, inter alia
- RTA Claims
- Employer’s Liability Claims
- Highways Act 1980 Claims
- Occupiers’ Liability and Public Liability Claims
- Various applications in the above matters
- CMCs
- CCMCs
- MOJ Stage 3 Hearings
- Patient Settlement and Infant Approval Hearings
Additionally, Robert takes a significant number of instructions in credit hire cases, particularly for Defendants. (See other drop down)
Lastly, Robert has experience in conducting CICA matters. More recently, Robert appeared for 2 separate Appellants whom both were successful at appeal in overturning the CICA’s decision on eligibility.
Robert has established a strong employment law practice. Whilst Robert predominantly acts for Respondents, he also takes instructions for Claimants, where appropriate. He has acted in England, Wales and Scotland.
Robert is available for instructions to draft Tribunal documentation and pleadings at all stages of the litigation process, in addition to Advices and Merits Assessments.
He very regularly attends PHs, Open PHs, Final Hearings, and Judicial Mediations. He is happy to travel, and has good experience of more complex 5+ day Hearings too.
Recent successes have included:
- For a Respondent, achieving the dismissal of a large number of complex discrimination complaints, and a 6-day Final Hearing. The case involved issues of jurisdiction and anonymity;
- For a Respondent, securing the dismissal of a claim for both unpaid Time Off In Lieu and Holiday Pay, in a claim by a former company director;
- For a Respondent, securing the dismissal of claims for both Unfair Dismissal and Wrongful Dismissal, after the ET found the Claimant had properly been dismissed for gross misconduct.
- For a Respondent, achieving the dismissal of an unfair dismissal and sex discrimination claim, at a Public Preliminary Hearing, on the grounds of lack of jurisdiction;
- For a Respondent NHS Trust, achieving the dismissal of a Pregnancy Discrimination Claim, based upon a purported breach of the Maternity Equality Clause;
- For a Respondent, achieving the dismissal of complaints of unfair dismissal and Race Discrimination, following a multi-day hearing;
- For a Respondent, securing the dismissal of complaints of unfair dismissal in a health and safety matter, Race Discrimination and Victimisation, following a 4-day hearing;
- For a Respondent, achieving the dismissal of a Disability Discrimination claim, following a 3-day hearing;
- For a Claimant, on behalf of a Trade Union, succeeding in a disability discrimination claim following an at-work scuffle;
- For a Respondent, securing the dismissal of a Constructive Dismissal claim, following allegations made concerning the disciplinary and grievance procedures;
- For a Respondent, successfully defending a large restaurant chain against claims of Automatic Unfair Dismissal and Disability Discrimination;
- For a Respondent, securing a finding that the Claimant’s claims of unfair dismissal and discrimination were out of time in a Public Preliminary Hearing;
- For a Respondent, successfully obtaining a finding in a Public Preliminary Hearing that evidence of negotiations was inadmissible, without prejudice and covered by S.111A ERA 1996, and that there was no improper behaviour by his client.
Please do contact our clerks with any Employment queries. Robert would be pleased to assist.
In addition to the credit hire practice described above, Robert also takes instructions in chancery and commercial matters.
In particular:
– Robert has taken instructions in a number of Cavity Wall and External Wall Insulation claims, preparing pleadings, advising, and appearing at Court. This has been for both Claimants and Defendants;
– Robert has advised in a number of chancery/property matters, including more recently regarding the prospects of a claim for trespass/nuisance
– Robert takes instructions in mortgage mis-selling cases, and has drafted pleadings on such matters.
– Robert has also appeared for a number of insurance companies, involving contractual disputes with their insureds
Robert has also developed a strong credit hire practice, appearing for both Claimants and Defendants at all stages of the litigation process. He regularly appears in both Small Claim and Fast Track Credit Hire matters.
Recent successes have included dismissal of a claim for credit hire charges after the Claimant’s contract was found to be unenforceable, and another, in which the Claimant’s claim was struck out for failure to comply with the Court’s preliminary order.
Robert has a very good knowledge of the law, and recent cases, and has provided relevant Advice and Training to Solicitors
Chambers and Partners (2025) - Employment (Up and Coming) - "He does an excellent job representing clients in ET claims. He quickly gets to grips with the crux of a case and identifies a strategy with which to successfully defend the case at the final hearing." "Robert is a fantastic junior." "Robert achieves a perfect balance of demonstrating commercial acumen and deft employment law expertise." "Robert is an excellent advocate and I would not hesitate to instruct him on any matter, no matter how complex the facts." "Robert is one of our go-to barristers. We all love him; we love his experience and knowledge, his ability to get to grips with the issues quickly, his approach with clients and his advocacy generally."
Employment Law Association: Member
2014: Senior Harris Scholarship (awarded to students of Downing College who achieve firsts across multiple years).
2015: Middle Temple Queen Mother Scholarship and Harmsworth Entrance Exhibition, University of Northumbria Dean's Award Recipient.
2016: Trinity Chambers Prize for the Best Performance on the BPTC, Opinion Writing Prize.
https://www.parklaneplowden.co.uk/news/employment-newsletter-spring-2019 - 2019 Newsletter https://www.parklaneplowden.co.uk/a-warning-on-warnings/n323/ - Warnings in the ET https://www.parklaneplowden.co.uk/whats-in-a-purpose/n330/ - What's in a Purpose? https://www.parklaneplowden.co.uk/the-supreme-court-on-discrimination/n336/ - Discrimination in the UKSC https://www.parklaneplowden.co.uk/leases-licencees-and-discrimination-in-the-court-of-appeal/n345/ - Discrimination in the Court of Appeal https://www.parklaneplowden.co.uk/nothing-more-to-stay-consent-orders-and-tomlin-orders-in-the-court-of-appeal/n350/ - Consent and Tomlin Orders https://www.parklaneplowden.co.uk/james-nagarajan-and-evidence-of-discrimination-ccgmp-v-bailey/n357/ - CCGMP -v- Bailey https://www.parklaneplowden.co.uk/employment-tribunal-fees-held-to-be-unlawful/n358/ - ET Fees Unlawful https://www.parklaneplowden.co.uk/employment-newsletter-autumn-2016/n319/ - 2016 Newsletter https://www.hrgrapevine.com/content/article/2021-07-28-labour-unveils-plans-to-give-all-workers-same-legal-rights - Press Comment on Labour's Employment 'New Deal' Pledge
2014: MA (Hons) Law, University of Cambridge, Downing College (First Class). 2016: Bar Professional Training Course, University of Northumbria (Outstanding).
