Kate Smith

Kate trained and qualified at DLA Piper LLP in 2000 and practised as an employment lawyer for 4 years before taking time out to raise her family and to run her own business in the hospitality sector. Kate returned to the law in 2014 and worked as an in-house legal assistant in a small manufacturing company, and in HR, before returning to private practice at Gunnercooke LLP in 2020. Kate is highly experienced on a full range of employment law matters including disciplinary and dismissal situations, grievance and whistleblowing complaints, discrimination issues, redundancy strategy and procedure, contract and policy reviews, contractual change, tribunal representation, data protection and absence management. She also regularly provides settlement agreement advice on a group and individual basis and ably represents senior individuals on exit negotiations. Kate is also experienced at training managers and HR on a range of topics, including investigations, harassment laws, and absence management.

In her spare time, Kate plays squash at local team level, for her county (Yorkshire over 50s) and for her country (England over 50s). As part of her passion for squash, Kate sits on her squash club committee and is also responsible for coaching a women’s group at her club.