Elaine Banton

Elaine Banton is an experienced, highly regarded barrister practising across the whole range of employment, equality and discrimination law matters appearing regularly at all levels of tribunals and courts including the High Court and Court of Appeal.

Elaine acts for employees and employers in all areas of employment law in long running multi-strand discrimination matters and advises international and national businesses, charities and public bodies on high level strategic/policy matters such as the TUPE consequences of various contracting arrangements, whistleblowing and on equality issues such as equal pay/harmonisation. She is regularly instructed in high value and complex trials. Her client base includes the arts, media, global financial institutions and high net worth individuals as well as group claims. She also has experience of executive termination, restrictive covenants and injunctions.

Elaine appears in all discrimination claims including public functions and services matters. Elaine’s practice also includes disciplinary, regulatory, sports law, human rights, harassment and stress at work claims including health and safety and Covid-19 related matters.

Often appearing in high profile, impactful cases, Elaine was featured as The Lawyer’s Barrister of the Week in November 2021 regarding a widely reported discrimination case. Notable and reported cases may be found in the Employment section below.

Elaine has considerable experience in conducting grievance and disciplinary investigations and reviews of employment practice and procedure. Elaine also Chairs internal disciplinary and complaints panels.

Elaine frequently appears as an advocate in mediations of all description acting for various parties in all types of complex employment and discrimination disputes. Elaine has extensive experience in professional disciplinary cases before various regulatory bodies. More information may be found in the Regulatory and Professional section below.

Elaine speaks, writes and broadcasts regularly on her specialist areas of the law for various practice publications. She is a contributor for Harvey Industrial Relations and Employment Law, co-author of Division J Family Matters  and co-author of the chapter on Human Rights and Employment Law for Tolley’s Employment Law.

An active member of the Discrimination Law Association, she was Treasurer of the DLA for 6 years. In 2009 Elaine was named a ‘Pro Bono Hero for 2009’ by the Attorney General’s Office. From 2011 to 2014 Elaine was a Barrister member of the Bar Standards Board’s Complaints Committee.

Elaine is a member of DLA, ELBA, ELA, ILS and Justice.

Elaine is the Co-Chair of the Bar Council’s EDSM Committee and is an elected member on the Bar Council’s GMC.

Elaine is a member of the Committee for the Inns of Court Alliance for Women.

Elected Bencher at Middle Temple March 2019.

Member of Middle Temple’s Appointment Committee and Former Co-Chair of Middle Temple’s Race Equality, Inclusion and Anti-Racism Working Group.

Head of 7BR’s Employment Team and Chair of 7BR’s internal EDSM Committee.

Chair of the Board of Talawa Theatre.

Trustee of Youth Charter, a United Nations Accredited NGO.

Elaine was Finalist for the ‘First 100 Years Inspirational Woman of the Year Award’, Barrister of the Year 2019.

Elaine featured on BBC One’s Panorama episode “Belly Mujinga: Searching for the Truth” on 12th October 2020. She discussed the importance of the Employers responsibility during the COVID -19 pandemic. You can view the episode here.