Carrianne joined Stephens Scown in 2016, qualifying as a solicitor in 2018 with Stephens Scown and becoming a key part of the firm’s Employment team, becoming an Associate in 2023.
A specialist in bringing both technical expertise and a genuinely client-focused approach to every matter she handles, Carrianne acts for both employees and employers, giving her a well-rounded perspective that enables her to anticipate challenges and develop effective, strategic solutions to employment issues. In particular, Carrianne has developed a specialism in Employment Tribunal claims.
Carrianne excels at guiding clients through every stage of the Tribunal process and is experienced in advising on complex remedy issues in the Employment Tribunal claims, ensuring her clients have a clear understanding of their position and the best path forward.
She is also frequently instructed to negotiate settlements, achieving practical and commercially sound outcomes for both employees and employers. She also provides day-to-day HR and employment law advice, supporting businesses with issues such as capability, performance management, drafting restrictive covenants, redundancy, flexible working requests and other workplace processes.
Her areas of expertise include:
- Discrimination claims under Equality Act 2010
- Whistleblowing detriment
- Unfair dismissal including constructive dismissal
- Equal pay disputes
Some recent examples of her Employment Tribunal work are:
- Carpenter v Seasalt Limited [6006215/2024] – Representing the Respondent in defending a claim of unfair dismissal following a redundancy exercise.
- KJ v British Council ET/3200569/2022 – Successfully representing an anonymised Claimant in claims for constructive unfair dismissal, sex related harassment and harassment of sexual in nature and direct discrimination against her former employer. Including representation at the first remedy hearing and successful appeal of the first liability decision, in the Employment Appeal Tribunal in 2026.
- Representing an employee in their multiple Employment Tribunal claims against a large NHS Trust. The claims included disability discrimination and Equal Pay arising from a period of sickness absence whilst undergoing cancer treatment.
- Representing an employee in their claim of disability discrimination claim against an International Music Company. The claim arose following a ADHD diagnosis.
- Representing an employee in their Employment Tribunal claim of disability discrimination against an International Technology Company.
- Campbell v Ministry of Defence ET/1401807/20 – Representing a member of the armed services in a complex race discrimination claim and securing him a high value settlement.
- Representing an employee in their Employment Tribunal claim against three Respondents (their employer and two mangers) for race and sex discrimination including harassment.
- Dr A Skrzypiec and Professor R Pawlak v University of Exeter: 1403532/2018 and 1403533/2018 – Representing two Claimants in their claims for disability discrimination and whistleblowing detriment.
- Ann Owen v Falmouth University, Case No: 1403442/20219 – Representing the Respondent in defending a claim of disability discrimination, with a preliminary hearing on disability status.
Carrianne has developed particular expertise in navigating sensitive and often complex cases, including those involving ADHD, depression, PTSD, anxiety and other mental health diagnoses. She approaches these matters with both legal precision and empathy, ensuring clients feel supported. Being a working parent herself, she is incredibly passionate about representing pregnant women, employees who have recently returned from maternity leave or working parents more generally that find themselves being the subject of discrimination.
Carrianne is a member of the Employment Lawyers’ Association with a keen interest in the firm’s Social Housing sector. Carrianne also volunteers for the Employment Tribunal Litigants in Person Support Scheme where she puts her skills, knowledge and experience to good use to help claimants who cannot afford legal representation.
Outside of work Carrianne likes to spend her time with her children, catching up with friends and family, travelling and exploring the county.
