Sejal Raja

7th Floor, 85 Fleet Street
London EC4Y 1AE
Email: sejal.raja@rlb-law.com
Sejal is a Partner and Head of Employment, advising employers and employees on all aspects of contentious and non-contentious employment law. She qualified in 1998.
“She is always responsive to queries, goes above and beyond and provides the most exceptional customer service.” “She’s really brilliant and very knowledgeable.” “She’s a pleasure to deal with; she provides excellent advice and outstanding support.” Chambers and Partners 2021
‘Sejal Raja offers notable experience representing employers in employment tribunal and High Court proceedings. Interviewees describe her as “a pleasure to work with – insightful, helpful and very good with clients,” and further praise her “commercial acumen and ability to appreciate the business realities of a situation.” Chambers and Partners 2020
Sejal Raja enjoys a healthy reputation among her clients, being described as ‘really fantastic’ and ‘an excellent employment lawyer.’ Chambers and Partners 2018
Sejal Raja is an experienced litigator, assisting clients with complex tribunal cases related to all forms of discrimination. Clients say she is ‘clear and articulate in her advice, exceptionally dedicated and responsive to our needs, and has given pragmatic assistance at all times.’ Chambers and Partners 2017
Sejal Raja is the head of RadcliffesLeBrasseur’s employment department. One source describes her as ‘fantastic – great with clients, and she knows the subject inside out.’ She often works on employment disputes on behalf of high net worth individuals. Chambers and Partners 2016
Sejal Raja, who is ‘commercially-minded, open and honest’, leads the ‘excellent’ team. The practice acted for Luton & Dunstable NHS Foundation Trust in successfully defending a claim for race discrimination, brought by an unsuccessful applicant for a consultancy position. Legal 500 2014
Sejal Raja enjoys a growing market reputation, with sources remarking favourably upon her ‘client-focused’ approach. She assists a number of NHS trusts in dealing with employment disputes. Chambers and Partners 2014
Sejal Raja frequently handles discrimination claims for a range of clients. Recent highlights include representing Community Service Volunteers in a TUPE-driven claim for unfair dismissal and disability discrimination. Chambers and Partners 2013
[Sejal is] an expert in handling discrimination claims. She impresses clients with her spot-on advice and creative thinking in dealing with complex matters. Chambers and Partners 2012
Areas of Expertise
Sejal advises on all aspects of employment law, including drafting and negotiating employment contracts, disciplinary and grievance procedures, dismissal and redundancy, whistleblowing claims, discrimination claims and equal pay disputes.
She has extensive experience in conducting litigation in the Employment Tribunal, Employment Appeal Tribunal and the High Court, in particular in the area of discrimination having been involved in the high profile pregnancy litigation for the Ministry of Defence – 1995.
Sejal also has significant experience in non-contentious matters including advising on the preparation of contracts, handbooks, enforcement of restrictive convenants and confidentiality obligations, disciplinary and grievance procedures, dismissal and redundancy, and advising in relation to the application of TUPE.
In addition, Sejal has experience in dealing with data protection issues for employers under the GDPR and can assist organisations with ensuring that they are compliant with the GDPR.
Sejal also works closely with our Tax and Private Client team, providing employment advice to high net worth clients in relation to employment issues, including but not limited to negotiating severance packages.
Sejal has developed expertise in advising clients on employee status and the implications of IR35. She has litigated claims against HMRC in the Tax Tribunal.
Experience
Seminars and publications
Sejal runs workshops and training for HR managers and senior managers on redundancy programmes, performance management, recruitment, managing ill-health absence, stress at work claims, disciplinary and grievance issues and equal opportunities.
Sejal speaks at a number of external conferences, and has been invited to present seminars at the Employment Lawyers Association’s annual conference on constructive unfair dismissal, the Institute of Financial Accountants (IFA) conferences, the Health and Wellbeing Conference, Lexis Nexis and CLT.
Sejal has written a number of articles for publications including Charity Times, the ELA briefing and Workplace Law Net, Health Service Journal, Care Times in addition to producing the department’s briefings and email alerts for clients.
Notable cases include:
- Cannock v Ministry of Defence
- Meredith v Ministry of Defence
- Moyhing v Barts and London NHS Trust and Others
- Kalubowila v Heatherwood & Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Trust
- Mr XX v UKBA
- Bannon v Community Service Volunteers and another
- Rackham v NHS Professionals Ltd UK EAT/0110/15
Client Sectors
Sejal acts for clients in a number of different sectors, including health, charities, care homes, GP practices, hotel and leisure, manufacturing, property, financial services and technologies.
Membership
Employers Law Association
The Law Society
- Can employers force employees to take a Covid-19 test?
23 February 2021 | Data Protection | Employment - Uber drivers are workers, confirms Supreme Court
19 February 2021 | Employment - Can an employer rely on equality and diversity training to defend a claim of harassment?
15 February 2021 | Employment - What are the requirements to pay sick pay during the Covid-19 pandemic?
3 February 2021 | Employment - Key Employment law decisions you may have missed in 2020
22 December 2020 | Employment - How should employers prepare for the end of the Brexit transition period?
11 December 2020 | Employment - Changes to IR35 legislation in April 2021
11 November 2020 | Employment - Extension of CJRS (furlough scheme) until March 2021
5 November 2020 | Employment - Job Support Scheme
23 October 2020 | Employment - Can employers fairly dismiss employees who do not return to the workplace?
1 September 2020 | Employment - The end of furlough and the announcement of a new bonus scheme
9 July 2020 | Employment - Flexible furlough – what are the changes from 1 July 2020?
15 June 2020 | Employment - Furlough and maternity leave – update from the government
10 June 2020 | Employment - Covid-19 – Flexible Furlough – the details….
1 June 2020 | Employment - Test and Trace – are you entitled to sick pay?
28 May 2020 | Employment - Mental Health Awareness Week – tips for employers
20 May 2020 | Employment - Holiday and the furlough scheme – what are the rules?
18 May 2020 | Employment - Employment law podcast – returning to work
18 May 2020 | Employment - Covid-19 – What do employers need to know in the new 50 page guidance from the Government?
12 May 2020 | Employment - The impact on businesses and employers of the Prime Minister’s latest announcement
11 May 2020 | Data Protection | Employment - Podcast – redundancy process
11 May 2020 | Employment - Business as usual after lock down?
4 May 2020 | Employment - Law Commission makes recommendations on the jurisdiction of Employment Tribunals
30 April 2020 | Employment - Furlough and job retention scheme – further clarification from the government
6 April 2020 | Employment - Changes to UK employment law from April 2020
6 April 2020 | Employment - Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – further guidance from the Government
27 March 2020 | Employment - Covid-19 – FAQs from employees
24 March 2020 | Employment - Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
21 March 2020 | Employment - COVID-19 – HR impact on businesses
18 March 2020 | Employment - ACAS Guidance – how and when should an NDA be used?
4 March 2020 | Employment - Webinar – IR35 employment status
13 February 2020 | Employment - Employment law developments on the horizon
8 January 2020 | Employment - Is veganism a protected characteristic?
6 January 2020 | Employment - Should a company ban all workplace personal relationships?
2 December 2019 | Employment - Whistleblowing dismissal and knowledge of the decision maker
28 November 2019 | Employment - Can a Judge be a whistleblower?
27 November 2019 | Employment - World Mental Health Day – considerations for employers
9 October 2019 | Employment - Is an employee entitled to contractual redundancy payment and a statutory redundancy payment?
25 September 2019 | Employment - Is Vegetarianism a protected characteristic?
19 September 2019 | Employment - Dress codes: Key points for employers
25 July 2019 | Employment - IR35 – more guidance?
19 July 2019 | Employment - Can you discriminate against someone because they have a progressive condition which could amount to a future disability?
3 July 2019 | Employment - Mental health and the workplace
13 May 2019 | Employment - TUPE transfers and permanent health insurance schemes
25 April 2019 | Employment - Increase in the Vento Bands for Injury to Feelings
25 April 2019 | Employment - Do irregularities in a disciplinary process amount to a breach of the implied duty of trust?
24 April 2019 | Education | Employment - Can an employer breach the implied duty of trust and confidence by proceeding with a disciplinary investigation whilst there is an ongoing police investigation?
16 April 2019 | Employment | Litigation and dispute resolution - Do rest breaks have to be for a continuous period of 20 minutes?
11 March 2019 | Employment | Health and safety - National Sickie Day
4 February 2019 | Employment - The Court of Appeal confirms that shop floor workers are comparable to workers in distribution depots
1 February 2019 | Corporate | Employment - Veganuary – Is being a vegan a protected characteristic?
30 January 2019 | Employment - The Government launches consultation to increase protection for pregnant women and new parents returning to work
25 January 2019 | Employment - Can a complaint of defamation give rise to a whistleblowing complaint?
23 January 2019 | Employment - Is an employer vicariously liable for the actions of its employees at an after work party?
4 December 2018 | Employment - Steps to avoid bullying and harassment in the workplace
12 November 2018 | Employment - Can an individual be personally liable for the dismissal of a worker?
25 October 2018 | Employment - Pregnancy and infant loss awareness month
16 October 2018 | Employment | Family - ‘Gay cake’ row – Supreme Court finds that bakers did not discriminate
10 October 2018 | Employment - World Mental Health Day
10 October 2018 | Employment - When is a resignation not a resignation?
9 October 2018 | Employment - US Open final overshadowed by discrimination scandal
4 October 2018 | Employment - Working during the commute: #WorkingFromTrain
10 September 2018 | Employment - Honesty is the best policy, at least when it comes to a claim for victimisation!
5 September 2018 | Employment | Healthcare | Primary care - ‘Sleep in’ and pay?
30 August 2018 | Care homes | Employment | Primary care - Menopausal leave – Are we almost there?
15 August 2018 | Employment - EU Settlement Scheme – Employer toolkit
31 July 2018 | Employment | Immigration - Gig economy and discrimination?
17 July 2018 | Employment - Lipstick and high heels are here to stay
9 July 2018 | Employment - Home Office excludes doctors and nurses from the cap on skilled worker visas
27 June 2018 | Healthcare | Immigration | Primary care - Will your employees face red cards this summer?
26 June 2018 | Employment - Pimlico Plumbers – The final chapter?
13 June 2018 | Employment - How would Brexit immigration controls affect social care?
7 June 2018 | Care homes | Charity | Employment | Immigration - Taking the pulse of employment status in the ‘gig economy’
6 June 2018 | Employment - IR35 – The conundrum continues…
17 May 2018 | Employment | Tax and private client - GDPR – What happens after 25 May?
11 May 2018 | Charity | Corporate | Employment | Healthcare | Intellectual property and media law | Litigation and dispute resolution | Primary care | Tax and private client - #DeleteFacebook – Facebook’s alleged breach of data privacy
24 April 2018 | Corporate | Employment - The impact of Brexit on right to work checks
20 April 2018 | Immigration - Why is the Windrush generation facing problems with their immigration status?
16 April 2018 | Employment | Immigration - Is it discriminatory to offer enhanced maternity pay but not shared parental pay?
13 April 2018 | Employment - The Colonel closed
9 April 2018 | Employment - Key changes in employment law from 1 April 2018
28 March 2018 | Employment - Holiday pay – A round up
27 March 2018 | Employment - Shared Parental Leave – Still not quite shared
19 March 2018 | Employment | Family - #MeToo – Sexual discrimination in the workplace
12 March 2018 | Employment - Equal pay – The battle of the sexes continues
7 March 2018 | Employment - When is the ‘effective date of termination’?
7 February 2018 | Employment - British citizenship – New application process
6 February 2018 | Immigration - Gender pay gap – Have you published your data?
5 February 2018 | Corporate | Employment - Home Office publishes new Tier 2 guidance and Tier 5 temporary workers IA category
12 January 2018 | Immigration - Challenge of the 180 day absence limit for Tier 1 immigrants to the UK
28 December 2017 | Immigration - An introduction to GDPR for HR
20 December 2017 | Employment - GDPR for HR – Privacy notices
20 December 2017 | Employment - GDPR for HR – Consent
20 December 2017 | Employment - GDPR for HR – Special categories of data
20 December 2017 | Employment - GDPR for HR – Subject access requests
20 December 2017 | Employment - GDPR for HR – Data breaches and consequences
20 December 2017 | Employment - GDPR for HR – What should HR professionals do now?
20 December 2017 | Employment - Promises made to EEA citizens
14 December 2017 | Immigration - Should voluntary overtime be included in the calculation for holiday pay?
13 December 2017 | Employment - What to consider when your employer offers you a settlement agreement
27 November 2017 | Employment - Is it unfair to dismiss an employee if they fail to present evidence of their right to work?
23 November 2017 | Employment - Uber – The final chapter?
10 November 2017 | Employment - Dr Michalak and the GMC – Individuals can bring discrimination claims against their regulators in the Employment Tribunal
9 November 2017 | Employment | Healthcare | Litigation and dispute resolution - UK Annual Report on Modern Slavery
9 November 2017 | Corporate | Employment - Will Brexit mean fewer nurses and midwives in the UK?
3 November 2017 | Healthcare | Immigration | Primary care - Does the Home Office’s current attitude towards the Ankara Agreement signal its extinction?
31 October 2017 | Immigration - EU update – RadcliffesLeBrasseur attends London Chamber of Commerce and Industry breakfast meeting with the Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP
16 October 2017 | Employment | Immigration - Increase to bands of compensation for injury to feeling awards
5 September 2017 | Employment - Is suspension a breach of trust and confidence?
4 September 2017 | Education | Employment - Home Office update: Brexit negotiations
1 September 2017 | Immigration - Can a ‘joke’ constitute harassment?
30 August 2017 | Charity | Employment | Primary care - Voluntary overtime and holiday pay
11 August 2017 | Employment | Primary care - Employment Tribunal fees – Important update
26 July 2017 | Employment - Minimum income rule – A welcome change to the Immigration Rules
21 July 2017 | Immigration - London Business 1000 – The issues affecting London’s business community
18 July 2017 | Immigration - Brexit impact on immigration applications for EU citizens
17 July 2017 | Immigration - Whistleblowing – Background to press coverage
14 July 2017 | Employment - What does ‘public interest’ actually mean in whistleblowing cases?
14 July 2017 | Employment - The Taylor Review
11 July 2017 | Employment - Shorts v dresses: Are summer dress codes putting male employees at a disadvantage?
23 June 2017 | Employment - Can redundancy which arises from absence amount to disability discrimination?
14 June 2017 | Employment - Data protection and privacy: How should SMEs prepare for GDPR?
25 May 2017 | Corporate | Data Protection - Greater protection for whistleblowers?
11 May 2017 | Employment - Mental health: Key issues for HR and line managers
11 May 2017 | Employment - To what extent can employees’ social media use be regulated and how can the risks to employers be mitigated?
5 May 2017 | Employment - Are workers entitled to pay while sleeping?
2 May 2017 | Care homes | Employment - Indirect discrimination – A welcome clarification?
26 April 2017 | Employment - Pending employment legislation and the impact of the general election 2017
24 April 2017 | Employment - Shared parental leave – your questions answered
5 April 2017 | Employment - Home Office changes to immigration and nationality charges
4 April 2017 | Immigration - Residence documents: To apply or not to apply
30 March 2017 | Immigration - Home Office changes to the Immigration Rules
17 March 2017 | Employment | Immigration - Apprenticeships – good or bad?
16 March 2017 | Employment - Landlords discriminating against tenants under the ‘right to rent’ scheme
10 March 2017 | Immigration | Property | Tax and private client - The Supreme Court’s ruling is not all gloom for families
3 March 2017 | Immigration - Immigration news round up and reminders
23 February 2017 | Immigration - The Prime Minister’s white paper on exiting the EU and the new proposed relationship
16 February 2017 | Immigration - Brexit edging closer
9 February 2017 | Employment | Immigration - An employer’s refusal of holiday to allow an employee to attend religious festivals was not indirect discrimination
7 February 2017 | Employment - Secretary of State granted power to cap exit payments for public sector workers
2 February 2017 | Employment - The duty to make reasonable adjustments applies to service providers
31 January 2017 | Employment - Can gross negligence constitute gross misconduct?
30 January 2017 | Employment - Can a COT3 agreement prevent an employee bringing a subsequent claim?
30 January 2017 | Employment - Changes to process for UK settlement visa applicants in Australia
26 January 2017 | Immigration - Gig economy: Bicycle courier entitled to holiday pay
13 January 2017 | Employment - GDPR: Changes to the data protection regime
13 January 2017 | Data Protection | Employment | Intellectual property and media law | Primary care - What to expect in 2017
12 January 2017 | Employment | Immigration - Tier 2 sponsors – Criminal record certificates required for health, social care and education workers
20 December 2016 | Employment | Immigration | Primary care - UK-Irish relations and Brexit: EU Select Committee inquiry
12 December 2016 | Immigration - Gender pay gap regulations
7 December 2016 | Employment - Can a manifestly inappropriate final written warning be used to dismiss an employee at a subsequent hearing?
6 December 2016 | Employment - The constitutional referendum in Italy
5 December 2016 | Immigration - Is the employer liable for an assault by one of its employees?
5 December 2016 | Employment - Can a failure to allow for a rest break amount to a ‘refusal’ even if there has not been a request for such a break?
2 December 2016 | Employment - Proposed increases to statutory pay
1 December 2016 | Employment - Frequently Asked Questions: The Government’s response to Brexit
29 November 2016 | Immigration - Nationality census still required for children over 5 years old
18 November 2016 | Education | Immigration - New English language requirement
17 November 2016 | Immigration - Responsibility for triggering Article 50 handed to Parliament
3 November 2016 | Immigration - Important changes to immigration rules
3 November 2016 | Immigration - UK Visas and Immigration introduce a change to settlement visa application process in Russia
2 November 2016 | Immigration - Uber drivers are classed as ‘workers’ rather than self-employed contractors
28 October 2016 | Employment - Failure to pay enhanced shared parental pay may amount to indirect sex discrimination
27 October 2016 | Employment - Brexit – how will it affect employment law?
27 October 2016 | Employment - Do religious beliefs outweigh the law against discrimination in the supply of goods and services on grounds of sexual orientation?
25 October 2016 | Employment - Important whistleblowing case delayed
20 October 2016 | Employment - Is the protection of pay a reasonable adjustment for a disabled employee?
6 October 2016 | Employment - Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa: Job taker or job maker?
29 September 2016 | Immigration - Increase in the fees payable for immigration appeals – Access to justice no longer affordable
26 September 2016 | Immigration - Despite the ever increasing intricacy of the requirements, applications under Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) category remain appealing to overseas entrepreneurs
21 September 2016 | Immigration - The Government has announced that it will start consulting on caste discrimination, but is this really necessary?
19 September 2016 | Employment - Is a payment in lieu of notice (PILON) tax free?
26 August 2016 | Employment - Gender pay gap
23 August 2016 | Employment - Harassment in the workplace – preventing claims
10 August 2016 | Employment | Primary care - Guidance on preparation of investigation reports
1 August 2016 | Employment - Can an agency worker bring a whistleblowing claim against the end user client?
1 August 2016 | Employment - Are settlement negotiations undertaken under S111A Employment Rights Act (ERA) 1996 admissible in Employment Tribunal proceedings?
1 August 2016 | Employment - Does the ACAS code apply to all dismissals?
6 July 2016 | Employment - Is the requirement to work long hours a provision, criterion or practice triggering the duty to make reasonable adjustments?
6 July 2016 | Employment - First instance employment tribunal decisions
6 July 2016 | Employment - Does the abuse of migrant workers amount to race discrimination?
5 July 2016 | Employment - Bonus schemes: are they really discretionary?
15 June 2016 | Employment - Religion or belief dismissal – fair because of marriage?
1 June 2016 | Employment - Annual increases on compensation limits
7 March 2016 | Employment - Bribery Act: failing to prevent bribery can cost organisations dearly
4 March 2016 | Employment - Gender pay gap reporting – what do you need to do?
25 February 2016 | Employment - The importance of natural justice in employee disciplinary hearings
22 February 2016 | Employment - UK takes further action to prevent forced labour
29 January 2016 | Immigration - Hi, this is your employer. Can I look at your personal emails please?
15 January 2016 | Employment - Is caste a protected characteristic?
29 September 2015 | Employment - Does travelling to and from work count as working time?
29 September 2015 | Care homes | Employment - Article published by People Management Daily and HR-inform
28 August 2015 | Employment - Fluent English to be a legal requirement for customer-facing public sector employees
7 August 2015 | Employment - Historic derogatory comments on Facebook entitled employer to dismiss
7 August 2015 | Employment - Consultation on tax treatment of termination payments
6 August 2015 | Employment - Holiday pay – Tricky issues
10 July 2015 | Employment - Is an employer obliged to pay for travel time?
23 June 2015 | Care homes | Employment - Care home briefing 147 – Is an employee obliged to tell their employer of an allegation of sexual assault?
15 June 2015 | Care homes - Mental health law briefing 220 – Is an employee obliged to tell their employer of an allegation of sexual assault outside of their employment?
15 June 2015 | Employment | Mental health law - Is an employer liable for discrimination if it asks a Muslim applicant to wear a shorter jilbab? No, not in this case
4 June 2015 | Employment - Whistleblowing: what is ‘in the public interest’?
8 May 2015 | Employment - Should an employer put a disciplinary process on hold to deal with a grievance?
6 May 2015 | Employment - What is Shared Parental Leave?
29 April 2015 | Employment - March Case Round-Up
31 March 2015 | Employment - February Case Round-Up
27 February 2015 | Employment - January case round up – Is caste discrimination a protected characteristic?
30 January 2015 | Employment - December Case Round Up – Shared Parental Leave and more
29 December 2014 | Employment - Case Round Up
31 October 2014 | Employment - Care home briefing 137 – Travelling time between appointments and National Minimum Wage
16 June 2014 | Care homes - Care home briefing 136 – Care Certificate pilot scheme now underway
30 May 2014 | Care homes - Employee’s refusal to accept a pay cut
28 February 2014 | Employment - Without prejudice and protected conversations
31 January 2014 | Employment - Employment issues that should be borne in mind
31 December 2013 | Employment - Avoiding Christmas calamities!
31 December 2013 | Employment - Gold Plated TUPE 2006
16 October 2013 | Employment - Park Cakes Limited v Shumba and Others (2013)
5 August 2013 | Employment - Settling disputes is in everyone’s interest!
1 July 2013 | Employment - Care home briefing 125 – Disclosure and Barring Service: What’s new?
3 June 2013 | Care homes - Post employment victimisation
31 May 2013 | Employment - Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE).
30 April 2013 | Employment - Are dishonest employees entitled to payment in lieu of notice
29 June 2012 | Employment - More changes to vetting and barring
31 May 2012 | Employment | Healthcare | Primary care - Care home briefing 109 – Investigations: How to conduct them properly
1 April 2012 | Care homes - Unfair dismissal: guidance on disciplinary procedures given by Court of Appeal
29 February 2012 | Employment - Whether previous warnings can be taken into account when considering a claim for unfair dismissal
29 February 2012 | Employment - Watson v University of Strathclyde
29 July 2011 | Employment - McKie v Swindon College 2011
31 May 2011 | Employment - Care home briefing 91 – Equality Act 2010: Employment implications
1 December 2010 | Care homes - Transfer of Undertaking (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2000
30 November 2010 | Employment