Paul Johnstone - Partner

Expert profile

Paul is partner in the employment team and specialises in all areas of employment law. He has a wealth of experience in all issues relating to employment tribunal litigation and advising on service contracts, disciplinary and redundancy procedures, managing sickness absence and has a particular interest on promoting equality and diversity and good employment relations within the workplace.

Paul's specialisms:

•  Executive contracts and severance
•  Contracts, policies and procedures and staff handbooks
•  Employment Tribunal advocacy
•  Equality and diversity
•  Strategic HR Planning and re-organisation
•  TUPE
•  Training and guidance for managers
  

In the hot seat...

How would you describe your team?
Great people and specialist advisers. It takes a detailed knowledge and strong judgement to be a good employment lawyer, you need to be able to react to different situations very quickly and think on your feet. At Muckle LLP, we are able to adapt quickly to situations and change tactics when required. One of the most important issues for employers to deal with is the concept of reasonableness. Having many years of practical experience is vital in honing your skills to identify what is and is not, reasonable behaviour.

What has been the most challenging legal deal you've been involved in?
There have been a number of cases - a merger between two large leisure companies which involved reorganisation and redundancy programmes. The company went on from strength to strength and is now very successful - which is hugely beneficial to the employees and the shareholders. Our advice resulted in no employment tribunal claims being issued - it was a clean, successful but complicated transaction which enabled the client to modernise its working practices and compete successfully in an ever-changing market.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
When I have achieved a successful result for my client, that gives me great personal satisfaction.

Who or what makes you laugh?
My wife, my children and my friends.

What were the last 2 books that you read?
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy and The Road by Cormac McCarthy.

Describe how you live life in 3 words.
Rock and roll.

What are your personal ambitions?
To be a good father, a good husband, a good friend and to be successful in whatever I choose to do, but not at any cost to those I love.

Are you a morning or evening person?
Definitely an evening person - a real night owl.

What do you most enjoy about living in the North East?
A sense of belonging. It's my home and always has been. I have a strong sense of identity of who I am and where I belong.

What would be your dream day?
Being anywhere in the company of friends and family, sharing stories and having a laugh.

What's your biggest extravagance?
My obsession with Marc Bolan, T-Rex and punk rock. I have had a lifetime of enjoying listening to and creating and playing music as a result of being inspired by the energy, enthusiasm and uplifting spirit of T-Rex music and the punk explosion circa 1976 and beyond. I own 8 guitars and a home recording studio with which to indulge my creative urges.

Direct line: 0191 211 7936
Email Paul