“We are proud signatories to the Women in Law Pledge created by the Law Society, the Bar Council of England and Wales and the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx). Our organisation is committed to the progress of gender equality, elimination of gender discrimination and pledges to make positive change for the legal profession”

Burley Law, June 2023

At Burley Law, we are delighted to announce our recent participation in two initiatives that align perfectly with our core values of collaboration and putting people first. We have become proud signatories of the Women in Law Pledge and IP Inclusive, both aiming to drive positive change within the legal profession.

About the Women in Law Pledge

The Women in Law Pledge, a collaborative effort by The Law Society, the Bar Council of England and Wales, and the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx), holds immense importance in our pursuit of gender equality and the eradication of gender discrimination. We firmly believe that diversity and inclusivity are not just buzzwords but cornerstones for a thriving and dynamic legal industry.

Why have we signed up?

By signing the Women in Law Pledge, Burley Law unequivocally commits to fostering an environment where every individual, regardless of their gender, can flourish and achieve their full potential. We understand that achieving true gender equality requires concerted efforts and continuous improvement. Through this, we pledge to support and empower women within our organisation and the wider legal community.

What are we committing to do?

Our commitment to gender equality extends beyond mere words. We are dedicated to implementing concrete actions that drive progress and create lasting change. At Burley Law, we understand the importance of providing equal opportunities for professional growth, mentorship, and leadership roles to women within our firm. By championing their voices, recognising their achievements, and promoting their success, we aim to create a level playing field for all.

About IP Inclusive

IP Inclusive is an initiative that focuses on inclusivity and diversity in the intellectual property (IP) professional community within the legal industry. As a forward-thinking law firm, we recognise that innovation and creativity thrive in environments that value and embrace diverse perspectives. By joining IP Inclusive, we commit to promoting an inclusive culture within the IP community and ensuring that underrepresented groups have equal opportunities to succeed in this industry.

Why is IP Inclusive important?

We firmly believe that collaboration and inclusivity breed success. By embracing diverse talents, perspectives, and experiences, we can better serve our clients, make more informed decisions, and foster a stronger and more vibrant legal profession.

What can you do?

We encourage other firms and individuals within the legal industry to join us in this transformative journey towards a more equal and inclusive future. Together, let us work towards dismantling barriers, promoting diversity, and creating a legal profession that truly reflects the society we serve.

For more information about our commitment to gender equality and inclusivity, please get in touch with our team. Let’s continue to strive for positive change and a brighter future for all in the legal profession.

Liz is a highly experienced employment lawyer who can advise on the whole range of HR and employment law issues.

Liz qualified in 1996 when the world of employment law and HR looked and felt very different!  She trained at a regional firm in Wolverhampton where she developed a keen interest in employment cases.  Once qualified, she went on to work for national firm Weightmans where she became very experienced in defending Tribunal claims for employers in the hospitality and retail sector.  These included one of the largest UK national pub and hotel chains, a national off licence chain, and several big restaurant chains.  Liz also handled road traffic litigation for a number of large insurers.

From Weightmans she joined Eversheds in Birmingham and broadened her experience of non-contentious employment law and became a regular speaker and trainer.

After a 10-year career break to focus on family life, Liz returned to practice in 2015 and has relished getting back up to speed and fighting fit as an employment lawyer!  Her time away from legal practice has enabled her to bring valuable life experience to the advice she gives.

Liz advises both employers and employees on contentious and non-contentious matters and believes that seeing things from both sides of the same coin makes her a better advisor for all her clients.  She is particularly skilled at advising on disability and mental health issues in the workplace, and employee data and privacy.

Liz prides herself on being an excellent communicator, and on her personable approach and her ability to cut through the issues to provide clear advice and solutions.  She is known for being at her client’s side throughout as well as a fearsome negotiator and advocate when required.

Des founded Burley Law in 2014 to provide personal and pragmatic, expert IP and technology law advice. He qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales before the Y2K bug, the dotcom boom or the Blackberry, in the same year that the first MP3 player was launched. Over twenty years on in a world that is now shaped and driven by technology, his legal practice now focuses on intellectual property protection, IT and technology contracts, international trade mark advice, data protection law and commercialisation of university-generated intellectual property.

Clients generally have technology, innovation or a strong brand identity at their core. They are often owner-managed and fast-growing and range from start-ups and spin-outs, to universities, providers of online services and fashion brands. Des has extensive experience of advising online training providers, and universities on IP commercialisation and technology – and on a broad range of IP and data protection issues in corporate transactions.

Des studied chemistry at The Queen’s College, Oxford before training as a solicitor. He went on to work at national and international law firms advising on intellectual property, technology law and information law. He was a partner at a national law firm for a number of years and then head of trade marks at a national patent attorney practice before he founded Burley Law.

Des has been a visiting university lecturer on IP on MBA courses, is actively involved in providing support to start-up incubator programmes and provides online training through a trust that supports organisations looking to use digital technologies to scale-up numbers of adult learners gaining vocational skills. He has worked on secondment with an e-commerce start-up and also with research-intensive universities.

Des is appreciated by his clients for his depth of expertise coupled with his straightforward approach to resolving commercial legal problems.

In his spare time, Des is a keen competitive swimmer and enjoys watching cricket.