Katy Prestedge Consultant Employment Solicitor

Katy Prestedge is an experienced employment solicitor with over 12 years’ post-qualification experience advising on a broad range of contentious and non-contentious employment law matters. Since qualifying in 2013, she has developed significant expertise in managing complex high-profile and high-value employment litigation, alongside advising on a wide range of employee relations and HR issues.

Her background includes both private practice and in-house legal roles, including as a senior lawyer within the Government Legal Department, where she managed a small team of lawyers. Katy has advised both claimants and respondents across a variety of sectors including government bodies, SMEs, schools and other organisations. Katy is also an experienced workplace investigator supporting clients to reduce the risk of tribunal claims by providing clear and considered investigation reports in sensitive matters that benefit from the independence of an external, legally qualified investigator.

Areas of expertise

• Employment tribunal and appellate court litigation including unfair and wrongful dismissal, discrimination and harassment, whistleblowing and wages and family rights claims
• Employee relations and HR advisory work including disciplinary, grievance and capability procedures
• Workplace investigations
• Negotiating exits and settlement agreements
• Drafting and reviewing employment contracts and workplace policies
• Advising on legislative and regulatory changes affecting employers

Approach to work and clients 

Katy’s approach combines strong technical employment law expertise with a calm, collaborative and commercially focused approach. She is committed to delivering clear, pragmatic and risk-based advice that enables clients to manage difficult workplace issues with confidence and achieve effective, commercially sound outcomes.

She particularly prides herself on providing solution-focused support that mitigates risk, resolves disputes efficiently and brings clarity to sensitive and challenging situations.

Alongside her legal practice, Katy has built strong experience in leadership, mentoring and diversity and inclusion initiatives. She has led mentoring and outreach programmes aimed at improving access to the legal profession and supporting inclusive workplace cultures. She also sits as an Independent Member on the Standards Committee at Lewisham Borough Council where she provides an impartial and objective perspective on councillor conduct and complaints which reflects her commitment to ethical governance and professional integrity.

Outside of work, Katy enjoys running, travelling and spending time with her young family.