Robert Lewis is a Partner in Mishcon de Reya's Employment Department and Head of the firm's Education Group. A leading UK education and employment lawyer, he advises both institutions and individuals on complex legal issues across the education and employment sectors.
As an employment lawyer, Robert has deep expertise in discrimination law, whistleblowing, executive misconduct, trade union relations, restrictive covenants, and day-to-day HR advisory work. He frequently supports high-profile clients in sensitive internal investigations and settlement negotiations.
As an education law specialist, Robert advises schools, Oxbridge colleges, universities, multi-academy trusts, and families on crisis management, safeguarding, student and parent complaints, exclusions, academic freedom, and equality law. His background as a former teacher and current governor of the Latymer Foundation gives him unique, practical insight into the education landscape.
Robert is a former Co-Chair of the Industrial Law Society and a member of the Employment Lawyers Association. He is a regulator contributor to articles, podcasts and is frequently interviewed by the media as an employment and education expert.
Key Experience
Employment law
- Advising a leading fintech business on an investigation into alleged misconduct by a member of its Executive Committee.
- Representing an employer in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court on the correct legal test for detriment in the Part Time Workers (Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations (Augustine v Data Cars Limited [2025] EWCA Civ 658).
- Representing Neil Butler and Luke Lockyer in successfully obtaining injunctive relief against the NASUWT, requiring the union to reopen nominations for General Secretary.
- Securing a multi-million-pound settlement for a senior partner at a Big Four consultancy following claims of discrimination and victimisation.
Education law
Robert regularly acts for schools, Oxbridge colleges, universities, and individuals in complex education law matters, including:
- Advising a well-known independent school on investigating and responding to allegations of exam malpractice.
- Supporting a higher education institution through a complex internal investigation into misconduct by senior staff.
- Representing the family of Siham Hamud in a successful legal challenge to a school uniform policy that infringed on religious rights.
- Advising a multi-academy trust on complaints from parents regarding the PSHE curriculum, including content on gender identity and sexual orientation.
- Assisting a leading school with responding to a student complaint alleging philosophical belief discrimination.
- Guiding the trustees of an academy in managing allegations of bullying by senior leadership.
Recognition
- Ranked in Chambers UK 2025, Band 3 for Education: Individuals.
- Described by clients as “very perceptive, intelligent, easy to deal with, and flexible.”
Career History
Partner, Mishcon de Reya LLP
Managing Associate, Mishcon de Reya LLP
Trustee, Latymer Foundation
Associate, Farrer & Co LLP (Qualified 2013)
History Teacher, Kingsbury School & Sports College
The Queen's College, University of Oxford, Modern History & Politics