“Spencer has innovative arguments. He has a direct and confident approach, and profound knowledge of discrimination law.”
The Legal 500 2025
“Spencer’s knowledge of the Equality Act is invaluable.”
Chambers & Partners 2025
"A very methodical and responsive advocate, who is very good at putting clients at ease."
"Spencer's advice is clear and concise. He is also very personable with clients and witnesses." "Spencer has an encyclopaedic knowledge of disability discrimination law. He is extremely personable and a persuasive advocate."
The Legal 500 2024
"He is good at getting to the heart of the matter and will cut through to what is relevant. He produces comprehensive and strategic advice that is accessible and understandable to business."
Spencer is recognised by both Chambers & Partners UK and The Legal 500 as a leading barrister in discrimination law, with particular expertise in disability discrimination. Both directories describe his knowledge in this area as “second to none”.
He has acted in numerous high-profile and complex cases, advising clients ranging from senior judges and part-time tribunal members to City law firms, chief executives, international organisations and companies. His work spans the full range of employment law, including claims involving unfair dismissal, discrimination, whistleblowing, redundancy, breach of contract, TUPE, working time, and complex jurisdictional disputes, as well as partnership and internal disciplinary matters.
Spencer is also frequently consulted on discrimination issues outside the employment sphere, including disputes relating to service provision.
He is a co-author of Disability Discrimination in Employment, published by Oxford University Press.
Professional Recommendations
“Spencer has innovative arguments. He has a direct and confident approach, and profound knowledge of discrimination law.”
The Legal 500 2025
“Spencer is an incredibly knowledgeable employment lawyer with charming manner allied to a first-rate brain.”
The Legal 500 2025
“Spencer’s knowledge of the Equality Act is invaluable.”
Chambers & Partners 2025
“He is good at getting to the heart of the matter and will cut through to what is relevant. He produces comprehensive and strategic advice that is accessible and understandable to business.”
Chambers & Partners 2024
“Spencer is always helpful and keen to assist. His availability is good and he is very knowledgeable. He is excellent when dealing with urgent work.”
Chambers & Partners 2024
“Spencer is a real talent who always works hard and produces great results.”
Chambers & Partners 2024
“A very methodical and responsive advocate, who is very good at putting clients at ease.”
The Legal 500 2024
“He is a tenacious and fantastically well-prepared barrister.”
Chambers & Partners 2023
“He is outstanding on complex disability discrimination matters.”
Chambers & Partners 2023
“Spencer’s submissions are superb and he is extremely responsive and commercial. He goes above and beyond to ensure that the client is getting the best advice.”
Chambers & Partners 2023
“Spencer has an encyclopaedic knowledge of disability discrimination law. He is extremely personable and a persuasive advocate.”
The Legal 500 2023
“Spencer’s advice is clear and concise. He is also very personable with clients and witnesses.”
The Legal 500 2023
“Spencer is a thoughtful and measured advocate whose intellect is obvious. His knowledge of disability discrimination law is superb.” “A great thinker and high-quality appellate advocate. Highly authoritative in all things to do with disability discrimination.”
The Legal 500 2022
“He offers a good exploration of legal issues on a case.” “He is well prepared, he is good with clients and he gets good outcomes.”
Chambers & Partners 2022
“He’s incredibly detailed and very focused; nothing gets past him and he’s technically very, very good.” “He has a huge wealth of knowledge and is always willing to help find solutions.”
Chambers & Partners 2021
“A strategic thinker who is able to identify the key issues at the heart of cases and who is forensic in his analysis.” “A measured yet persuasive presence in court with experience at every tier of court.”
The Legal 500 2021
“A real thinker, who is building a superlative practice and whose work is at the cutting edge of the law.” “A very good cross-examiner who gets to the heart of things and makes issues simple for clients.”
Chambers & Partners 2020
“A preferred counsel for disability discrimination cases with an ability to advance complex argument in a persuasive form.”
The Legal 500 2020
“He is an excellent advocate and a formidable opponent.”
The Legal 500 2017
Expertise
Discrimination, Employment & Human Rights Law
Spencer is recognised by both Chambers & Partners UK and The Legal 500 as a leading discrimination barrister who has expertise in disability discrimination. Both directories list his expertise in disability discrimination as “second to none”.
He has appeared in several leading discrimination disputes and is sought after for his ability to deal with complex cases and high-profile clients. He has advised a large group of judges on their pension rights, city law firms in respect of internal partnership and disciplinary matters, a part-time judge in an unfair dismissal claim and several chief executives in their personal capacities as well as respondent companies of all sizes.
Because of his expertise, Spencer’s advice is often sought in areas outside employment, such as discrimination in the provision of services.
In 2009, Oxford University Press published Spencer’s book, Disability Discrimination in Employment, and he continues to contribute articles to the New Law Journal.
Spencer has significant experience in areas formerly governed by EU law and has dealt with EU law issues at all levels of the UK court system, including the Supreme Court. He continues to advise on the ongoing relevance of EU-derived rights, particularly in cross-border and jurisdictional disputes, and has represented EU missions and clients based overseas.
He also has substantial experience in litigation concerning the jurisdiction of the Tribunal and the scope of the Equality Act 2010. This includes cases addressing whether volunteers fall within the scope of the former EU Framework Directive, the interpretation of “qualifications body,” the boundaries of associative discrimination and the meaning of “woman” under the Equality Act 2010.
He has litigated the meaning of “worker” under both domestic and EU definitions in disputes involving judges, academics, foster carers, partners, and other atypical working arrangements.
Contract Disputes
As a commercial barrister, Spencer appears regularly in general contract and commercial disputes in the High Court and County Court.
For example, he has dealt with disputes:
Concerning the supply of organic foodstuffs
Between shareholders
Over the liability of an information society service
About the delivery of satellite TV services
Over search engine optimisation (SEO) services
Employee Competition & Injunctions
Spencer is frequently instructed in both interim and final injunction proceedings, often at very short notice. A significant part of his practice involves employee competition disputes, where he is called upon to enforce or challenge contractual restraints such as:
• The implied duty of fidelity
• Non-competition clauses
• Non-solicitation and non-dealing covenants
• Non-poaching provisions
• Indirect restraints, including financial incentives not to compete
He is also experienced in a wide range of other injunction matters. He has acted for a Member of Parliament seeking relief under the Representation of the People Act ahead of a general election, and for a client attempting to prevent the broadcast of a television programme in which they appeared and in online harassment claims under the Protection from Harassment Act.
Recent and current work
Relevant Work
For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers [2025] UKSC 16 –This case concerned the definition of “woman” in the Equality Act 2010. The UK Supreme Court held that the terms “woman”, “man” and “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 refer to biological sex, not gender acquired through a Gender Recognition Certificate (Led by Aidan O’Neil KC).
Higgs v Farmor’s School [2025] EWCA Civ 109 – A teacher claimed discrimination based on belief after she was disciplined for social media posts. The Court of Appeal clarified the balance between freedom of belief and legitimate employer concerns about inclusion. (Led by Ben Cooper KC)
The High Court (Moses LJ, Irwin J) today delivered judgment in the important judicial review proceedings brought by UNISON to challenge the fees regime introduced in the employment tribunal and…
Company Shares. In the course of proceedings between the parties, a preliminary issue arose for consideration namely, whether an alleged transfer a single issue share in the first claimant company…
