Employment and discrimination barrister Helen Hogben will chair the upcoming Manchester HR Conference, “Dismissal for HR: Shaping New Developments into Solution-Focused Answers for Employers,” on 25 March 2026 at The Lowry Hotel. The conference aims to help HR professionals navigate the complex landscape of employee dismissals and provide practical, court-proven solutions.
Hogben, a highly experienced barrister at Trinity Chambers with a national practice, will commence the day with a keynote address before leading a series of presentations and discussions with a panel of legal experts. The conference will address some of the most challenging issues facing employers today, including managing obstructive behaviour, handling ‘word-against-word’ scenarios, accommodating neurodivergence, addressing cultural misalignment, mental health absenteeism, and redundancy during maternity leave.
“I am delighted to chair this important conference,” says Hogben. “The world of HR is constantly evolving, and it is crucial for employers to stay informed on the latest legal developments and best practices. This event will provide a valuable platform for HR professionals to gain practical, solution-focused answers to some of the most challenging dismissal questions they face.”
The conference agenda includes sessions led by experts such as Rebecca Peck of Bexley Beaumont, who will explore strategies for progressing performance management when employees resist engagement or allege bullying. Danielle Ingham from Mills & Reeve will provide guidance on handling inappropriate behaviour at off-site events. Angela Brumpton of Gunnercooke will discuss accommodating undiagnosed neurodivergence. Mary Walker from Gordons will address cultural misalignment and difficult employees. Bryn Doyle of Lewis Silkin will offer insights on minimizing legal risks with mental health-related absences. Naeema Choudry from Eversheds Sutherland will clarify redundancy rules during maternity leave.
Hogben’s own journey to the Bar as the first in her family to attend university, and her appointment as Junior Counsel to the Crown in 2023, underscore her commitment to excellence and diversity. Her experience in a wide array of complex cases, detailed in her notable cases, and her dedication to ongoing professional development through seminars and webinars, make her the ideal chair for this conference.
The full-day event, which includes lunch and offers five hours of CPD for delegates, promises to be an invaluable opportunity for HR professionals to network, learn, and equip themselves to handle dismissals fairly and legally. For more information and to book your place, visit the White Paper Conference website.
