Zaf Aktar is an accomplished Senior Employment Lawyer working out of the Thompsons Birmingham office. Zaf was appointed an associate in 2024.

Zaf Aktar qualified in 2002 and has specialised in employment law since 2005.  She acts for trade unions and their members advising and representing members on a range of employment disputes. She has represented trade union and their members in several large, complex, high-profile, sensitive cases.

Zaf has extensive experience in employment law, both on an individual and collective basis, representing trade unions and their members. Zaf has experience in mass litigation, including large complex cases, and has successfully represented clients at the Employment Tribunal. She has also represented some clients at the Employment Appeal Tribunal, Court of Appeal with one equal pay claim reaching the Supreme court.

Zaf has experience in advocacy at preliminary hearings and remedy hearings and has represented claimants at Judicial mediation and ACAS conciliation meetings.

Zaf has successfully negotiated high-value settlements in complex and sensitive cases of discrimination, equal pay and whistleblowing.  Zaf’s particular interest includes discrimination cases. Zaf also delivers talks and presentations at events for Trade Union clients and provides support to union members and reps. Zaf has contributed to Thompsons legal publications LELR.

Zaf is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association.

Zaf joined Thompsons in 2006 and, with the exception of a short break between 2019 and 2020, has been with Thompsons since,  representing Trade Unions and their members in the workplace.

Zaf enjoys the work which Thompsons does by improving the working lives of working people and securing justice for them when they have been mistreated at work.

Case Experience:

Coventry City Council and Mary Nicolls and others – [2009] IRLR 345 EAT

Arnold and others v Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (2009) ICR 1011

- Zaf acted for a group of over 100 Unite members in the West Midlands who were awarded a total compensation for clients over £300,000 in compensation by an employment tribunal after being redundant when their employer Caparo Atlas Fastenings Ltd, into administration in without any notice or prior consultation (2015 case). 

- Zaf has successfully recovered significant compensation for clients in cases of unfair dismissal, and discrimination cases to include sex, race, religion, disability, maternity and pregnancy discrimination, trade union detriment and whistleblowing claims.

-Zaf has been successful in obtaining a restricted reporting order in complex sensitive cases.

 

Zaf Aktar is a consummate professional and extremely hardworking. Zaf would call me out of hours to discuss my case. She is courteous and her commitment to her clients is outstanding. Thanks to Zaf, Thompsons and my Union rep Natalia Stepnowska, my claim with Shropshire Council was resolved. Zaf you are a credit to your firm and your profession. Thank you so very much for all you have done for me.

Zafin's former client

I cannot put into words how grateful I am for the support and kindness of Zaf Aktar throughout the case. Zaf remained professional at all times and was able to bring the case to a settlement quickly and professionally,fully respecting my decisions and queries along the way, no question was ever an issue or too much! I can’t recommend Thompson Solicitors more, but specifically Zaf. She made the whole stress of the case itself and the stress of the uncertainty’s much easier . Thank you so much Zaf, you really are a gem.

Zaf's former client