Sian Jackson

Principal Associate

photo for Sian Jackson

What can I do for you

Sian has 15 years' experience of advising the education sector on employment law matters. These range from large-scale restructures and contractual changes to industrial disputes and defending complex tribunal claims for discrimination and whistleblowing. Sian has particular expertise and interest in international projects and atypical workers.

What do others say

Sian is ranked as a Rising Star in 2024 and a Leading Associate in 2025 the Legal 500 Directory.

Testimonials in the Legal 500 directory 2025 say that:

  • "Sian Jackson is extremely knowledgeable about the sector. Her advice is pragmatic, and grounded in what will actually work"
  • "Sian Jackson is a trusted adviser on contentious and non-contentious matters".

Supporting your ambitions

Sian's recent work has included:

  • Advising a University on the grievances and disciplinary case against a senior academic who had made social media comments which students were alleging were transphobic and gender critical, including compliance with the University’s freedom of speech obligations.
  • Advising a number of universities on the use of wholly owned subsidiaries to employ existing and new staff to offer a defined contribution scheme to save costs.
  • Reviewing policies and procedures to ensure compliance with the new duty to prevent sexual harassment and is prepared for the Office for Students E6 condition of registration for harassment and sexual harassment.
  • Defending three employment tribunal claims brought by the trade union for alleged failure to collectively consult for redundancy.

What else should you know?

Sian is a Chartered member of the Chartered Institute for Personnel Development (CIPD) and completed her Level 7 qualification in 2019.

Sian leads the Employment, Pensions and Immigration team's Innovation Focus Group and co-leads the firm's Education Sector Innovation Group.

When she is not working, Sian bakes, runs, drinks wine and tries to keep her two children away from iPads (with varied success).

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What our clients say about us

“I think Mills & Reeve are a wonderful firm. The support they have provided to us in a really difficult area has been brilliant, collaborative and commercially minded. The team were absolutely wonderful and a joy to work with. Amazing advice and support and a real collaborative effort with us. I can't thank them enough for getting us through some really tough times and doing so with an amazing can-do attitude.”

“They are friendly, fast, always available and always on top of the game. I tend to judge my legal team against the other side's legal team and never doubt Mills & Reeve is the better of the two.”

“All interactions have been very clear. Responses to questions have always been very swift and unambiguous. Our company, and my family, have used various services in Mills & Reeve with the same level of satisfaction.”

“I value the fact that Mills & Reeve are recognised as a good place to work in the UK Best Companies survey. This aligns with the values of our business and means that Mills & Reeve can share what is required to achieve this status with our business.”