Supreme Court ruling gives LLP partners whistleblowing protection in Winkelhof

Accountants and other professionals who are partners in limited liability partnerships (LLPs) now have legal protection if they speak out publicly over wrongdoings in the workplace, following a landmark ruling in the UK Supreme Court that they are classed as ‘workers’ for the purpose of employment legislation.

The latest judgment overturns earlier rulings which excluded partners in LLPs from whistleblowing legislation, on the basis that they are not ‘employees’. It follows a three-year legal battle involving Krista Bates van Winkelhof, a former partner at law firm Clyde & Co, who wanted to take a complaint against the firm to an employment tribunal.

B