Francesca West

Managing Partner

Francesca is an expert in whistleblowing law and practice. She has worked with over 1,000 whistleblowers to help them raise their concerns in the workplace while ensuring their legal rights are protected. Having initially qualified as a barrister in 2005, Francesca cross qualified as a solicitor in 2011 and has been practicing as a specialist whistleblowing lawyer ever since. Francesca worked at the UKs leading whistleblowing charity, Protect, for 14 years before leaving to setup James and West Law. Francesca was Chief Executive from 2017 to 2020 before stepping back as Senior Legal Consultant in 2020 and 2021. During her tenure, Protect intervened on all whistleblowing cases at Supreme Court level with an exceptional track record of success. Francesca was also instrumental in campaigning to bring about the most recent changes to whistleblowing law in 2013 where the good faith requirement was removed for whistleblowers and the public interest requirement and vicarious liability placed in statute, providing an improved set of rights for whistleblowers.

Francesca has advised large multi-national companies on how best to structure whistleblowing arrangements and support staff.

Francesca is highly committed to supporting whistleblowers through what can be a difficult process and with key experience and insight into corporate behaviour, is able to help individuals navigate even the most complex of issues, with the least damage possible to their reputation and wellbeing.