UK · ETCourt order
Employment tribunal orders barrister to pay £6,767 wasted costs after he appeared from trains in Germany
Birmingham Employment Tribunal ordered barrister Michael Engelhardt-Sprack to pay £6,767.44 in wasted costs to the first respondent in Burns v Gitpod GmbH after he tried to conduct the first day of a remote final hearing from two trains in Germany on 12 May 2025, Legal Futures reported. In a costs judgment dated 18 February 2026, Employment Judge Wedderspoon called the conduct totally inappropriate and unprofessional and a breach of presidential guidance. The hearing resumed the next day in person.
Opinion (Employment Tribunals (England and Wales)) → · Legal Futures
Key points
- Employment Judge Wedderspoon ordered Michael Engelhardt-Sprack to pay £6,767.44 in wasted costs to Gitpod GmbH, the first respondent.Employment Tribunals (England and Wales)Legal Futures
- He attempted the first day of a remote Birmingham final hearing from two trains in Germany on 12 May 2025.Employment Tribunals (England and Wales)Legal Futures
- The tribunal found background noise and poor connections made the hearing unsuitable.Employment Tribunals (England and Wales)Legal Futures
- The judge said the conduct breached presidential guidance on remote employment tribunal hearings.Employment Tribunals (England and Wales)Legal Futures
- He failed to warn the tribunal or respondents that the first day would likely abort.Employment Tribunals (England and Wales)Legal Futures
Sources2 articles across 2 outlets
Employment Tribunals (England and Wales)
Legal Futures