About Daryl
With more than 30 years’ experience, Consultant Employment Solicitor Daryl Cowan brings deep expertise and a long-established reputation, having joined our Southampton office in 2024.
Recognised in the Legal 500 as ‘leading’ in his field, his practice covers all aspects of employment law, from redundancy and TUPE to Tribunal advocacy, with a unique specialism in agricultural employment matters.
Daryl continues to work closely with the farming community and is highly respected in the world of horse-racing, acting for jockeys, owners, and trainers in British Horseracing Authority regulatory cases.
What a Successful Day Looks Like
For Daryl, a truly successful day is one where he's so absorbed in his work that he loses track of time, and before he knows it it's 6pm.
This level of focus, he says, is its own measure of achievement.
Rewarding Elements
For Daryl, the most fulfilling moment is when a client can finally move forward, personally or in business, because of the outcome he’s helped them achieve.
Seeing how content they are is, he says, “the obvious reward.”
Why Employment Law?
Daryl’s early legal career took him through Magistrates’ Court, planning, and public prosecution work before he became legal counsel for the National Farmers’ Union in the South East.
There he dealt with everything from land boundaries and animal incidents to balloon-landing disputes and hedgerow challenges.
But it was the employment law issue, often the most complex and people-focused, that he enjoyed the most. That interest grew into a lifelong specialism.
A Trial He’d Have Loved to Attend
The Guy Fawkes trial tops the list.
Not only for its historical significance, but because the presiding judge, Thomas Flemming, owned large areas of land around Southampton, including the site of Dutton Gregory’s current office.
With Flemming Park named after him and the land’s Capability Brown’s designs still seen nearby, it’s a piece of history on the firm’s doorstep.
Testimonials
Superb support at pretty short notice.
Daryl looked after my redundancy extremely professionally, I had no doubts about his skills, knowledge and excellent levels of support and impartial advice.
Knowledgeable, prompt responses, and clear communications.
I recommended him to numerous colleagues about to be in the same situation.
ML - March 2025
Daryl was superb. Professional, efficient, understanding and fun!
He made the whole redundancy process clear and successful, keeping me informed throughout and creating a favourable outcome speedily.
I would fully recommend him to others.
R - March 2025