Kingdom of Spain v Lorenzo

Subject Matter

CONFLICT OF LAWS — Sovereign immunity — Employment — Claimant with British and Spanish nationality working in Spanish Embassy in London — Claimant seeing confidential documents in course of employment — Claimant bringing complaints of constructive unfair dismissal, race discrimination and harassment — Whether claimant’s functions involving inherently sovereign or governmental acts — Whether respondent entitled to claim state immunity — State Immunity Act 1978 (c 33), ss 1, 4

[2024] EWCA Civ 1602; [2025] ICR 751; [2025] 4 All ER 521; [2025] IRLR 288; [2025] WLR(D) 21, CA

CONFLICT OF LAWS — Sovereign immunity — Employment — Claimant with British and Spanish nationality working in Spanish Embassy in London — Claimant working as social secretary and administrative assistant seeing confidential documents in course of employment — Claims of race discrimination and harassment — Whether claimant’s functions entailing personal involvement in diplomatic or political operations of mission — Whether respondent state entitled to state immunity — State Immunity Act 1978 (c 33), ss 1, 4

[2024] EWCA Civ 1602; [2025] ICR 751; [2025] 4 All ER 521; [2025] IRLR 288; [2025] WLR(D) 21, CA

Appellate History