However, the company appeared to have committed the statutory requirement to consult with staff before the process begins. The legality of P&O's actions has been questioned in a number of quarters. Nathan Donaldson, an employment solicitor with Keystone Law, said that while there was precedent, "it is exceptional to forego appropriate notice and consultation processes". The company suggested that they had declined to consult before the dismissals on the grounds that that would have created the same level of disruption to both the company and UK trade generally.
