Russell Rochford

Pronouns: he/himPartner
Dublin, Ireland
+353 1 576 3164
phonemail

About

I am a partner in the Irish team with over 20 years’ experience as an international employment law specialist, as recognised by the leading legal directories.

I work closely with employers across a broad range of sectors, mainly technology, retail, life sciences, financial services, IT and energy.  Many of my clients operate in innovative and brand-sensitive environments and I help them manage risk pragmatically, while achieving their workforce objectives in a timely and cost-effective manner. 

I have particular expertise in navigating the workforce challenges associated with change programmes and national and cross-border commercial transactions.  I also have extensive experience advising on sensitive and complex employment disputes and litigation, including whistleblowing claims and High Court injunction proceedings.  

Having practised in the UK for many years, I also regularly support UK-based clients in addressing the differences between the Irish and UK employment law systems.

Experience

Employment litigation

  • Managing sensitive and complex employment disputes and litigation in all the employment fora and courts including class actions, whistleblowing claims and High Cout injunctions
  • Negotiating ‘out-of-court’ settlements in all manner of employment disputes including through formal mediation processes
  • Assisting clients in navigating and resolving high-profile disputes with unions including in the context of industrial action
  • Providing strategic and commercially pragmatic legal and risk management advice to successfully resolve disputes and litigation at an early stage

Employment advisory

  • Advising on the implementation and management of employee relations processes including disciplinary proceedings with both regulated and unregulated employees
  • Implementing sensitive severance arrangements and terminations, with a focus on commercially practicable risk management
  • Partnering with clients in the preparation and submission of statutory reports under the gender pay gap legislation and compliance with the requirements of the Pay Transparency Directive
  • Working closely with clients on the implementation of large-scale change programmes involving individual and collective redundancy processes and harmonisation projects, including in the context of insolvency scenarios

Commercial activities

  • Leading on the employment aspects of mergers and acquisitions, outsourcings and other commercial projects affecting staff including due diligence processes, the negotiation of transaction documentation and post-transfer restructure issues
  • Assisting in the transfer of staff cross-border including compliance with TUPE and the cross-border merger legislation
  • Implementing new contractual documentation with senior management including bonus and incentive arrangements as part of pre-transaction and earn-out arrangements
  • Advising on the employment aspects of public and private service procurement processes

Whistleblowing

  • With a wealth of whistleblowing experience having worked in the UK, I have a particular interest and expertise in all things whistleblowing
  • Routinely assisting clients on whistleblowing matters including complex whistleblowing investigations involving regulated and unregulated employees
  • Providing strategic and operational advice to successfully resolve sensitive, contentious whistleblowing matters before they degenerate into disputes or claims
  • Resolving and managing whistleblowing disputes and litigation including Circuit Court injunction applications

Services

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