Strategic HR support

Helping businesses navigate through all aspects of HR and employment law - from recruitment, organisational development, performance management, succession planning, grievances & disciplines, through to reorganisations and dismissals - to meet their business objectives
Steering clients through complex internal disputes, including dealing with persistent and long-term absences, capability issues, misconduct, breaches of contract and whistleblowing
Advising on senior executive employment matters, including negotiating service agreements & contracts, incentive schemes, performance & conduct and senior exits
Advising on collective labour law, including requests for Trade Union recognition, collective bargaining, balloting and strikes

Employment litigation

Managing a full range of employment litigation, from first stage Tribunal or WRC through to the higher appeal courts, including straight-forward statutory claims (unfair dismissal, unlawful deductions etc) through to complex discrimination and whistleblowing cases
Advising on Civil Court cases for breach of contract, injunctions and enforcement of post-termination restrictions
Negotiating settlements and managing Alternative Dispute Resolution procedures, including conciliation, mediation and arbitration, to avoid litigation

Employment

Ensuring that clients have relevant and robust contracts of employment, worker contracts, agency worker agreements and contractor agreements in place, as well as advising on employment status rights and obligations
Drafting relevant handbooks and policies & procedures for clients, ensuring legal compliance as well as business flexibility
Partnering with clients in providing 'business as usual' and day-to-day HR and employment law support, ensuring that matters are dealt with practically, swiftly and with a solutions focused approach
Working with clients on diversity, equity & inclusion issues to ensure that policies and practices are non-discriminatory and inclusive, dealing with complaints of bullying, harassment & discrimination to assist in resolving matters before they turn litigious, but also delivering DE&I training for staff and managers setting out not only legal requirements but tying this into business culture

Employment M&A, outsourcing & TUPE

Advising companies on the employment aspects of IP rights, confidentiality and post termination covenants
Advising on employment aspects of mergers and acquisitions, including due diligence, reporting on structure, advising on any non-compliance etc in order to remove or minimise client risk whilst working towards a smooth transaction
As a "TUPE nerd", I enjoy reviewing staffing structures in business & asset transactions and in service provision changes, providing guidance on all aspects from information & consultation, due diligence & employment risks, through to drafting practical and solutions focused TUPE drafting to provide protection and minimised risks to reflect the commercial agreement between the parties

Authors