Employment & HRLaw

Employing people is a serious business investment.

When it goes right it delivers untold benefits on both sides. When it goes wrong, it can be devastating for a business’ finances or its reputation.

Working at the heart of the City of London, our team have a deserved reputation as market leading advisers on people issues. Our collective experience ensures that we provide comprehensive strategic advice and solutions to in house lawyers, HR teams and senior management teams.

We are trusted by many professional services firms to support them on their employment issues and are proud to be the “go to” team. We guarantee to provide you with a partner-led, commercial and cost-effective service in the UK and internationally, through our network of trusted employment and labour lawyers.

We have a genuine understanding of issues that impact on HR professionals, reinforced through our close links with CIPD and CityHR, the HR association for the financial services sector.

We recognise that the management of people issues involves more than just knowledge of employment law. We work in partnership with our clients to seamlessly manage these issues. Our team includes specialists in employment, IP, data protection, High Court litigation, tax and incentives, partnership, regulatory issues, investigations and white collar crime.

Employment & HRLaw experience

• Instructed as independent investigators into allegations of misconduct and historic sexual harassment at CBI events, critical to CBI’s survival.

• Advised THM Partners on the sale of its business to Alix Partners. The deal enabled substantial individual payments and accelerated business growth plans, with our multidisciplinary team resolving complex issues related to the LLP structure.

• Led two independent fact-finding investigations on behalf of the Confederation of British Industry, following the allegations of misconduct and criminality reported by The Guardian.

• Handled two complex senior exits with significant governance, regulatory, employment law, and reputational implications, ensuring swift, discreet settlements with no adverse publicity.

• Advised on the defence of a sensitive vicarious liability claim involving allegations of sexual harassment and rape by a co-worker at a company event. 

• Provided employment and regulatory advice to a bank after it lost a high value disability claim, advising against appealing the remedy judgment.

• Successfully defended against a rare and high-risk interim relief application by a former employee, avoiding substantial financial exposure during the Tribunal litigation process.

• Advised a UK software developer on defending Employment Tribunal claims for sex discrimination, equal pay, and constructive unfair dismissal, valued at £35m-£45m. The case involved a founder pay dispute and concluded with a favourable settlement after 2.5 years of litigation.

• Advised on a sensitive whistleblowing complaint involving a former CEO of an overseas bank, which questioned their capability to perform regulated functions. Proper handling was crucial to avoid reputational damage and regulatory issues.

• Advised on the expulsion of a top fee-earning partner in a national law firm over inappropriate relationships with colleagues, managing subsequent discrimination complaints and a resignation, while balancing financial loss against potential reputational damage.

• Appointed by the Trustees to investigate serious allegations of sexual harassment, assault, and bullying by senior leaders over decades, which surfaced during an unrelated investigation. The sensitive matter required careful handling to protect whistleblowers and avoid alerting implicated executive management.

• Appointed by the Trustees to carry out an internal investigation for a national institution which had to be handled discreetly and sensitively due to public interest.

• Advised a global insurance group on unfair dismissal and sex discrimination claims by a senior male employee dismissed after sexual harassment allegations.