Law Firms – Employment and Partnership

Discrimination claims

We assist our clients through the process of defending and avoiding future discrimination claims. As experts in discrimination law, we apply our knowledge and experience of this dynamic area of legal practice to the specific circumstances of each client’s case. We provide strategic and pragmatic advice in order to navigate what can sometimes seem like a minefield.

Whistleblowing

Our team has significant experience of representing firms who are seeking to handle and investigate whistleblowing disclosures.

We are also able to advise firms in relation to whistleblowing policies and procedures, staff and partner training, risk and crisis management, and dealing with regulatory bodies.

Exits and restructures

We have a proven track record of ensuring that our clients achieve optimal outcomes in partnership/LLP member exits and termination of employment situations. Our experience will guide you on how to handle the situation to ensure your business interests are protected.

We regularly advise clients on their redundancy procedures or restructuring processes and help to manage them efficiently and in ways to minimise legal risk. Where claims do arise, we can defend firms in the Employment Tribunal or High Court.

Restrictive covenants and team moves

There is no such thing as a “watertight” restrictive covenant for every case. Good drafting is critical if restrictive covenants are going to protect a firm’s interests in the ways it wants to.  In the case of employees, if a restrictive covenant is too widely drafted and broad in scope, the Court will find it to be an unlawful restraint of trade and unenforceable.

We are well experienced when it comes to dealing with team moves and have exceptional knowledge and expertise in the issues at stake.

We work hard with our clients, often very urgently in making or defending applications for injunctive relief, to obtain the best solution to cases. We provide the support, resources, commercially sound guidance, and legal expertise that clients need in every step of the process.

Disciplinary and grievance procedures, absence and performance management

Advising in relation to disciplinary and grievance procedures, and providing guidance on absence and performance management, is one of our core areas of expertise. It is often important that advice is taken on these issues as soon as they arise, even if your policies and procedures are up to date. Frequently these cases are difficult to deal with and complications easily arise. Mishandling the situation can lead to various claims and therefore ensuring appropriate management of such issues from the outset is key.

Our team is well acquainted in advising HR professionals, managers and partners on internal investigations, disciplinary and grievance procedures, and absence and performance management, to minimise the risk of tribunal claims.

Investigations

We have extensive experience advising on and conducting investigations into misconduct and arising from whistleblowing and grievances.

Sexual misconduct in the workplace investigations are a prime example of our seamless cross-departmental service.

Policies and procedures

Properly drafted employment contracts and staff handbooks are important from an HR and risk management perspective. We don’t just hand over generic precedent documents; we provide tailored documents, prepared with our clients’ business and commercial needs firmly in mind. We guide our clients through the process of negotiating new contracts, varying existing contracts, and rolling out suitable policies and procedures.

Our experience shows that very often, with proper advice at the outset, either a subsequent dispute could have been avoided altogether, or the financial exposure minimised.