The Legal 500 > United Kingdom - Solicitors > London > Employers

Gold standard attention to contentious matters which allows in-house specialists to truly rely on the cost effective management of litigation and disputes.

Incisive commercial interpretation of risks and quick out of the starting blocks with their views, always thought leaders on new challenges.

Sarah Henchoz: Almost superhuman ability to be on the detail where needed, without losing her strategic poise. One of a kind in the market.

Robbie Sinclair: highly pragmatic commercial approach

Robbie Sinclair and Sarah Hitchins are a team that can provide us with comprehensive advice on employment and related regulatory matters as well as support in employee disputes. Trusted advisers on matters that can carry significant reputational consequences. Their advice is always practical and reflects an understanding of our individual and institutional concerns.

Vicky Wickremeratne is solution orientated and pragmatic. In particular, I find that her many years working at a global investment bank before returning to private practice give her a differentiated commercial perspective.

Sarah Henchoz is a trusted partner for our team on some of our trickiest issues. She provides clear legal advice and, much more than that, thought leadership and partnership on some of our trickiest issues.

Exceptionally client focused, very pragmatic and understand our issues completely.

‘Lewis Silkin operate at the highest level of employment law expertise and undertake many cutting-edge cases. The are few solicitors’ firms which attain such high analytical standards and show such in-depth legal knowledge. They are also tactically astute and enormously hardworking. Dealing with the team is always a delight – interpersonal skills are excellent.’

‘The Lewis Silkin team are unbeatable on employee competition issues. They are at the top of the market by a country mile – no other firm has the breadth of experience that Lewis Silkin does. Toni Lorenzo and Mike Anderson are at the top of their game.’

‘Toni Lorenzo and Mike Anderson are both brilliant black letter lawyers – but more than that, they have an instinctive sense for the killer point that comes of years of experience. There are no other partners to match them in the employee competition market at present.’

‘Lewis Silkin are more pragmatic than many legal practices and truly get the need to be commercial. They will always present different options and make a great assessment of risk. Their Ius Laboris network of global lawyers is fabulous.’

‘Sean Dempsey brings a welcome dose of common sense and gets to the nub of the issue quickly and I find this is common across the network. We have used the UK Rockhopper service for smaller cases along with the Ius Laboris network and every adviser has engaged with us very well and has been responsive and their advice has been sensible. They appreciate the fast high pressure environment of a growing international business.’

‘Mike Anderson is outstanding and a trusted adviser – always goes the extra mile.’

‘The unique factor is the real breadth of employment related expertise at Lewis Silkin. And the friendly and very responsive approach to problem solving.’

‘Michael Burd – a very good legal mind/knowledge with an extremely practical and sensible approach to problem solving. And quick to answer emails. I feel privileged to be able to work with him.’

‘Lewis Silkin’s employment law offering is excellent. As well as technical rigour, they are agile, responsive, and transparent on costs. These things are equally important. Their complementary, non-chargeable, offering is superb: as well as pure employment, it covers fields like data privacy which are supplementary but integral to workplace issues. Their offerings are practical and international, which is vital to me.’

‘I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Lewis Silkin’s employment team; they have surpassed my expectations.’

‘Colin Leckey is extremely responsive, practical and instinctively understands the key underlying commercial issues behind a question. I value his common sense and collaborative stance, as well as his expertise.’

‘Sean Dempsey is exceptional. With his counsel we have navigated our way through some rough seas! He is super responsive, open to how we may want to do things differently & is a trusted adviser not only on UK matters but also on an EMEA wide basis. He doesn’t bombard you with legal jargon & most of all he understands the way we do things. He is able to see the wood for the trees & come up with clear advice even in the most complex scenarios.’

‘Strength in depth and near unrivalled experience in high end High Court litigation and related arbitration in respect of team moves, injunctive relief, confidential information, restrictive covenants’

‘Michael Anderson – all over the detail, a real thinker, great strategist.

‘Mike Burd – been there, seen it and done it more than entire teams at other firms. Unflappable.’

‘Toni Lorenzo – huge experience, great strategist.’

‘Richard Miskella – clever, considered, measured.’

‘The sheer size of its team means that its lawyers are true specialists in their fields. They are still nimble though and can react quickly to client needs, whether that be large scale projects, providing fee earners on secondment or advising on sensitive and high value matters. Their range of complimentary services is also unrivalled e.g. its dedicated investigations team, Worksphere and its fixed price Rockhopper service.’

‘Richard Miskella is our ‘go to’ lawyer for any sensitive or high value issues. His intellect, legal knowledge and strategic advice are second to none, and yet he has a down to earth style that resonates well with our senior stakeholders. He’s a true thought leader in the City’s employment law market.’

‘Karen Baxter in particular is a standout star – very personable, sensible, will always make herself available and can take a knotty problem and find a solution with great tact and diplomacy.’

‘Linklaters have an excellent employment team.’

‘Nicola Rabson and Sinead Casey are fantastic lawyers.

‘Sumaiyah Arshad-Khan is a rising star. She is an excellent lawyer.’

Commercial advice that is delivered in a swift, considered and pro-active way. They are available, efficient, practical, enthusiastic, direct and jargon free.

At the top the market for high end employment litigation, dealing with more cases than many other firms put together involving team moves, confidential information, restrictive covenants, injunctions, together with high end high profile tribunal litigation.

Leaders in their field. They have a diverse client base and considerable strength in depth, both at partner level and below. The team is comprised of experienced and committed employment law experts, who are comfortable acting in the Employment Tribunal and the High Court on the full range of employment-related disputes

 Joanna Blackburn is simply the best in her field. She’s always available, incredibly experienced, thinks outside the box, gives it to you straight, has a great client manner and is brilliant with her colleagues – a real team worker.

Susannah Kintish – completely on it; so smart and disarmingly engaging. Jennifer Millins – clever, able, sensible – a great all rounder and up and coming partner.

Matthew Wood – brilliant, quick, spot on and fabulous to work with.

Daniel Naftalin is leading the charge of the next generation of high end employment litigation: great on strategy and commercials.

Joanna Blackburn – a real fighter with the intellect and strategic acumen to back it up. She’s a force of nature – so glad she is on our side. Puts up with no nonsense. Effective and responsive. The best.

Knowledgeable, helpful and responsive.

The team works well with other practices within the firm, so the service overall is very joined-up.

Sarah Harrop is helpful, friendly and right on top of the issues. She is commercial and pragmatic, with excellent technical expertise. She has been a joy to work with.

Strong partner engagement, swift turnaround and a level-headed approach.

‘Great combination of technical expertise and practical advice. Excellent judgement and always offers a view, which is invaluable. A great,collegiate team’

‘Ed Bowyer is a stand out name – he’s a pleasure to work with’

‘A great London City firm -very good on financial, banking and City employment cases’

‘Stefan Martin is a clever and tactical lawyer – he gives a bank in a tight spot the best chance of a good outcome’

Exceptional knowledge of the finance and insurance businesses.

Miriam Bruce is excellent: intelligent, client-focused and super-savvy.

The team is high quality, consistent, professional and they always go above and beyond for their clients.

Nick Robertson is commercial, sensible and calm in a crisis. He’s a great partner who often ends up being the voice of reason.

Truly exceptional and much valued when there is an urgent problem. Their team collaboration is excellent  and they propose the right level of seniority for the right situation, to ensure work is cost effective and appropriate. They can also distil the message into “plain English”, which is much appreciated.

Miriam Bruce  and Paris partner Julien Haure are incredibly responsive; always on hand to help and able to judge urgency very well. Practical and effective advice  and they take the time to discuss and understand the matter fully’

‘The team are friendly, helpful, considered, concise and available. They understand our business and the way in which we work. The advice given fits with our culture.’

‘Adam Wyman understands our business and our business leaders. He ensures that the advice he gives fits with our culture. He is always considered and gives us sensible options and ways to approach different objectives/goals.’

‘They are experts and have a deep knowledge of their subject area. They really understand our business and tailor solutions to fit what we need. Their partners are highly credible and I’m always confident introducing them to members of our senior leadership team. They focused on building a long-term partnership with us, by understanding how we operate, what we need and offering value-add activities such as training seminars.’

‘Adam Wyman is highly credible and commercially focused. He always comes up with a relevant solution that works for the way we operate. Calm and effective during complex or pressurised situations. We rely on him for his advice and support because he knows our business inside out and gets us to the outcomes we need.’

‘Siân Keall, whilst very professional (as you would expect) has a very personable approach. She is always empathetic to some of our most challenging situations whilst providing advice and feedback that is honest, to the point and considered – that is quite a skill. In the short time we have worked together, I feel I have formed a friendship and receive a personal service. When interacting with any of the team at Travers it feels as though you are in it together.’

‘Travers Smith are responsive, understand our business and give us pragmatic and commercial guidance.’

‘Siân Keall’s knowledge of the law is incredible and that, mixed with her great sense of humour, makes her a delight to work with. Her commercial and pragmatic approach ensures we have the right level of guidance and helps us develop our own learning along the way.’

‘Tim Gilbert is extremely knowledgeable, friendly and approachable. He always responds quickly to any employment law query, however small, with practical and legal advice that can be implemented in the workplace.’

The team is excellent. They give practical, actionable advice, not just repeating the law back to you. The firm has a consistent level of quality for all of their lawyers throughout the world.

Elizabeth Lang is outstanding. She  is always there for you and knows exactly what to do in every situation, no matter how difficult. She is level headed and gives excellent counsel. She is well connected through the firm and can globally connect you with anyone you need to provide expert advice.

A top class outfit which combines great industry knowledge with tactical expertise. They are always my first choice when I am asked to recommend someone.

Elizabeth Lang is an outstanding lawyer and tactician, able to seek practical solutions where appropriate. She can read the landscape and provide the options. She cuts to the chase, is concise, considered and thoughtful in her approach.

Penny Hunt is a great lawyer, always able to get to the heart of the matter in a way that benefits the client.

Jonathan Exten-Wright is the leader in his field on corporate risks and reporting on Modern Slavery. His team at DLA are a class apart from the rest, blending the very best legal, political and risk management insights to help ensure compliance.

The main strength besides the great knowledge that the UK team possesses is the strength DLA has across Europe to assist in international matters.

‘Eversheds are one of the few teams left with specialist industrial relations practitioners and also the practical experience to put behind their considerable legal expertise.’

‘Paul Fontes is exactly the sort of reassuring presence you’d want in a crisis. He oozes confidence and competence.’

‘Marc Meryon heads up a team which is capable of taking on the largest industrial disputes, union recognition issues, collective bargaining matters and associated work for employers in unionised industries. He has unrivalled experience, is brilliantly inventive and superbly knowledgeable, as well as being popular with clients and always willing to go the extra mile to get the result. Highly recommended.’

‘A network of regional offices all providing a service to the highest possible standards.’

‘The Farrer & Co team is one of the very best I have worked with. They have outstanding technical knowledge allied with a practical and commercial approach. They are highly responsive and always provide a point of view (rather than just describe the law). They have been particularly helpful on individual employee cases as well as newer employment law domains such as regulated references in Financial Services.’

‘Kathleen Heycock is technically very strong, always responsive, calm, highly professional and demonstrates poise at all times.’

‘They are very pragmatic and user focused. Advice is practical rather than a summary of the law. They take time to know their clients well and create long-lasting relationships.’

‘I have found Farrers to be simply first class. They have solved every problem put to them. Truly professional, approachable, consistently efficient and a winning team. More efficient by far than another large firm I’ve dealt with. There is a sense that nothing gets left on the back burner.’

‘Katie Lancaster is a truly outstanding lawyer, giving the most exemplary and clear guidance, calm reassurance, a clearly communicated analysis of the options available and a very balanced and thorough advice on the best way forward. She is a first class listener and engages with and understands the emotional aspects of particularly sensitive issues.’

The team approach issues with a very strong commercial focus, underpinned by excellent technical understanding. They are solution-focused, plain speaking and business friendly – I am comfortable putting any of the team in front of key business stakeholders.

Kelly Thomson not only has excellent technical skills and commercial focus but also goes out of her way to develop strong relationships with and between clients and collaborate on topics of mutual interest.

Patrick Brodie has excellent technical knowledge but also a uniquely practical and innovative approach to complex TUPE issues which is invaluable. He’s a trusted adviser looking beyond the legal space.

Patrick Brodie, Head of RPC’s Employment, Pensions and Incentives practice, is helpful, delightful to work with and client-focused. He is pragmatic and finds solutions where others just see problems. A real team player and unflappable.

A superb team, punching far above its weight, led by one of the most creative and astute employment solicitors in the country.- – –

 Kelly Thomson is astute in reading the room and getting the right timbre on things – she acts as a co-pilot with Patrick and put my CEO immediately at ease (no mean feat!). I have worked with so many great employment law firms over the past 24 years but RPC stands out.

Caroline Noblet is a tremendous leader of SPB’s employment practice. She seamlessly coordinates with SPB employment lawyers in other countries, including those at partner firms in countries in which SPB does not have offices.

There is nobody whose advice I trust more than the employment law partner David Whincup.  He’s practical and commercial with a healthy dose of humour

Caroline Noblet – Caroline leads the team and is exceptionally client-focused and easy to deal with.

Taylor Wessing’s Employment practice stands out from the crowd for having strong judgement and good instincts across all its team members. This is a reflection on the close supervision and training associates receive from partners to ensure that we receive a consistently high quality service.

An incredible ability to deep dive into complex matters to really understand our business and provide us with clear advice which delivers results. Put simply, the team get the job done effectively and efficiently so we can get on with our business!

Paul Callaghan and Senior Counsels Anna McCaffrey and Colin Godfrey stand out for being able to very quickly grasp complex matters, provide high judgement advice and deliver results.

Taylor Wessing are true partners for our business. They offer creative, specialised services and innovative approaches that work well. They take an interest in our industry and provide excellent insight and guidance. Taylor Wessing are committed to diversity, as are we, and this an important aspect of our relationship.

Sean Nesbitt is a creative partner that takes a real customer service approach. He understands and continues to learn about our industry. He is reliable, open-minded and provides great counsel for our senior leaders and for me personally. Sean is available when we need him; a real business partnership.

Personal service. Good knowledge of client organisation. Excellent customer relationships

NO other practice in London has the same consistently solid reputation amongst tech and life science clients or the same level of market profile in the US tech and inhouse community. This was built over many years of on the ground relationship building but as a result they are the only practice that US employers regard as actually understanding their world and the issues that keep tech GCs awake at night!

Paul is a highly trusted adviser to many in-house legal and HR teams and is the go to employment lawyer for a wide range of international companies. His approach to client relationship management sets the standard for how his group operates and you can see his mark and training in the calibre of senior associates coming up in the group.

‘Charles Russell Speechlys has a team of very bright, commercially astute lawyers but without the posturing and other baggage of the magic and silver circle firms.’

‘Nick Hurley is the toughest negotiator I know; nerves of steel and a determination to get a great result for his clients.’

‘Very responsive. Able to bring in subject matter expertise from different practice areas.’

‘David Murphy has a calm head and navigates difficult conversations well. Great attention to detail and he understands his clients’ perspective and commercial objectives.’

‘Fox Williams has helped us across the broad remit of employment law, from basic reviews to more strategic projects that are material to the business. I think their marketing strapline is accurate – they provide us with ‘good sense in the city’. The differentiator with Fox Williams is the culture of partnership. They are responsive and friendly and we genuinely enjoy working with them.’

‘David Murphy and Daisy Jones are our day-to-day contacts. Both are excellent; beyond being technically excellent in their field, they are approachable, knowledgeable, commercially astute and pragmatic. They are flexible and responsive and understand stakeholder management. They are also simply lovely people to work with – friendly, cheerful, and understanding.’

‘We are completely confident in all the advice given and the overall service provided. Fox Williams are our go-to advisors and provide quality advice and solutions to our questions and challenges.’

‘We have a trusting relationship with Fox Williams, in particular Daisy Jones, whose expert knowledge, guidance and quick responses are highly valued. Daisy is a key communicator in her explanation of challenging and complex issues.’

‘David Murphy is a superb commercially astute employment law partner. His advice is pragmatic and tailored to a deep understanding of our business needs. We have recommended David to several people over the last few years.’

Knowledgeable, experienced and provide sound legal advice ensuring all options are outlined and risks are clearly understood. They are responsive, always available and will provide any support required, from advising through to drafting documents. We have used other firms but GQ are value for money and invest time in understanding our business. An excellent team with strength and depth in every aspect

Jon Gilligan is clear, concise, commercial and a genuine partner to our leaders. He makes time for us and his advice is hugely appreciated.

Sophie Vanhegan is considered and provides sound advice. She has supported us with some tricky cases and her calm approach ensures we reach the appropriate outcomes.

Paul Quain, Hannah Mahon, Philip Cameron and Lisa Rix (associate) are all excellent lawyers, have a detailed understanding of the law and provide sound advice and judgement.

Cerys Williams is fantastic to work with and is everything I look for in an adviser. She is incredibly commercial, pragmatic, knowledgeable and great fun to work with. She feels like an extension of your team and provides the full range of incredibly helpful advice and insights from individual cases through to equipping managers and leaders on the key skills they need.

They are a bespoke practice who take the time to know their clients’ business and needs. They also provide additional useful information on numerous topics and provide interesting and helpful seminars where clients get the opportunity to meet other members of the team and network.

Philip Cameron is always professional, direct, helpful and his diligence is invaluable to us and has helped us on all occasions when we’ve needed legal input. In a nutshell he is, in our opinion, a leader in his field of expertise.

Darren Isaacs- responsive and understands the business. Commercial and precise advice. Great at working with lawyers in other jurisdictions to provide succinct advice.

‘Macfarlanes is an excellent firm which has long experience of the private equity marketplace going back into the 1980s.

‘Hayley Robinson is just excellent. Thoughtful, precise and a good lawyer with a strong ability to deal with complex issues.’

‘The co-ordination between this firm’s UK and US teams is excellent and their knowledge of post-termination restraint matters is commendable. Highly recommended if you have a cross-border post-termination restraint matter, but also excellent for general employment law advice on trickier areas.’

‘Louise Skinner is a real asset to this team. She is extremely knowledgeable and pragmatic, and is by far the most responsive lawyer I have instructed. She is also incredibly down-to-earth and is a breath of fresh air to work with. I couldn’t recommend her highly enough.’

‘Highly responsive, very capable team. Approachable and very knowledgeable. Up to speed not only with the law but also the market.’

‘Matt Howse and Lee Harding are very personable and knowledgeable. They clearly know their area and can talk clearly about it whilst making the advice relevant.’

‘Lee Harding is consistently exceptional in the quality of his advice, responsiveness, thoroughness and diligence.‘

The PwC employment team have excellent technical knowledge of the area, and, as you might expect, are also extremely good at managing a contentious matter.

Chris Perkins is an excellent employment lawyer, with great depth of understanding of the field, and a delight to work with, too.

Tom Ince – Attentive and thorough client service

Ed Stacey is a charmingly urbane partner who gets his hands dirty when required but is a reassuringly and charismatic leader

Tom Kerr-Williams has extensive industrial relations and national minimum wage practical experience. He has an excellent strategic brain and is also very pragmatic and innovative in his thinking.

A powerhouse in addressing all employment matters. Strength in depth across the experienced team. Stars shine out at every level and a fantastic team approach ensures that specialist knowledge is shared between them. A joy to work with. Work extremely hard for the client to get the right result.

 Tilly Harries is a good leader. Able to take great tactical decisions whilst overseeing her cases.

The team that we work with is much, much more than legal advisers; they bring tremendous value to the relationship and this is something we have truly appreciated over the years. They put themselves in our shoes, are encouraging of questions and not at all fazed by challenges. We have truly valued the excellent support, advice and expertise that they have provided. It is always a highly positive client experience.

‘Very knowledgeable team. Smart and responsive.’

‘Paul Reeves is a fantastic resource. He is widely versed on a range of employment law issues and is a trusted partner in navigating tricky and often highly sensitive issues.’

‘At the forefront of dealing with issues of employment and insolvency.’

‘Ruch Buchanan is amazing. She is calm, decisive and fabulous to work with. Clients really value her client focused approach, wise counsel and ability to get things done.’

‘Whereas some employment firms which work mainly for employers push an outdated mode of defensiveness, Ashurst are forward looking and provide advice suitable for the modern world.’

‘Ashurst have always been extremely professional in all their dealings with us. we have presented many queries which were sometimes complex in nature but they were always able to give us the correct advice quickly.’

‘As well as being very professional, the team is also very warm and personable.’

‘Crowley Woodford offers excellent advice, is always commercial, focused on finding solutions to contentious matters and with a clear outline for a plan of action.’

‘William Garnett and his employment law team at Bates Wells have consistently delivered pragmatic advice that takes a balanced view between the strict letter of the law and the practical realities of business situations. The team have helped me with a number of contentious issues for the last 10 years and the outcomes have always been satisfactory. They are accessible and available at (virtually!) any time, which is particularly helpful given that events often develop a timetable of their own!’

‘All of the lawyers, from partner to associate, have provided excelled support to my business. If I had to single out one member of the team it would be William Garnett – he has consistently provided first class advice, and has always been available at short notice as events have unfolded. His predictions of how things may end up have been unerringly consistent – he provides advice with an eye to the endgame and business needs.’

‘They are very willing to work in a collaborative matter and help us understand the nuances of the law, while remaining practical to what makes sense for a small organization.’

‘They are extremely well prepared and knowledgeable, but can also acknowledge when anything is outside of their scope of expertise and are able to quickly liaise with colleagues internally to gather perspective on the best approach forward.’

‘A very quick turnaround on all work which in a lot of employment cases is required. The advice is always very commercial which helps your make decisions .’

‘William Garnett is an employment lawyer who can very quickly understand the situation you have within your firm. He is very sensible and practical with his advice in the commercial world versus the law.’

‘The team provides very pragmatic advice and is very strong technically. They go the extra mile to really understand their client, how they work and what they care about to provide practical and tailored advice. Very nice people too!’

‘Paul Seath is excellent. He combines a wealth of experience with keen pragmatism.’

‘William Garnett is always available and very responsive, giving clear pragmatic and robust advice. He assimilates information exceptionally quickly and understands the business context of both the problem and the solution. William effectively removes any emotion from challenging situations, and is my ‘go to solicitor’ for any senior and complex employment issue. my secret weapon!’

‘There is definitely something special about this firm. Extremely pleasant and well rounded lawyers with a bit of personality, not just a bunch of City lawyer cadavers. They really care about your mission and the cause and have been a pleasure to work with. Really responsive for litigation and advisory work – highly recommended.’

‘Paul Jennings is a complete rock-star. Lightning quick mind, commercially astute, very responsive and definitely the person you want in your corner.’

‘Having worked with a number of law firms over the years, the differentiator with Clyde & Co is client service and the ability to give very practical and commercial advice. I find the employment law team I deal with very responsive and they are a pleasure to deal with.’

‘Charles Urqhuart is very client focused, very responsive and very pragmatic. He engages well across all areas of our business with all stakeholders trusting and valuing his advice.’

‘A strong practice in team moves and restrictive covenants in the insurance sector. Responsive, client friendly and good lawyers.’

‘James Major is a stand out partner – unflappable under any kind of pressure, intelligent, focused and always pragmatic with his advice.’

They work closely with you as if they were part of your team and use the word ‘we’ when discussing issues. They have the ability to convey complex matters in a way that is easy to understand by colleagues who are not legal experts. They are pragmatic and support you to make a decision, not just tell you what your options are. They respond quickly to urgent matters.’

‘Chris Holme – excellent knowledge and practical experience. Able to explain things in a clear way anyone can understand and breaks it down into digestible segments. Has gravitas and credibility to with senior management. Fun to work with, always calm and in control, doesn’t flap or panic, which provides reassurance.’

‘I cannot praise Chris Holme highly enough for his down-to-earth approach, honesty and ability to influence a wide range of challenging individuals.’

‘Beth Hale’s client skills are great and she is sharp and bright.’

‘The CM team is extremely responsive to their client’s needs, which for many international businesses, particularly in today’s difficult economic environment, is their highest priority. Besides having a thorough knowledge of the law, the CM team takes the time to understand their client’s businesses and their advice is both practical and wise.’

‘While all the partners and associates I have worked with are excellent, in particular Clare Murray and Sarah Chilton bring exceptional client skill to the table. They are both extremely responsive and anticipatory of client’s needs and concerns. They are also excellent practitioners. They both understand how to bring together teams of experts both from within their firm, other legal firms and other areas of expertise.’

‘Clare Murray is outstanding as a lawyer and a business leader and an ideas person. She has consistently been the top of her game for many years. It is impressive that she has adapted her practice to market trends. Her firm has lead the way on advising employers on COVID-19 issues with presentations. I have recommended her to many clients, contacts over the years.’

‘Clare Murray – a tour de force. One of the best in the business. Sarah Chilton knows everything there is to know about all areas of employment. Strategic and sensible. Beth Hale – another class act. Always gives rational sensible advice.’

‘Very strong employment law boutique. Entrepreneurial and market leading, and a really good, friendly team.’

‘Clare Murray – entrepreneurial, brimming with energy and enthusiasm and just lovely.’

‘Sarah Chilton – a thought leader in discrimination and whistleblowing.’

‘Excellent global reach with consistent advice across regions.’

‘Purvis Ghani is technically excellent, very pragmatic, and provides easily digestible advice.’

‘I find the Dentons team very easy to deal with. They always provide pragmatic commercial advice, and understand the quirks of our particular business and management team.’

‘Purvis Ghani is excellent to work with. He quickly and calmly grasps complex scenarios and helps achieve realistic and workable solutions. In addition to being an expert in his field, Purvis has great listening skills and a diplomatic approach. Purvis is very easy to engage with and has provided an exceptional level of availability and commitment.’

‘Virginia Allen is an outstanding lawyer, and a great business partner to work with. She runs a very high-skilled employment law team and gives prompt and practical advice that we can actually use.’

‘A global presence, willingness to offer alternative fee arrangements and strong commercial acumen in the UK team.’

‘Practical commercial advice, responsiveness and business partnering approach.’

‘I really like their tech knowledge. Particularly, Kathryn Dooks in the employment team. The help she gave was exceptional.’

‘From a HR perspective, my overall impression of Kemp Little as a firm is that the employees are engaged, collaborative, and relatable to their clients. This is impressive for any company, however in my opinion are outstanding features for a law firm. I’ve worked with other, larger law firms in the past, and have found that Kemp Little really is a cut above in providing sound, business-first legal advice as well as a solid working relationship built on mutual trust and respect.’

‘My experience working with the team at Kemp Little has been first-class. I can always rely on this team to provide sound legal advice. They have consistently been able to demonstrate flexibility in approach depending on the needs and culture of the client. Every member of the team are true subject-matter experts, which is invaluable in high-pressure, fast-paced tech start-ups.’

‘Calm, efficient and thorough, they carry their deep legal expertise lightly and are deeply thoughtful in understanding our business context and bring a thoughtful perspective and flexible solutions.’

‘Everyone in the company is incredibly orientated towards clients, and they all focus on finding solutions through legal support. No one ever says ‘you can’t do that’ – instead they try to find solutions.’

‘Kemp Little have a lot of clients in my sector (tech/digital agency) and therefore are very familiar with the sort of challenges that these businesses can have. This means that the advice I’ve received has been tailored to work for our environment, it’s practical and useful.’

‘Kathryn Dooks is everything I want in an employment lawyer. Obviously she knows her stuff and her advice is very well informed and holistic (she often takes into account areas of law other than employment which would impact on a situation and is able to gain specialist advice from others in or outside of the firm if necessary). However, what I value most is the fact that she is able to couch this knowledge in a framework that makes sense for how our business operates, understanding our risk appetite and helping us navigate tricky situations in a practical and nuanced way which is right for our context.’

‘Marian Bloodworth has a pragmatic yet focused approach.’

‘David Wiliams offers sound and practical advice and knows his area of expertise very well.’

‘They have a good understanding of our sector which is TV advertising. Their employment law advice is well considered and risk averse. They are able to work with clients to flex advice to meet client needs.’

‘David Williams is exceptional and helped us find a solution to a problem that could have got into the public domain. He made himself available at the weekend to discuss.’

‘Kathryn Dooks is our main lawyer and she is engaging and dedicated in helping to resolve an issue with creative solutions and her advice is pragmatic and clear.’

‘David Williams is very commercial – he doesn’t just quote the law but will discuss relative risk of different approaches in context of desired outcome and happy to offer an opinion on best approach.’

‘I found each and every member in the practice that I had dealings with to be totally focused on my case – I received prompt and professional responses within a timely manner.’

‘Adrian Crawford’s advice is pragmatic, clear and he considers every relevant factor. I go to him every time we have a dicey situation and he has never let me down.’

‘The team are exceptional – their expertise, their strong engaging personalities and willingness to understand the issues you are trying to solve. They listen, they learn about the business challenges and provide sound advice to you remain compliant with all legislation, but equally understand the need for pragmatic solutions.’

‘First-rate team, well resourced, hyper responsive, great attention to detail.’

‘Nick Humphreys is the employment partner I would go to with any employment related problem. Fantastic manner with clients, gaining their confidence easily. Provides consistently thorough and detailed high quality advice. Clients obviously love him. Nick is always robust in fighting his clients corner whatever it takes.’

‘Nick Humphreys is a joy to work with and a truly formidable opponent. He is utterly tenacious in his clients’ interest.’

‘The team at Penningtons take a collaborative approach to identifying solutions and take extra care to identify your specific business requirements to ensure the proposed solution is best fit.’

‘If you don’t want a lecture about the law and what you can’t do, I would recommend the team at Pennington Manches Cooper as they will stay connected throughout the process and beyond.’

‘Tom Walker is an excellent advisor who has a wealth of employment law knowledge and a practical hands-on ability that provides confidence to the client when dealing with challenging and sensitive matters.’

‘The team members work hand-in-hand, thus very efficiently. Vast experience, profound knowledge, specialists per subject within the team. Great communication, pro-activity and immense dedication.’

‘I can truly say that I have never experienced such dedication, commitment and service from any other law firm I have worked with in my career.’

‘Helen Levendi goes above and beyond for her clients. She comes across as highly knowledgeable and deeply experienced. Templates and paperwork provided are flawless and extremely helpful.’

‘Excellent employment knowledge and very client focused.’

‘Global support from the whole practice, given our different jurisdictions. This is done in a seamless way.’

‘They provide excellent service.’

‘Henry Clinton-Davis will always be my go-to for most European employment work. He is not only well versed in the law, but has a demeanour the is unflappable. I have never seen him become frustrated, even in the middle of some very difficult situations.’

‘Deep knowledge of their legal discipline. They always take the time to properly understand the. business needs and challenges and tailor their input according to commercial priorities.’

‘Henry Clinton-Davis is by far the best employment lawyer I have ever worked with. Professional, knowledgeable and works like a true business partner.’

‘Very capable results-focused team, especially in life sciences sector and where there are international elements.’

‘Henry Clinton-Davis has outstanding employment law knowledge. He is always able to provide pragmatic ideas and solutions as well as the legal position. He is always a pleasure to deal with, proactive and timely in all matters, courteous and respectful of your time.’

‘Their client care does really stand out. You feel really supported with difficult situations and that your issues are important to them.’

‘Alastair Currie is a great lawyer. I feel really supported by him and he goes the extra mile to help you resolve problems. He is fantastic when dealing with issues with doctors and has great expertise and experience.’

‘Excellent client service. Extremely professional and a pleasure to work with.’

‘BDBF provides us with advice on ad hoc HR related matters. The focus is always on coming up with commercial solutions to problems, which we greatly value. We appreciate their creative thinking in this regard. Because of their work for individuals we consider we get the benefit of their having worked on both sides of matters.’

‘They are accessible, approachable and pragmatic. They do not ‘over-lawyer’ the issue but instead focus on giving us a resolution to any problems we face.’

‘Solid, specialist employment law practitioners who can be relied upon for timely, accurate advice.’

‘Tom McLaughlin is a well-rounded, experienced employment lawyer. His advice is thoughtful, careful and on point.’

‘Nick Wilcox is extremely responsive to all issues raised – helpful and creative in his thinking about potential solutions. He is very commercial which means we can rely on his pragmatic but thorough and proportionate advice.’

‘The team at BDBF clearly understand local employment law and I have great confidence in the advice they provide. Their legal advice is provided in a timely and concise manner and has helped me greatly in executing the requirements of my role. I like their approach to providing advice also – it is unique in that I find the members I have worked with to be down to earth and friendly and not typically lawyer-ish.’

‘Always professional. The service and advice received is fast and efficient and can be trusted implicitly. Knowledge and experience is exceptionally. Approach is always helpful and friendly.’

‘Alexandra Gettins has very considerable ability and promise. Very familiar with employment disputes in the NHS. A person of mature judgement.’

‘Capsticks are one of the best firms for client care. They really know their sector and what their clients want and how they work.’

‘Victoria Watson is a first-class lawyer. She is very involved with her clients and has a great understanding of litigation.’

‘Andrew Rowland is an excellent litigator.’

‘The team’s work was excellently coordinated with other property work being carried out by the firm. It was impossible to see the join between property, employment and litigation advice.’

‘Katie Mahoney has a wonderful manner with clients and is utterly assiduous.’

‘They are approachable, they work hard to build relationships and it is clear that the partners are careful to hire from among some of the sharpest employment lawyers in the business.’

‘Doyle Clayton provide a good service to small to medium sized employers.’

‘Doyle Clayton is a specialist employment law firm – they are the experts! They are dedicated, impressive and know exactly what they are doing. A safe pair of hands.’

‘Katie Mahoney is a standout star. Impressive but approachable, she is a hard worker, who knows what she is doing and is particularly effective. A delight to work with.’

‘They have a large specialist team of employment lawyers; you know the people you are dealing with are dedicated to employment law. They have strength in depth for both statutory employment work and the more commercial end of employment: High Court and arbitration.’

Peter De Maria is excellent for team moves, particularly for individual employees. Katie Mahoney is developing great expertise in the employee competition area, particularly team moves. She is always positive and a delight to work with.’

‘A renowned group of individuals with an enviable reputation as specialists in the field.’

‘Katie Mahoney – a senior associate that has made fast progress through the ranks and must now be on the edge of partnership. Excellent with clients, a punchy and highly effective communicator, very mature understanding of court processes, fantastic work ethic, negotiates exceptionally well and gets brilliant results.’

‘Doyle Clayton is a firm that provides employment law advice of the highest quality. The advice is always delivered with an eye to the commercial realities facing its clients. The practice obviously takes the time and has the interest in fully understanding the nature and peculiarities of its clients’ businesses.’

‘Down to earth, practical advice, particularly from Dan Begbie-Clench. He is a great person to work with and really knows his stuff.’

‘The team are personable, technically extremely strong and will go more than the extra yard for their clients. Alongside of that, their industry sector knowledge and experience is uniquely broad and deep. They are a true ally and their advice is always commercially balanced.’

‘Doyle Clayton are a fantastic firm. Their knowledge is extremely impressive. Within reason they are always available for advice and no matter is too small for them to deal with. My thoughts and comments are reflected on the sliders below. I have never in all the time I have been dealing with the had to complain about anything – that is what makes a fantastic law firm.’

‘Helen Brooks projects a calm assurance, a mastery of subject matter, and a focus and sense of purpose that emboldens our sense of purpose. Her authoritative presence and consummate ease in establishing the true essence of the matter at hand, truly makes a difference in our ability to address even the most challenging and complex of employment law conundrums.’

‘A very progressive and versatile firm. They very much have their finger on the pulse with legal developments.’

‘Sam Murray-Hinde is an exceptional solicitor with excellent attention to detail and client care skills.’

‘A quality outfit with a reputation for excellence.’

‘Sam Murray-Hinde is well known for being a commercially astute, detailed, diligent, and eminently sensible litigator. Her communication is excellent and briefs to counsel are always meticulously prepared. She thinks of everything and has an enviable and intimate knowledge of the sectors that she works in. She can play hard ball when needed.’

‘Jane Amphlett has built an impressive team known for its ability to handle all employment law matters.’

‘Jane Amphlett is a standout employment specialist – she is hugely bright, is forensic in her analysis but combines this with a commercial approach. Jane fights hard for her clients.’

‘The team has a real depth of knowledge of all aspects of employment law and are all extremely commercially minded and approachable.’

‘I have worked with Jane Amphlett for many years and rely completely on her judgment in what can be sensitive employment issues.’

‘Lydia Christie is a consummate professional and a dream to work with. Her commercial view sets her apart from other associates that I’ve worked with previously.’

‘Highly experienced employment lawyers, possessing a first class track record, capable of taking on a top five practice firm and winning for the client, at a third of the cost.’

‘Good for restrictive covenant work.’

‘Katie Clark is strategic and commercial.’

‘All the individuals we dealt with at MWE were kind, helpful and went above and beyond to make sure we had the advice we needed.’

‘We have been incredibly impressed with everyone we have worked with at MWE.’

‘Pragmatic, approachable, analytical. A real sensible no-nonsense team that delivers every time.’

‘Katie Clark is tough, friendly, sensible, business focused and not theoretical. She manages to apply her deep knowledge in a way that helps the business – every time.’

‘In comparison to others I’ve used, the advice given by MWE is always well thought through and works on both an employment law and employee relations ground, rather than just factual.’

‘Paul McGrath’s skillset and eye for detail is at the high end.’

‘Stephen Ravenscroft is an excellent tactician and master of his craft.’

‘They provide great commercial legal advice for potentially sensitive situations.’

‘Stephen Ravenscroft is the main partner that we work with in the team. He provides excellent commercial legal advice in often very sensitive situations, and has a wealth of relevant knowledge and experience in the area.’

‘Strong technical expertise, highly responsive, pragmatic, commercial.’

‘Great transatlantic experience, and a terrific team lead by the ever-fabulous Nicola Whitely and Mandy Perry. Nicola and Mandy are incredibly knowledgeable and dedicated, they truly understand the needs and dynamics of US employers with UK and European operations.’

‘Clear and concise advice readily available. Always willing to explore the options to develop the most appropriate solution for a situation.’

‘Mandy Perry is highly pragmatic, offering direct and timely advice on a variety of issues affecting a number of our businesses across the UK.’

‘Highly experienced in all matters of employment law, and a very reassuring presence for fraught employment litigation in particular. Quick to provide practical advice for dealing with employment law issues as they arise, as well as all the stages of employment tribunal litigation from subject access requests through to the hearing and then appeal.’

‘Nicola Whiteley is a joy to work with and a reassuring adviser to in-house counsel and management alike. Mandy Perry is also worthy of note for her approach to taking witness statements from busy management, as well as managing difficult disclosure processes.’

‘They are very keen to understand my needs and expectations, listening and asking thoughtful questions and then working to that brief. They are extremely supportive and collaborative – but also challenging in a constructive manner. Strong focus on quality, and therefore no time wasting. Extremely professional, whilst also approachable and accessible.’

‘The team at Withers are exceptionally responsive and we trust their advice and judgment. We have always received advice which has been balanced and robust to enable us to make the right decisions.’

‘The individuals are skilled and experts in thier field. They listen and reflect on the brief before they advise, which is key in litigation. They are also very friendly and personable which makes it a pleasure to work with individuals in Withers.’

‘Highly co-operative and collegiate team which means work is always thoroughly covered and responded to even if the partner/fee earner is not available. Excellent attention to detail and work always thoroughly prepared.’

‘Nicholas Le Riche has extremely good judgement and provides very pragmatic advice.’

‘Caroline Yarrow is extremely popular with clients.’

‘Caroline Yarrow is very professional but also very human and friendly.’

‘Nick Le Riche has a perfect delivery method to support in complex cases and makes those cases easy to manage. His ability to manage the risks and get a commercial outcome is brilliant.’

‘Great work, reasonable prices and clear, practical and commercial advice.’

‘Andrew MacDonald is superb. He handles a very large, high-profile and difficult account for us with great aplomb meaning the need for our involvement is very small and the clients really appreciate his detailed and clear advice. The clients are all very unique yet he manages to be a chameleon and tailor his style to suit all.’

‘BLM’s employment service has good insight, clever strategy and gets the job done.’

‘Vanessa Latham is very pleasant to deal with, personable, clever and works hard.’

‘Andrew McDonald was exceptionally brilliant. I could trust that he would always seek to ensure we could find a legal mechanism to support the course of action I wished to pursue and I was always kept well informed of the pitfalls and level of risk.’

‘DWF is easy to work with, prompt with complete responses, and resourceful. We would highly recommend them for anyone looking for a law firm with employment expertise.’

‘Helga Breen is wonderful to work with. She is responsive, thoughtful, and flexible in her approach based on our business needs. She is knowledgeable and we are most confident with her abilities in consulting with our employment law needs in the UK.’

‘I love the responsiveness of the team and I know that I will receive sound, practical advice, and not just the legal basis of decisions. They are a safe pair of hands and I wholly and fully trust the advice and guidance I receive.’

‘I have known Helga Breen for many years and I value her knowledge and integrity. She has helped me out when she has been up to her eyes and has taken calls from me when she is pushed for time. Helga always has a solution that works.’

‘The people at Edwin Coe come across as experts in their respective field. You are given the impression that you are in safe hands but you are not lost in legal jargon.’

‘I find Edwin Coe to be a thoroughly respectable firm with high quality lawyers who are thorough and knowledgeable. They would not and do not take shortcuts. They have a range of lawyers at different levels in the Employment Team and that improved depth is very helpful.’

‘Linky Trott has a fantastic grasp of her subject and gives exceptionally firm clear advice; she does not sit on the fence. I feel very confident that she gives best advice which I can rely upon. In particular she recently advised behind the scenes in an extremely complicated internal grievance dispute.’

‘Emma Sangeelee is very knowledgeable and thorough. She gives clear, concise and pragmatic advice.’

‘All the team are personable and avoid legal speak.’

‘Taj Rehal has an exceptional ability to understand our business and find solutions that work for us. He is a steady ship in the storm. Always delivers.’

‘My experience with Fladgate is with complex employment cases which often have several layers to them, including sickness, performance and grievance. The team at Fladgate have absolutely first class knowledge of all employment issues and have helped us to resolve several very difficult cases. Their understanding of risks, mitigation options and potential routes to a solution is excellent and I would trust them to support us with any issues that came our way.’

‘The team have demonstrated their expertise and insight into the employment matters and challenges we face. They respond promptly and the advice clear and level-headed – even when we are not! They have increasingly learned about the particular sector in which we operate (TV production) and applied that learning to issues as they are raised.’

‘Michael McCartney is proactive in approaching me when he thinks there are matters I should be aware of and checks in on particularly thorny issues.’

‘We have been impressed with their technical knowledge and ability to simplify the most complicated legal issues. They have been incredibly supportive, unafraid of hard work and great at advising clearly on risk.’

‘Taj Rehal has been a breath of fresh air. He is accessible and comforting. He has a firm grasp on the law and can also make sense of complicated issues. Highly recommended.’

‘Good with cutting edge and high profile cases. Media savvy. Tactically excellent.’

‘Howard Hymanson is exceptional. Calm, canny, and cunning. He’s great at negotiations, in spotting the angles and in getting surprise hefty wins.’

‘The firm has been particularly helpful during the coronavirus pandemic, staying on top of emerging regulation and giving helpful legal perspectives.

‘Every individual I have worked with at Harbottle has been diligent, offering sound and considered legal advise. The work has been excellent and they are always a pleasure to work with.’

‘The firm is particularly strong in offering employment services in cases that require a multidisciplinary angle.’

‘Howard Hymanson is the partner to go to for cases that cross between the High Court and the Employment Tribunal.’

‘Marian Derham is proactive and gives very good commercially based advice.’

‘Marian Derham – an experienced and wise advisor. Thoughtful and detailed in her responses, Marian enables us to feel secure when navigating challenging issues beyond our experience.’

‘This practice is unique and stands above other firms with the ease and speed with which matters are assessed and dealt with.’

‘Marian Derham is obviously a leader in her field. The ability to balance the awareness of the personal/emotional implications of working in employment practice but without losing the professional clarity required by her client is a difficult one to achieve but one she manages exceptionally well.’

‘Adele Martins is a highly experienced and effective employment and immigration specialist with a great team behind her.’

‘Adele Martins is extremely commercial – she has the ability to cut to the chase. She is a tough negotiator and is always focussed on her client’s goal.’

‘Adele Martins has given us outstanding service with a straightforward approach that we value.’

‘This practice is highly experienced in the employment issues of our sector and offers in-depth knowledge of all the parameters at play when dealing with working practices which are unique to our industry.’

‘Adele Martins’ advice is accessible, not using legal jargon, and she offers a very human approach to any knotty HR issues whilst helping us navigate the legal side.’

‘They are a very niche team but provide an exceptional service and have been a joy to work with over the last couple of years. They were introduced to us via a client who we normally work with via another firm but they are a class act and particularly strong on employment litigation, adopting a commercial and pragmatic approach.’

‘Adele Martins  is meticulous, conscientious and hard working and she she is very calm and always puts the client at ease and you feel in safe hands.’

‘The employment team from Teacher Stern are very professional, always available to offer their advice, explain complex employment practices and procedures. They displayed a great knowledge of employment law always making sure to highlight any potential risks, which might not have been obvious from the employer’s perspective.’

‘Consistently punches above its weight. A sensible and cost-effective alternative to the larger City firms.’

‘Our experience of Trowers is that they generally try to understand the environment they work in, which means they present solutions which are sensible and workable. They also take time to establish relationships with key stakeholders.’

‘They dispense excellent advice with a healthy dose of pragmatism and sometimes humour. They are approachable, available and responsive and we we really enjoy working with them.’

‘Nicola Ihnatowicz is truly outstanding. She listens, understands and gives excellent practical legal guidance that is business focused at all times. She helps me understand the level of risk behind different actions, and always is exactly clear of the different routes available, and the different potential actions.’

‘Whilst most legal teams are very accessible, Nicola Ihnatowicz has a way of responding that makes you feel like you are her only client. She always takes time to check in to see how you are, and not just respond to questions.’

‘They take a very pragmatic approach when advising on legal matters. They’re are also a great team to work with.’

‘They bring a personal touch to the working relationship.’.

‘Vedder Price’s employment team are small but they are exceptionally dedicated and talented.’

‘Esther Langdon is a brilliant lawyer. She is proactive, gets on top of the papers early on to make clear and sensible tactical decisions. She is also a magnificent litigator; determined to win and with nerves of steel.’

‘The team may be few in number but there is enormous experience at hand combined with a can-do attitude. Most employment lawyers are too caught up with technicalities rather than coming up with practical solution. Jonathan Maude and Esther Langdon combine very well in giving first class service to their clients. They know their stuff and come up with the practical solutions.’

‘The practice has a in-depth market knowledge and provides legal advice on a high standard. They also keep in mind the economic side of legal disputes with the aim to find the best practical solution for clients. At the same time they provide quick and comprehensive support also in smaller matters.’

‘Jonathan Maude is a superb strategist and great to work with. Esther Langdon has a huge knowledge base and always knows the answers.’

‘I have worked with Jonathan Maude on employment law issues since 2004. His approach is focused upon the business issues, and how he can assist in helping you to achieve your aims. He is pragmatic and practical, with clear and concise advice.’

‘Wallace is an intelligent boutique firm that is built on solid foundations and is run by people who care and think for the long term. They are direct, no-nonsense and action-orientated with their clients – all qualities I appreciate – while retaining an ability to deal compassionately and supportively with those taking action against their employers who are going through a challenging time.’

‘Daniel Isaac has been a remarkable support to me, my business and many business acquaintances to whom I’ve introduced him over the years.’

‘Daniel Isaac’s knowledge of employment law is exemplary – and he has a well-honed strategic mind which means his advice tends to create optimal outcomes. I also admire the integrity with which he practices – I have never felt overcharged or that his advice was self-serving in any way. That is not always a given with lawyers, in my experience.’

‘The level of professionalism has never been matched by other law firms I have worked with. The human factor is also one of their strongest assets.’

‘I have found Wedlake Bell to be excellent in their advice and their immediate reactivity to any situation that arises. They are obviously extremely knowledgeable about all employment law matters and can also give advice, or contacts to liaise with, if I have questions relating to our other offices in Europe. Their knowledge of our business is great.’

‘I have worked with my main contact since 2009, we have a good, easy working relationship and he understands our business inside out now. It’s like having in-house counsel. All the other team members have the same easy manner which is incredibly helpful when you mainly only contact them during stressful times.’