David Hunt > Farrer & Co > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Farrer & Co acts for a wide range of clients in sectors including banking, insurance and sport. The firm also has a notable specialism in employment work in the academic and educational fields, representing Imperial College, the Natural History Museum and the Independent Schools Council, among others. The practice is led by David Smellie, a specialist in safeguarding work. He is supported by Rachel Lewis, who is recommended for advice on senior-level dismissals and employment reorganisations. Further key names in an extensive team include Anna Birtwistle, Alice Yandle, David Hunt and Kathleen Heycock.

Steered by Tom Bruce, Farrer & Co‘s sports team regularly advises a diverse mix of high-profile sports clients on a range of corporate, commercial and governance matters, such as regulatory instructions, joint ventures and structuring international sporting events. Bruce regularly handles this workload with the support of India Benjamin. Katie Fudakowski is the key contact for several governing bodies seeking assistance with investigations and reviews into safeguarding and employment matters, as well as compliance mandates. Owen O’Rorke focuses on overlapping commercial, IP and data matters for such clients, while Julian Pike is a go-to contentious media and sports practitioner, advising sports teams, governing bodies and individuals on all manner of disputes. Henry Sainty, David Hunt and Paul Jones are further key names to note. Kate Allass is particularly recommended for her capabilities in high-profile disputes.

The employment team at Farrer & Co is noted for its expertise in the financial sector, excelling in contentious employee protection work with specialist investigations proficiency. The practice is led by founder David Smellie, who advises on crisis management and leads on employment related safe-guarding matters. Frequently dealing with high-profile and high-value matters, the firm is a popular choice for senior individuals in highly regulated sectors. Co-heads of the practice Eleanor Rowswell and Anna Birtwistle expand the team’s expertise to complex cross-border mediation and arbitration, with increasing focus on contractual High Court disputes. Also highly regarded is David Hunt, known for his expertise in partner moves and restrictive covenant cases. Kathleen Heycock advises on post-termination restriction issues, while Alice Cave works on high-value whistleblowing cases. Alice Yandle – praised for her ‘great tactical sense‘ – routinely handles exits in the financial services, insurance, and tech sectors.