Watershed

Watershed is an employment law firm trusted to handle the difficult, the sensitive, and the strategic. From board-level investigations and negotiations with unions to executive dismissals, restructures and tribunal defence, we operate at the sharp end of employment law.

Our focus is on resolving the day-to-day employment issues that crop up in any business, on stopping them reoccurring and in shaping services that meet clients' needs cost-effectively. We also deal with major organisational change, pay and reward, managing redundancy, negotiations with trade unions, executive termination, mediation and recruitment.

Our story

Watershed has evolved from Collinson Grant's 50 years of experience in employment law. It uses the same employment law resources, knowledge and people to continue to offer industry recognised expertise.

We do not seek attention, but we are often the team behind it, advising in-house counsel, working alongside Magic Circle firms or guiding private equity clients through change that is legally complex and reputationally delicate.

Our roots lie in implementation. We were founded to bridge a gap: where legal advice meets commercial reality. That means going beyond black-letter law and into the mechanics of how change is achieved, including taking the lead in negotiations where necessary.

Our expertise

Clients turn to us for specialist matters: Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) transfers under pressure, misconduct allegations at senior levels, collective consultations involving hundreds of staff. Not just because we understand the law, but because we know how to apply it under scrutiny.

Our solicitors provide representation to respondents at employment tribunals and have achieved a successful outcome in the vast majority of cases.

We are not precious. We also handle the day-to-day: disciplinary and grievance cases, contracts and policies, support for line managers and human resources teams. This is the work that keeps organisations stable, and we approach it with the same rigour and care.

Our lawyers are senior, pragmatic, and outcome-focused. We do not do insured products or call-centre law. We do not vanish after giving advice. We stay close to the work and closer to the client.

The firm's experience allows it to provide specialist advice on employment law to businesses of all types including plc businesses, Financial Conduct Authority regulated businesses and Care Quality Commission regulated organisations.

We are based in Manchester and London but work nationally. And while we often partner with consultants at Collinson Grant, Watershed remains a law firm through and through – regulated, rigorous, and deeply experienced.