BTO Solicitors LLP

BTO Solicitors LLP

bto.co.uk

Member of Mackrell International

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Scotland

BTO Solicitors LLP - Employment

Laura Salmond

Laura Salmond

Partner An Accredited Specialist in Employment Law, Laura has specialised in employment law for over 19 years, she deals with all aspects of employment law, both contentious and non-contentious, and has a very loyal client following. She advises on the full spectrum of employment issues arising in the workplace, including equality and diversity, redundancy, conduct, performance management, whistleblowing, ill health absences, flexible working and disciplinary and grievance matters. She also undertakes mediation, provides tailored employment documentation and advises on the enforceability of restrictive covenants and settlement agreements. Laura has a wealth of experience advising a broad range of commercial and corporate clients, charities, employers in the education sector and senior executive employees on all aspects of the employment relationship.  As well as advising clients on day-to-day employment issues, Laura is a trusted advisor for both new and long-established clients.  Clients appreciate her commercial acumen combined with her friendly and approachable manner.  She is described as someone who “approaches conflict with a calm demeanour and incisive wit” and as “someone who genuinely cares about the client and the case they are pursuing”. Laura is particularly experienced in advising and representing trade union and federation members in a wide range of employment-related matters. Laura represents both employees and employers at Employment Tribunals throughout Scotland and at the Employment Appeal Tribunal, she is therefore able to see a case from both sides and clients rate Laura’s ‘can do’ attitude.
Douglas Strang

Douglas Strang

Senior Associate Douglas specialises in employment law, providing advice to both employers and employees on a range of contentious and non-contentious matters. He has considerable experience in representing both Claimants and Respondents at Employment Tribunals all over Scotland and England, dealing with such subjects as unfair or constructive dismissal, redundancy, breach of contract, discrimination and harassment cases, employee status, retirement age, and unlawful deductions from wages. He has also represented clients before the Employment Appeal Tribunal. Douglas is often called upon to draft and revise employment contracts, policies and procedures, and to advise a wide range of clients on many topics including disciplinary hearings and misconduct dismissals, redundancy dismissals, handling long-term sickness absences, altering terms of employment and the departures of senior executives. He advises many of the firm’s social housing clients and is very familiar with the particular rules and regulatory regime operating in this area. He is heavily involved in providing support to BTO’s corporate and commercial departments in relation to the employment law aspects of the corporate transactions being carried out by these teams. He has a particular interest in the TUPE Regulations, advising in relation to the applicability of the Regulations at the time of the potential transfer, as well as handling numerous employment tribunal cases relating to the applicability of the Regulations, and a successful appearance at the Employment Appeal Tribunal in relation to the interpretation of the Regulations. Douglas is an active participant in our Employment Law seminar programme.

Deals

  • Working with our corporate team, we advised Mactaggart & Mickel on all employment aspects of the £46 million pound sale of a Scottish Housebuilder business.
  • Advised a multinational insurance company headquartered in London and its insured (including charities, universities, construction companies, patent attorneys and other businesses in Scotland/throughout the UK) on the successful defence of tribunal claims
  • Supported and advised Derbyshire Technology Solutions Company, a technology solutions company, on all employment law aspects of urgent capital investment by a global private equity firm. This included negotiating the exit of the founders, re-engaging one of the founders on a consultancy basis, liaising with the relevant personnel within the private equity firm in regard to these negotiations and being in almost constant communication with the company’s chief executive (across different time zones) who was leading the investment round.

Team Services

Our team, including 3 accredited specialists, advises a range of public and private sector clients, from large plcs, to membership organisations, SMEs, housing associations and individuals, including CEOs and senior executives.

Advise on every aspect of the employer/employee relationship, from the recruitment process, to hybrid working, grievance/discipline, absence management, redundancy, mediations, protected conversations, disciplinary hearings, managed exits, settlement agreements, ACAS early conciliation, whistleblowing and discrimination claims. Also support HR projects advising on options and processes and provide guidance on many projects, from complex TUPE, to large organisational change.

Significant experience in dealing with contentious employment law issues, conducting tribunals and NHS disciplinary hearings and challenging collective industrial relations from both sides.

Specialisms:

  • Healthcare sector:“go to” team for advising doctors and dentists through the 3 main UK medical/defence organisations (MDDUS, MPS and MDU) plus the BMA, RCN, care homes/providers, pharmacies and health insurers.
  • Advising membership organisations and representingtrade union members: g. senior police officers in misconduct and judicial review proceedings via the Scottish Police Federation.
  • Advising the professions in employment issues and regulatory concerns
  • Corporate support
  • Employment Tribunal claims:instructed by Royal & Sun Alliance plc - only Scottish firm on RSA approved legal panel.
  • Consultancy service:to HR companies/professionals/legal firms to enhance their offering to their clients  if they have limited or  no employment law capability.

Client testimonials

Vice Principal, College of Further Education

BTO always provides a responsive, business-focussed service. The advice is informed and real-world, their support has been invaluable across a range of employment issues.

CEO, Housing Association

Caroline (Carr) and the team consistently provide a very high standard of service. They instil confidence and are always professional and helpful during the whole process . Advice given is relevant and easily understood. We would highly recommend BTO.

Lesslie Young, Chief Executive Officer, Epilepsy Scotland

Laura (Salmond) has provided Epilepsy Scotland with support and advice regarding employment matters for several years.  Whether the matter is relatively simple or more complex, her depth of knowledge and breadth of experience provides detailed answers to our questions.  Where possible she provides options with the potential outcomes outlined individually.  Her friendly and professional approach makes working with her easy.  She also instils confidence.  All this in combination helps to ensure decision making is well informed.

Former senior executive of global construction company

Hope you (Dawn Robertson) are busy and still helping to  make companies honour their contracts as you did so successfully for me.