GQ | LITTLER > London, England > Firm Profile

GQ | LITTLER
125 Wood Street
LONDON
EC2V 7AN
England

Email firm Visit website 020 3375 0330 020 3375 0332

Employment > Employers Tier 2

Boutique employment law firm GQ | LITTLER advises a number of major international corporate clients on matters including tribunal litigation, post-transactional restructuring and ongoing internal matters. The practice is jointly headed by board-level crisis management specialist Paul Quain, the transaction support-focussed Daniel Pollard, internal employment matters expert Richard Harvey and Darren Isaacs, who splits his work between the firm’s London and Dublin offices. Highly experienced litigator and restrictive covenants expert Sophie Vanhegan is a further name to note. Laura Lobb, Deborah Margolis and Nicola James are also integral.

Leading partners

Paul Quain - GQ | LITTLER

Practice head(s):

Paul Quain; Darren Isaacs; Daniel Pollard; Richard Harvey

Other key lawyers:

Sophie Vanhegan; Laura Lobb; Nicola James; Deborah Margolis

Testimonials

‘GQ Littler is probably the best boutique employment law firm in London. They fight complex and cutting-edge cases, and have unparalleled commercial judgment. There is quality in their most junior associates right up to their leading partners.’

‘The team are extremely responsive and make themselves available whenever works for the client. Their advice is always pragmatic, measured and supportive. They are really friendly and I feel very confident talking to them about any employee issue that we’re dealing with. I always feel clear on next steps and how to implement the advice they have given.’

‘Deborah Margolis is an exceptional lawyer and professional. She takes the time to understand your organisation, you as the client and tailors her responses and advice to ensure you feel heard and supported.’

‘On the whole the team at GQ|Littler is top notch – responsive, competent and business-focused. Whenever we’ve needed to enlist their services, they are promptly available and able to assist in meeting our needs.’

‘In particular, Deborah Margolis has proven an outstanding advisor and confidant. She is bright, highly competent and yet pragmatic and business-focused.’

‘I have worked with the GQ Littler team for many years and despite their growth, their service and support has never changed. They are responsive and available when needed. They work quickly to provide the advice needed ensuring it is considered and comprehensive. The team are engaging, experts in their field and they support us with ad-hoc queries and structured initiatives such as diversity & inclusion training.’

‘Darren Isaacs is one in a million. He has an in depth knowledge of his subject and his approach is always constructive, knowledgeable and compassionate. Every instruction we give will have an impact on an individual’s life after all.’

‘Exceptional collaboration and service.’

Key clients

Uber BV

Overbury plc

Omnipresent Group Limited

Morgan Sindall Group PLC

Integra Insurance Solutions Limited

Inizio Health

HDI Global Speciality SE

Harrison Parrott Limited

Hannover RE UK Life Branch

Globalization Partners Limited

Epiq Systems Limited

E A Gibson Shipbrokers Limited

Cytel Inc

Commonwealth Secretariat

Commerzbank AG

Capitolis Inc

Argo Management Services Limited

ZOLL Medical Corporation

Moderna

Meitar

Charles River Associates

Mimecast

Onefootball GmbH

Whole Foods Market

Work highlights

Defending a high value Employment Tribunal (ET) claim for Commerzbank AG which has been through various stages of appeal and which potentially raises new law on TUPE.
Supporting Omnipresent with their growth as an organisation by co-ordinating and providing bespoke advice in relation to key employment law topics in 60+ countries across the globe.
Advising Mimecast in relation to the UK employment aspects of the implementation of its acquisition by Permira.

GQ | Littler is a leading specialist law firm for employers. The firm was founded in 2010, based on an in-house advising style matching the risk appetite of clients and fostering a culture that prioritises inclusivity and diversity.

Our business model is based solely on how best to help businesses solve employee related issues. We attract and retain top talent, provide clients with greater partner involvement and use technology solutions to provide clients with a more personal, risk-based and solutions-focused service.

In delivering legal advice we see ourselves as risk managers/business consultants as much as lawyers. We seek to identify each client’s attitude to risk and internal culture and recommend practical solutions that align with these.

Over the last 13 years the firm has gone from strength to strength attracting a team of 35 top of the class lawyers in London and a growing team in Dublin. We operate as part of Littler, the world’s largest employment law firm. Littler has more than 1,800 employment lawyers practising across 28 countries worldwide.

Principal areas of work: The firm’s legal expertise covers employment (including multi-jurisdictional projects, High Court and Employment Tribunal litigation and transaction support) and we continue to develop and invest in our “one stop shop” service covering all legal issues relating to our client’s workforce including share schemes/incentives, data protection, business immigration and client training. Our client base spans a wide range of sectors including financial services, technology, healthcare, professional services, and luxury goods, in the UK and internationally.

We continue to work with a number of the US “white shoe” law firms who do not have employment law capability in London and outside the US on a range of large-scale global transactions, where we provide a single point of contact for all the global employment law issues on a deal.

The firm has particular expertise in relation to:

Complex multi-jurisdictional HR projects
High Court litigation related to any people issues in the workplace including disputes with contractors, restrictive covenants, confidential information, poaching and team moves
High-value Employment Tribunal litigation including discrimination and whistle-blowing
Employment law aspects of M&A transactions, outsourcing, insourcing and off-shoring
Business restructuring and large-scale redundancy programmes
Executive/senior employee hiring and firing
Data protection & workplace technology
Trade union, industrial relations, collective bargaining and Works Council issues
Employee incentives and share schemes
Business Immigration
Mental health in the workplace
Diversity and inclusion in the workplace
Employment law training

We are committed to:

A balanced and diverse firm and partnership team
A partnering style that focuses on each client’s individual risk appetite and culture
A rewarding and liberating environment for ambitious and entrepreneurial lawyers to develop
Top quality, partner-led advice and a single source solution provider to global businesses
Lawyers with a proven track record of handling the most demanding and complex issues
Alternative fee structures
A ‘one’ approach for international projects: one work product format, one invoice, one responsible partner and one coordinated fee proposal

Department	Name	Email	Telephone
Employment	Paul Quain	[email protected]	+44(0)20 3375 0334
Employment	Jon Gilligan	[email protected]	+44(0)20 3375 0333

GQ|Littler

London, England

+44 (0)203 375 0330

View team profile

Name	Position	Profile
Natasha Adom	Natasha is a Partner at GQ\|Littler and leads the firm’s client training…	View Profile
Jenny Allan	Jenny is an Associate at GQ\|Littler and has experience working on multijurisdictional…	View Profile
Caroline Baker	Caroline is a Partner at GQ\|Littler who leads the firm’s French Services,…	View Profile
Dónall Breen	Dónall is a Senior Associate at GQ\|Littler and advises clients on the…	View Profile
Mark Callaghan	Mark is a Senior Associate at GQ\|Littler and advises on the full…	View Profile
Philip Cameron	Philip is a Partner at GQ\|Littler and has a wealth of experience…	View Profile
James Champness	James is a Senior Associate at GQ\|Littler and has worked with an…	View Profile
Lisa Coleman	Lisa is a Senior Associate at GQ\|Littler. She works across all areas…	View Profile
Chris Coombes	Chris is a Senior Associate at GQ\|Littler and advises clients on the…	View Profile
Dilshen Dahanayake	Dilshen is an Associate at GQ\|Littler and has experience across the full…	View Profile
Georgia Fisher	Georgia is an Associate at GQ\|Littler and advises on the full range…	View Profile
Jon Gilligan	Jon Gilligan is one of the founders of GQ\|Littler and its Managing…	View Profile
Paul Harrison	Paul Harrison is a Partner at GQ\|Littler with over 25 years of…	View Profile
Darren Isaacs	Darren is a Partner at GQ\|Littler and primarily focuses on cross-border and…	View Profile
Nicola James	Nicola is a Partner at GQ\|Littler and specialises in complex and international…	View Profile
Jessica Lim	Jessica is an Associate at GQ\|Littler. She completed a litigation rotation during…	View Profile
Laura Lobb	Laura is a partner at GQ\|Littler and has over 14 years’ experience…	View Profile
Deborah Margolis	Deborah is a Senior Associate at GQ\|Littler and is qualified to practice…	View Profile
Oliver Moreton	Oli is a Senior Associate at GQ\|Littler. He particularly enjoys litigation, and…	View Profile
Raoul Parekh	Raoul Parekh is a Partner at GQ\|Littler and leads the firm’s international…	View Profile
Kate Potts	Kate is a Senior Associate at GQ\|Littler. She practices all aspects of…	View Profile
Paul Quain	Paul Quain is one of the founders of GQ\|Littler and one of…	View Profile
Josephine Rendall-Neal	Josephine is an Associate at GQ\|Littler and advises on the full range…	View Profile
Kate Richards	Kate is an Associate at GQ\|Littler and works across all areas of…	View Profile
Ben Rouse	Ben is an Associate at GQ\|Littler and has experience across a broad…	View Profile
Ben Smith	Ben is a Senior Associate at GQ\|Littler who works across all areas…	View Profile
Alison Sneddon	Alison is a Senior Counsel at GQ\|Littler and practises both contentious and…	View Profile
Sophie Vanhegan	Sophie is a Partner at GQ\|Littler and has extensive experience in both…	View Profile

Number of UK partners : 13
Number of other UK fee-earners : 26
Total staff figures in London : 52

English
French
German

Employment Lawyers Association
American Bar Association (ABA)
IBA (International Bar Association)
Employment Law Association of Ireland

CLIENT: Managing Director, Head of People, Europe and Asia
COMPANY/FIRM: Global Investment Group
TESTIMONIAL: My experience with both Sophie Vanhegan and Alison Sneddon has always been exceptional. Their commercial advice is consistently insightful, and their pragmatism ensures that we receive solutions tailored to our specific needs. They demonstrate an impressive ability to quickly grasp our firm’s culture and dynamics, providing the best guidance even in high-pressure situations involving senior stakeholders. Their rapid response times are unmatched, giving us confidence that we are in capable hands whenever urgent matters arise. I highly endorse both Sophie and Alison, as well as GQ|Littler as a firm, for their professionalism, expertise, and commitment to their clients’ success.

CLIENT: Saju Jacob, Senior Lawyer
COMPANY/FIRM: Commerzbank AG
TESTIMONIAL: Having worked with the GQ|Littler team for many years and most recently on a complicated piece of litigation, I would have no hesitation recommending them as leaders in their field. Paul Quain, Philip Cameron, Lisa Coleman and Ben Smith stand-out for their superb guidance and advice combined with a thorough knowledge of the law. Their approachability is second to none and the collegiate manner in which they work makes interactions with them a pleasure.

CLIENT: Head of Group Legal
COMPANY/FIRM: Professional Services Consultancy Company
TESTIMONIAL: We worked with GQ|Littler (Caroline Baker, Lisa Coleman and Jessica Lim) on a complex, potentially high value employment case which they helped bring to a successful conclusion. The team who worked with us, without exception, were not only experts in employment law and extremely able in managing the stages of the litigation process, but also a pleasure to work with. I felt that they sat on our side of the table throughout a multi-faceted piece of litigation, and despite some challenging moments they never lost their professionalism or objectivity.

CLIENT: Helen Mason, General Counsel & Company Secretary
COMPANY/FIRM: Morgan Sindall Group plc
TESTIMONIAL: Philip Cameron and Chris Coombes have been supporting the Group for a number of years. Most recently they advised us in relation to a tricky situation involving a former employee threatening colleagues. They’re commercially focused, give good advice and take sensible views balancing the law with the objectives of the business. They’ve worked hard to understand us and our culture and it really shows in the advice they give.

CLIENT: Corinne Gittens-Noel, Senior HR Business Partner
COMPANY/FIRM: Tray.ai
TESTIMONIAL: I’ve been working with Littler for almost five years over two companies and I don’t plan for this partnership to end! I have the pleasure to be partnering with experienced, personable professionals; Philip Cameron, Mark Callaghan and Ben Rouse have been our consistent legal team, and I would not want this to change. They will always make themselves available when we need them and consistently provide us with well-rounded advice on a wide scope of legal issues. We have dealt with a number of tricky and sensitive cases over the past 18 months and their support has helped us resolve these matters effectively. They have left a good impression on a number of our executive team members -I would definitely recommend this firm.

CLIENT: Gemma Warren, Head of HR
COMPANY/FIRM: MSFITOUT
TESTIMONIAL: GQ|Littler have continued to be a valuable partner in supporting us through some difficult and complex cases this last year. We’ve also benefited from their combined legal and training expertise, introducing new training sessions for employees on Dignity at Work, Respectful Behaviours, and Conscious Inclusion. These sessions have been hugely popular and are helping us improve development opportunities for our employees and create an inclusive working environment for all. GQ|Littler are always available to help and their understanding of our business culture and needs enables them to assist us efficiently and effectively.

COMPANY/FIRM: FTSE Listed Banking Group
TESTIMONIAL: We have had a number of complex organisational design / employee relations cases recently, with a lot of interconnecting, complex and sensitive considerations. The support given by GQ Littler, in particular Sophie Vanhegan, Alison Sneddon and Ben Smith, has been exemplary. Their in-depth knowledge of our business, and commercial and pragmatic approach has enabled us to navigate these issues in a way that has worked both for the business and the individuals in question. They are always responsive, helpful and quick to support solutions, working with us in partnership which is invaluable when dealing with time critical and organisation defining cases. My team and I are very grateful of the support and confidence GQ|Littler provide us.

CLIENT: Leigh Slayne, Associate General Counsel
COMPANY/FIRM: UKG
TESTIMONIAL: We engaged Deborah Margolis and the team in Littler’s UK office to provide guidance on UK employment matters as well as to assist us in coordinating coverage for employment matters across the globe. Deborah is an absolute pleasure to work with. She provides practical, thoughtful and comprehensive guidance and is available to assist whenever needed. Deborah and the team have done an incredible job coordinating representation in multiple countries and digesting and organising the guidance from different counsel in a practical and accessible format.

CLIENT: General Counsel
COMPANY/FIRM: Global Business
TESTIMONIAL: As a general counsel of a global business headquartered in the United States, I rely on GQ|Littler to serve as my extended legal team to advise on UK employment issues. Darren Isaacs and Jessica Lim are simply outstanding. They are client-centric, business-minded, and extremely responsive. I switched my UK outside counsel from a competing firm to GQ|Littler approximately two years ago because the advice I had been receiving was not practical. In contrast, GQ|Littler’s pragmatic approach and willingness to provide needed context for a non-UK audience has made it my go-to for all things UK employment.

CLIENT: Cathy Grizzell, SVP & CHRO
COMPANY/FIRM: Sesac Music Group
TESTIMONIAL: GQ|Littler is, undoubtedly, the premier boutique firm specializing in employment law for employers in London and beyond. Laura Lobb stands out as one of the foremost practitioners in employment law. Her profound expertise and extensive experience contribute to making my professional journey truly enjoyable. With her involvement, I am confident in receiving top-notch advice and exceptional leadership. She will walk the extra mile for you. My interactions with Laura Lobb have been consistently outstanding. She goes above and beyond to assist you. I also value the genuine care and personal attention she provides, which sets her apart from those firms who treat you merely as a “case”. It’s truly refreshing to collaborate with professionals who invest in your well-being on a personal level.

CLIENT: Nikki Bellofiore, HR Business Partner
COMPANY/FIRM: BuzzFeed, Inc.
TESTIMONIAL: I have worked with Philip Cameron and Ben Smith for over a year now, on two rounds of redundancies, a tribunal claim and other sensitive cases involving performance and disciplinary action. As the HRBP for employees in six countries, it is difficult to stay abreast of employment laws, so I find the support I get from Philip, Ben and GQ|Littler overall invaluable.

Both Philip and Ben have been on hand to answer questions big or small. Their advice is always clear and pragmatic, with the intention of getting the best outcome for our business. They take the time to understand the intricacies of our industry and our company and how it might relate to the matter at hand. They are very quick to provide solutions and approach each case with tenacity and confidence.

When it comes to employees and the law, most cases are delicate and need to be handled with care. When working with Philip and Ben I feel reassured that I am partnering with experts who understand the sensitive nature of their work while delivering the best results for our organisation.

CLIENT: VP Operations
COMPANY/FIRM: Cyber Security Client
TESTIMONIAL: We have worked with Deborah to resolve a number of legal matters across the entire spectrum of HR, people operations and recruitment. In particular, we appreciate the responsiveness and risk based / pragmatic approach. We enjoy working with GQ|Littler because it feels like we are working with a small practice with a strong client focus, whilst also giving us access to the global network of specialists which we utilise regularly.

CLIENT: Bill Smith, Senior EMEA Employment Counsel
COMPANY/FIRM: Oracle
TESTIMONIAL: Paul Quain, Philip Cameron and Lisa Coleman consistently impress us with their exceptional service. We particularly value their expertise in complex employment litigation. Their ability to communicate strategies and solutions to complex problems succinctly and clearly builds great confidence for us and our stakeholders in the decisions taken based on their advice. We also genuinely enjoy working with them, making demanding situations far more manageable!

CLIENT: Helen Mason, General Counsel
COMPANY/FIRM: Morgan Sindall Group
TESTIMONIAL: The Group has been working with Philip Cameron and Chris Coombes for a number of years now; and the length of the relationship speaks volumes in itself. That they are experts in their field we take for granted but what sets them apart is the commerciality of the advice and the speed of service. They make us feel like we are their only client – and certainly their most important! We value the honesty of the advice and the practical solutions they offer us. They have made strong connections with our team such that they are now very much regarded as part of our cohort.

CLIENT: Matthew Cates, Vice President, Legal
COMPANY/FIRM: Epiq Global
TESTIMONIAL: GQ|Littler has continued to be an excellent partner & advisor to all things related to Epiq’s international footprint. Raoul Parekh and Ben Smith have continually evolved their service and support model to meet the challenges and needs of Epiq’s global locations, entities, and employees. In fact, when Epiq had resignations of key HR personnel, GQ|Littler proposed a blended secondment of Littler attorneys across the globe which bridged Epiq’s gap until we backfilled those positions. This blended secondment was a huge success and helped to ensure that Epiq remained compliant with international employment regulations. The number of time zones covered by Littler’s associates in this program was amazing. Raoul, Ben, and their entire international team are exceptional partners to work with!

CLIENT: Jack Bristow, Managing Director
COMPANY/FIRM: J3 Advisory
TESTIMONIAL: We were faced with quite an aggressive, unreasonable legal claim, driven by emotion. As a new business we were heavily reliant on the experience and steady hand of the GQ|Littler team (Philip Cameron, Josephine Rendall-Neal). They guided us through the legal process, with insight on what the law actually meant, how it applied to our situation and also the ‘softer’ considerations we should keep in mind.

I’m confident in saying that GQ|Littler did their absolute best for us and cared about the outcome and us in equal measure. What I valued most about the relationship with GQ|Littler was dealing with actual human beings that gave you their time, expertise and benefit of experience. I would suggest that GQ|Littler have a strong value on emotional intelligence amongst their workforce, which is a valuable commodity. It allows them to marry the practicalities of the law with the realities of the case. Philip and Josephine are clear communicators, knowledgeable operators; and good people.

CLIENT: Managing Director
COMPANY/FIRM: Investment Bank
TESTIMONIAL: Dan Pollard is the stand-out partner. He is able to combine very deep technical skills with excellent commercial understanding, good judgement in forming and executing a negotiation strategy and innate people-skills. He is a pleasure to work with and able to smooth things over or ruffle feathers as required. Bottom line is that he is a highly effective and efficient animal and definitely someone you would rather have on your side!

CLIENT: John Lord, Chairman
COMPANY/FIRM: Neota Logic Inc.
TESTIMONIAL: We have sought Philip Cameron’s advice on two claims against us. No money was paid to either claimant and in one case the matter was dismissed with costs in our favour! An absolutely victorious litigator with the great GQ|Littler team supporting him. A rare double win in employment law and at all times a thoroughly reassuring experience being supported and guided by Philip and the GQ|Littler team in both matters.

CLIENT: Smriti Sinha, General Counsel
COMPANY/FIRM: Opus2
TESTIMONIAL: We always get sound, business friendly and commercially pragmatic advice from GQ|Littler. We have worked with them for several years and in that time, they have provided valuable advice and guidance on a variety of matters. Deborah Margolis is excellent and is very knowledge on sensitive and challenging employment issues. She is very strong both technically and commercially. She understands our business and her advice is always pragmatic, commercial and relevant. Deborah is very approachable and responsive, and always take the time to talk through our questions. We always feel confident and comfortable when working with Deborah and the rest of the GQ|Littler team.

CLIENT: Deputy General Counsel
COMPANY/FIRM: Global Communications Company
TESTIMONIAL: We engaged GQ|Littler following the expansion of our business into the UK. The firm has been instrumental in helping our team get its arms around UK law and has skilfully handled all sorts of employee matters. Deborah Margolis is fantastic: a sharp, practical thinker who quickly discerns where we are, where we need to be, and how to help us get there. Her recommendations are tailored to our risk tolerance just as an in-house solicitor’s would be. If we could clone her to advise us in every geography, we would. The colleagues she has brought in to support on various matters have also been excellent – very responsive, pragmatic, and well able to adapt to shifting timelines and needs.

CLIENT: Head of Legal
COMPANY/FIRM: Banking Client
TESTIMONIAL: We have been instructing GQ|Littler on various employment matters including advice regarding restrictive covenant interpretation. The GQ|Littler team have been hugely supportive, consistently providing first class expertise. Their deep knowledge and understanding of our business and sector has been a true differentiating factor when compared to others in their ability to take a view and provide a truly tailored service offering. Sophie and Alison have been exceptional in their responsiveness and flexibility, being available on short notice and providing advice as per timeframes requested. We value their commerciality, pragmatism and technical expertise on quite complex and challenging matters and their ability to distil this to varying levels of the organisation in a way that is easily understood is invaluable. I have certainly felt very well looked after by the GQ|Littler team, they are hardworking, diligent and a pleasure to work with.

CLIENT: Dr Ben Fielding, Co-founder
COMPANY/FIRM: Gensyn
TESTIMONIAL: We’ve been working with GQ|Littler for our employment legals for more than two years now and we’re continually impressed by their prompt responses and professional manner. They’ve guided us through multiple international engagements, drafted numerous agreements, and seamlessly engaged regional counsel where required.

At GQ|Littler diversity, equality and inclusion is a core part of our culture both in the UK and Ireland and worldwide as part of the Littler family. We are conscious of the impact we have on the environment and are committed to operating a sustainable business.

Examples of our commitment to DEI is demonstrated below.

DEI

We have an internal DEI committee and work with The Social Mobility Foundation and recruiters to further improve the firm’s diversity.
We are signed up to the Halo Code initiative and the Menopause Workplace Pledge.
We formed Littler Pride Europe, a new network for LGBTQ+ staff across Littler’s European offices.
We co-lead Littler’s Europe’s Women’s Leadership Initiative.
We participate in the InterLaw Diversity Forum UK Model Diversity Survey.
We work with Chambers and GCs to support a more inclusive and diverse bar.
We are a Foundation Law Firm Participant in InterLaw’s UK Model Diversity Survey.

Littler is recognised for its commitment to DEI by the following organisations:

The American Lawyer – Women’s Scorecard, 2023 – 2024 – Ranked #6
Seramount (formerly Working Mother Media) – Named Best Law Firms for Women and Diversity, 2023 – 2024
Vault – Best Law Firms for Diversity – #7 – Diversity for Individuals with Disabilities, 2024, #8 – Racial & Ethnic Diversity, 2024, #8 – Diversity for Women, 2024, #11 – Diversity for LGBTQ+ Individuals, 2024, #12
Women in Law Empowerment Forum – Certified as a “Gold Standard Firm,” 2011-2023
Human Rights Campaign – Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality, Earned 100% Corporate Equality Index Rating, 2009 – 2024
Law360 – Ranked #1 in Gender Equity & Women in Equity Partnership in the Women in Law Report, 2022 – 2023
Yale Law Women+ – Top Firm for Diversity, 2023

See Littler’s full recognition list here.

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