Kervin & Barnes > London, England > Firm Profile

Kervin & Barnes
23 Berkeley Square
Mayfair
London
W1J 6HE
England

Employment > Senior executives Tier 4

Specialising in the financial services sector, Kervin & Barnes is active in whistleblowing claims and dismissal litigation. Team head Gareth Kervin is an experienced litigator who regularly handles contentious exits, as well as advising on post-termination restrictions. Lucy Truscott often appears before the High Court and Employment Tribunal in a breadth of discrimination claims, including those relating to pregnancy, maternity and sexual orientation.

Practice head(s):

Gareth Kervin

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘The depth of experience is remarkable, but paired with a very clear awareness of commercial implications which helps to guide the client to the optimal solution.’

‘Gareth Kervin is a wily and sophisticated litigator. He goes the extra mile and has a very commercial approach.’

Kervin & Barnes is an established boutique practice based in Mayfair providing first-class employment law advice to senior executives and companies in a range of sectors. The firm provides City-trained/experienced lawyers who develop close trusted relationships with clients.

The firm: Kervin & Barnes was founded by Gareth Kervin in 2009. From that time it has enjoyed sustained growth and developed a strong reputation for its advisory and litigation work.  The firm is regularly instructed on major restructuring/redundancy exercises and high value litigation on issues such as bonuses, restrictive covenants, equal pay, discrimination and whistleblowing.

Its client base has expanded steadily, working with clients such as West Ham United Football Club; Danone Waters (Volvic/Evian); Danone Dairies (Activia/Actimel); Ransomes Jacobsen; Star Actuarial; Nutricia; YouGov plc; Textron; Huntress and Planet Payment UK and a number of financial services companies. The firm is also regularly instructed by senior executives in a range of industries and high-net-worth individuals.

Kervin & Barnes’ lawyers have practised in the City and in-house at financial services institutions. They are highly regarded, known for punching above their weight and being practically and commercially minded.

Types of work undertaken: The firm covers the full range of employment-related work, including general advisory, Employment Tribunal and High Court litigation, regulatory compliance, discrimination and whistleblowing. Recent instructions include implementing a large-scale reorganisation and redundancy process, litigating restrictive covenants for businesses and employees, negotiating significant settlement packages, advising on protected disclosures and advising on the employment aspects of corporate transactions. The firm also provides bespoke training to HR teams and managers.

Financial services: Kervin & Barnes offers expert employment law advice to financial services executives and employers. Its employment lawyers have considerable experience working in this complex and demanding field of law, and regularly advise on both the employment and regulatory issues particular to the sector.

Recruitment: the recruitment industry is another sector in which Kervin & Barnes offers sector-specific advice. Its lawyers have extensive experience working with all sizes of recruiters, and regularly advise on recruitment industry issues such as the Agency Workers Regulations, Conduct Regulations and IR35 led issues.

Retail: the firm also provides employment law advice for the retail sector, from small boutiques to large international enterprises. Retailers frequently face legal challenges from their employees; the team has successfully defended and resolved claims on behalf of its retail clients.

Employers: the firm advises employers on a range of issues, including absence management, bonus schemes, business protection, confidential information, contracts and handbooks, disciplinary and grievance procedures, discrimination, equal pay, FCA matters, High Court litigation, family rights, national minimum wage, partnership, performance management, redundancy procedures, settlement agreements (compromise agreements), TUPE, unfair dismissal and business protection issues.

www.kervinandbarnes.co.uk

Department Name Email Telephone
Managing Partner Gareth Kervin
Employment Gareth Kervin
Commercial Gareth Kervin
Photo Name Position Profile
Gareth Kervin photo Gareth Kervin Managing partner and client relationship manager for West Ham United, Danone, P&O…
Lucy Truscott photo Lucy Truscott Partner
Number of UK partners : 2
Number of other UK fee-earners : 1
ELA (Employment Lawyers Association)

As an employment law firm serving employer clients and senior executive clients we advise on equality, diversity and inclusion matters on a daily basis. In our role as advisers we ensure that clients adhere to and are protected by the law – as it stands and evolves – but also encourage a working culture that guards against discrimination and fosters forward-thinking. Kervin & Barnes itself has always hired from a diverse range of backgrounds and has greatly benefitted from having a balance of different protected characteristics in our team.