Robert Gray > Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP > Manchester, England > Lawyer Profile

Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP‘s Manchester-based education practice ‘provides a bespoke flexible approach on all occasions, with exceptional knowledge of all education matters.’ The team led by Diane Gilhooley and Robert Gray supports a wide client portfolio ranging from schools, further education providers, academies, and most notably the higher education sectors on contentious and non-contentious matters including employment, a specialist area supported by senior associate Laura Marsh, charity law, immigration, constitutional and regulatory issues. Two recent areas of focus are the issue of free speech and academic freedom as well as sexual harassment and misconduct.

Possessing a deep bench of practitioners which was further bolstered over 2022, Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP is trusted by clients in the manufacturing, education, financial and professional services industries for the full range of employment matters. Beyond industrial action and trade union work, the firm has seen a marked increase in unfair dismissal and discrimination cases, worker status and rights issues, and significant global restructuring projects. Helming high-profile mandates for a number of sector giants, Paul Cotton‘s practice centres on corporate transaction-related employment issues, including, but not limited to, TUPE, redundancies, and executive terminations. Naeema Choudry leverages her established strength in litigation to act in Employment Tribunals, with recent cases including unfair dismissal, holiday pay and disability discrimination, while Robert Gray is the go-to advisor for the education sector. Jenny Mann works closely with financial services, TMT and utility clients to advise on executive departures, restrictive covenant and employee incentive and bonus schemes, whilst also being viewed as a cross-border specialist. Stephen Chegwin continues to be active in employment and labour litigation, alongside complex reoganisation and redundancy mandates.