Burges Salmon LLP

Employment

Partner

Partner in the firm’s award-winning employment team and advises on complex, sensitive and high-value employment issues, with a reputation for delivering pragmatic and commercial advice. He is a trusted partner for major employers on their strategic people projects, restructurings, outsourcings and other business-critical employment risks.

He has a particular focus on advising employers in the financial services sector, including asset managers, investment firms, wealth managers, insurers and banks. James’s practice includes advising on restrictive covenants, conduct issues, investigations, whistleblowing and exits, as well as advising on wider regulatory matters as they impact employees in regulated firms.

He has substantial experience of advising on employment law aspects of M&A and other corporate and commercial transactions, including the impact of TUPE, often in the financial services sector.

James advises on employment aspects of corporate restructuring procedures, transactions out of administration and other people aspects of corporate insolvency. He also frequently advises on employment issues in the Rail sector.

Experience

Investment firm: Advising on employment/regulatory issues arising from conduct allegations against a portfolio manager. Asset manager: Advising on a senior exit following complaints of racial/religious harassment. National bank: Advising on a major transformation of its regulated staffing arrangements. Wealth management firm: Advising on transfer of its regulated and non-regulated staff as part of major outsourcing. Embark Group: Advising on employment aspects of their £390 million sale to Lloyds Banking Group. MAPFRE Asistencia: advising the global insurance company on employment issues arising in its sale of InsureandGo to AllClear Travel Insurance.

Credentials

Admitted as a solicitor: England & Wales (2005)

Employment Lawyers Association, the Investment Association and The Investment and Savings Association and anked as a Leading Associate in Legal 500 2024.