Tapestry Compliance's practice is ‘uniquely focussed on employee incentive plans’, offering its specialist expertise to technology, manufacturing, financial services, and consumer goods clients. Dividing her time between London and Leeds, practice co-head Hannah Needle is highly experienced in advising on a range incentive arrangements for companies with multi-jurisdictional interests. Chris Fallon co-leads the practice from London and Birmingham, and he frequently advises on employee and executive share and cash incentive plans, with his broad client roster spanning manufacturing, recruitment, and aviation companies. Also dividing her practice between London and Leeds, Suzannah Crookes specialises in global employee stock purchase plans and executive share, fund, and cash-based incentive arrangements. Emma Parker leads on matters involving the implementation of employee benefit trusts, while Matthew Hunter is skilled at conducting global legal and tax due diligence. Bob Grayson is also a key contact in the team, with his specialisms including plan rule drafting and trust and hedging arrangements.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Accolades

Client satisfaction

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Hannah Needle and Emma Parker are excellent lawyers and plans specialists. They truly understand share incentives and are able to take a pragmatic approach to providing solutions to their clients.'

  • ‘Emma Parker is particularly impressive, clear in her advice and strategic in her approach.'

  • ‘Tapestry is unique in that it is the only law firm that we are aware of that specialises in providing share plan advice. We particularly value access to Tapestry’s ‘On Tap’ database service providing instant access to understanding legal and tax considerations in operating share plans in countries where we make share awards.'

  • ‘They act as a true partner in providing share plan advice and its provided in an easy to understand way i.e without lots of legal jargon. My stand out individual is Hannah Needle, whom I have worked with over a number of years in different companies. She understands the real challenges faced by companies who are setting up or have ongoing share plans.’

  • ‘The individuals we work with at Tapestry are very knowledgeable and their vast experience enables them to provide detailed responses in a timely manner. They will always make themselves available if any further clarification is required. We particularly value our contacts’ understanding of issues and practical solutions they propose.’

  • ‘Great team work and collaboration across the practice. Very responsive and think outside the box. Don't just tick boxes. Excellent technical skills. Effective management of global share schemes tax and legal advisory work.'

  • ‘The Tapestry team are experts in their field, providing in depth and practical advice in relation to setting up and operating all employee share schemes. The Tapestry ‘on-tap’ resource is excellent, providing a starting point for any legal, tax and payroll issues.’

  • ‘Tapestry is uniquely focussed on employee incentive plans so they have deep expertise in this area. They provide a user friendly compliance tool 'on tap' so you can keep abreast of changes worldwide. They also provide practical advice on share plan issues. All of the lawyers that I have dealt with at Tapestry provide pragmatic and implementable advice.’

  • 'What makes Tapestry stand out is that they give practical, business relevant, advice. They excel at providing actionable advice with the pros and cons of different options clearly outlined.'

  • 'Hannah Needle is brilliant at thinking outside the box to find practical solutions to complex problems.'

Key clients

  • Associated British Foods
  • Primark
  • Kingsmill
  • Twinings
  • Comcast Corporation
  • Sky Group
  • NBC Universal
  • Danone
  • Activia
  • Evian
  • Aptamil
  • Entain
  • Ladbrokes
  • Coral
  • BetMGM
  • International Airlines Group
  • British Airways
  • Iberia
  • Aer Lingus
  • Vueling

Work highlights

Supporting IAG with a major project in implementing its first all-employee share plan, giving employees across the organisation the opportunity to buy shares in the company.
Assisting a top FTSE30 company with technical advice and assistance in relation to a potential spin-off and IPO, including advising on the grant of special awards that can be converted into rights over post-IPO shares.
Assisted Morgan Stanley with providing a full legal and tax global compliance service in relation to their executive share, fund, and cash-based incentive arrangements, as well as their broad-based employee share purchase plan.

Lawyers

Leading partners

The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Next Generation Partners

Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.

Leading associates

Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.

Practice head

Hannah Needle; Chris Fallon

Other key lawyers

Suzannah Crookes; Emma Parker; Matthew Hunter; Bob Grayson