Littler is known for advising large corporate clients on employment matters, with a proven track record in Employment Tribunal litigation. The firm particularly excels in cases of discrimination, harassment, and whistleblowing. The team is led by three partners: Paul Quain has extensive experience in high-value disputes, Raoul Parekh focuses his practice on assisting international clients with employment law changes, and Nicola James specialises in complex and cross-border transactions. Other active members of the team include Caroline Baker, Sophie Vanhegan, Deborah Margolis, and Ben Smith. Daniel Pollard departed in June 2024, while Paul Harrison joined from Baker McKenzie in September 2024.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Must call out Deborah Margolis in particular. Excellent lawyer, always responsive even when she is out of the office - doesn't let anything slip. She provides prompt, clear, pragmatic advice. And a lovely person. She's indispensable to us. ’
'Paul Quain is incredibly personable and thoughtful, with an instinctive grasp of the strengths and weaknesses of a case. Paul is clever, generous with his time, and has great instincts about where litigation will end up.'
Philip Cameron is a great negotiator, with an authoritative and calm approach. Philip brings his years of HR experience to his non-contentious and litigation matters, which adds terrific value.'
'Ben Smith - intellectual and with great attention to detail; Ben leaves no stone unturned, and he is very responsive and thoughtful. He is a huge asset in litigation as he sees the wider picture, but is across all the ins and outs of the evidence. A rising star!'
‘We mainly work with Paul Harrison and Oli Moreton, who are both excellent. We think Paul is one of the leading employment lawyers in the UK - he is an incredibly smart subject matter expert who navigates through complex employment legal issues with ease. He knows what we want and always delivers to a very high standard. Oli is a fantastic associate who everyone here loves working with. He is very responsive and his advice is always really practical. ’
‘Caroline Baker, Jessica Lim and Lisa Coleman are outstanding. I feel they sit on my side of the table and they have got our interests at heart. They provide realistic advice and don't stint on hard work when there is heavy lifting involved.’
'Nicola James has been an outstanding partner for us. Over the past year, we’ve worked closely together on a number of complex employment law matters, and it’s Nicola’s expertise and proactive approach that really set her apart.'
‘What I find really valuable about this firm is that their advice is always very practical. They don't just tell you about the law; they explain how it works for your situation and give clear steps you can actually use. I think new clients would really like to know that this team is great at finding a good balance between the legal rules and what makes sense in real life.'
'Deborah Margolis is an exceptional advisor, and working with her feels nearly effortless. She's consistently available when we need her and has an exceptional talent for translating complex legal concepts into clear advice that aligns with our business objectives.'
'Littler are not only expert in their field but also possess a deep understanding of the business environment and client's internal dynamics.'
Key clients
- Sky
- Uber BV
- Jack Wolfskin
- NorthWall Capital
- iad International
- Inizio Healthcare Limited
- HDI Global Specialty SE
- Harrison Parrott Limited
- Hannover RE UK Life Branch
- G-P
- Epiq Systems Limited
- E A Gibson Shipbrokers Limited
- Commonwealth Secretariat
- Commerzbank AG
- Integra Insurance Solutions Limited
- Morgan Sindall Group
- ZOLL Medical Corporation
- Morgon Lovell
- Moderna
- Mimecast
Work highlights
Defending Commerzbank AG in a series of high value Employment Tribunal claims (whistleblowing, sex, and pregnancy and maternity discrimination, harassment and victimisation).
Advised Commerzbank AG in relation to allegations of contempt, relating to dishonest evidence that the Claimant gave in the employment tribunal proceedings must now be assessed by the High Court judge in a trial in the High Court where the higher criminal burden of proof is applied.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
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
Raoul Parekh; Paul Quain; Nicola James
Other key lawyers
Caroline Baker; Sophie Vanhegan; Deborah Margolis; Ben Smith; Philip Cameron; Paul Harrison; Oli Moreton; Jessica Lim; Lisa Coleman