Drawing on its global platform, the employment group at RSM UK Legal LLP represents employers in the leisure and hospitality, retail, and technology sectors. With expertise in fair pay and work, the team frequently advises on equal pay. Leading the practice, Charlie Barnes focuses his practice on exits, tribunal litigation, and transactional support.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'What distinguishes the team is their ability to balance legal precision with business context, which is especially important in high-stakes issues like contract terminations. Their multidisciplinary structure—combining legal, HR, and financial expertise—creates a seamless experience when navigating complex settlements.'

  • 'RSM offers highly responsive, solutions-oriented legal counsel with a strong emphasis on risk mitigation and regulatory compliance. The team demonstrates a deep understanding of UK employment law, including the nuances of director-level contracts and fiduciary duties.'
  • 'They are especially strong in crafting settlement agreements that protect both reputational and financial interests. RSM’s ability to work collaboratively across departments (legal, financial, tax) also makes them a strategic advisor beyond just legal documentation.'
  • 'Compared to other legal service providers, RSM brings the advantage of being embedded in a larger advisory network. This allows for a more holistic view of business challenges, which is often missing in purely legal firms. While some boutique firms may offer deep litigation expertise, RSM's strength lies in its integrated advisory model, speed of execution, and business-aligned legal strategies.'
  • 'The practice makes good use of digital tools for document management and communications, streamlining the process for clients. Notably, billing was handled transparently and in a flexible manner, with clear estimates and options provided early on. Additionally, their emphasis on collaborative legal solutions—ensuring alignment with finance and tax teams—added significant value to our outcome.’
  • 'Anna Burdett brought a calm, structured, and empathetic approach to a complex and sensitive matter. She communicated legal risks and options with clarity and without jargon, which was incredibly valuable for decision-making under pressure. We especially appreciated her responsiveness, attention to detail, and ability to remain focused on both the legal and strategic outcomes. Anna’s guidance gave us confidence throughout the process and ensured we moved forward with both caution and clarity.'

Key clients

  • The Ritz Hotel (London) Limited
  • Busy Bees Nurseries Limited
  • South Staffordshire Water
  • Proofpoint Limited
  • Royal College of General Practitioners
  • Crieff Hydro Limited
  • GRTFL Limited
  • JAMF Ltd
  • LGC Group Holdings Limited
  • Lomar Hotel Company (t/a Marriott Hotels)
  • Maine Pointe LLC
  • The Metrocentre Partnership

Work highlights

Advised The Ritz Hotel (London) on general employment law matters, including pay and reward strategy and compliance, contracts and policy documentation, and also updates to their employee data privacy practices.
Advised the UK subsidiary of LGC Holdings Limited on its compliance with fair pay practices in light of recent changes to UK legislation. This included advice to the HR and payroll teams on the implementation of an updated and compliant HR and payroll solution.
Advised South Staffordshire Water PLC on general employment law enquiries and projects involving the HR, Finance and Payroll teams.

Practice head

Charlie Barnes

Other key lawyers

Anna Burdett