One of the leading firms for employment, Baker McKenzie is regularly turned to by clients in the financial services sector for its expertise in regulatory-related matters, investigations, and complex disputes. The team is also well-placed to advise employers on union and collective rights issues. Practice co-head Carl Richards is a key adviser on employment aspects of financial transactions, and he leads the team with Julia Wilson, who has a notable specialism in data protection matters. Monica Kurnatowska frequently assists in complex employment disputes, with a proven track record in cases of whistleblowing and discrimination. Annabel Mackay is noted for her capabilities in compliance-related work in regulated sectors. Former practice head John Evason retired in July 2024.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Kim Sartin is excellent. It should be a given that you get excellent legal advice from Baker McKenzie but what isn't always a given is that you get the quality of service and responsiveness that you get with Kim. Despite only using Baker McKenzie on a fairly infrequent basis, Kim is always amazingly responsive and makes herself available to speak on short notice, sometimes even when on holiday! This is really important in an area of law where things tend to be urgent. She also knows how to advise appropriately, getting to the core of the issue and providing practical and thoughtful advice, rather than labouring on less important elements or things we already know - it's always frustrating paying top dollar for someone to write you a long email that's mainly telling you things you already know!’
‘They are different from their competitors because they have a footprint in a wide variety of countries and tend to have expertise in every sector. However the reason I rate them highly is they ‘just get it’ when it comes to providing practical solutions to real world business issues. They don’t just provide advice from a theoretical perspective; they give advice as if they are the business and do not sit on the fence. It’s sharp, relevant and solution-focussed. ’
‘I work with one particular individual- Kim Sartin, who stand out from other lawyers in this field. It is hard to find someone who understands your business as if she works there too. She is unique as she grasps issues quickly and delivers real practical advice that is hard to find. She understands risk in a unique way and balances it expertly. A real standout lawyer. ’
Key clients
- Addison Lee
- BBC
- British Land
- Carlsberg
- Colt
- Emerson
- Eutelsat Group
- GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)
- Haleon plc
- Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)
- Hitachi
Work highlights
Advising on the HR aspects of public M&A transactions for leading clients in the food and drink industry: Carlsberg, Kellanova.
Advised Eutelsat Group on its exclusive negotiations for the carve-out and partial sale of its passive ground segment infrastructure assets.
Advising Emerson on the global planning of a potential sale of its Safety & Productivity Segment. Employees in the relevant business are spread across 36 jurisdictions.
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
Carl Richards; Julia Wilson
Other key lawyers
Monica Kurnatowska; Annabel Mackay; Kim Sartin