The cohort at TLT in Manchester is well-equipped to assist its varied client list with a wide range of cases, including acting in unfair and wrongful dismissal and discrimination claims, advising on contracts and policies, and handling executive severance cases. Ed Cotton has experience in handling both the contentious and non-contentious, including advising on the employment aspects of corporate transactions such as disposals and M&A deals; Liz Cotton‘s areas of specialism include advising retail, fashion, and national grocer clients on the breadth of employment matters; Amy Stokes has experience assisting high-profile public sector clients with discrimination, whistleblowing, breach of contract and TUPE litigation cases. The three are the triumvirate at the team’s helm. Mike Legge is a key practitioner with experience ranging from acting in Employment Tribunal litigation, to advising on redundancies, as is Katrina Hennessy, who has expertise spanning equal pay, whistleblowing, and discrimination. Lorna Croft joined the team in January 2026, while Emma Butterworth arrived in March of the same year.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- Partner Amy Stokes understands our business and provides support across a range of complex advisory and litigation issues. Her approach is commercial, pragmatic, and client-focused.
- Personable, approachable, and provides a commercial answer rather than a purely legal response. Responses are specific and to the point while considering all aspects. Ed Cotton, Julien Luke, and Ciara Crosbie are an excellent team.
- Pragmatic, practical, speaking in layman's terms, level-headed and sensible.
- The team is all responsive and collaborative. The team understands our business, and that's really important to us and the advice they give.
- Ed Cotton is a solid, personable, and pragmatic practitioner. I can always guarantee a cool-headed, sensible response from him, even on some of the knottiest issues.
- The team is a real extension of our business. They are always incredibly responsive, pragmatic, and offer real-world advice, often at very short notice.
Key clients
- Manchester Airport Group
- College of Policing
- Greater Manchester Police
- Cumbria Constabulary
- Boohoo Group PLC
- TJ Morris Limited t/a Home Bargains
- Finning UK & Ireland Limited
- Alstom
- Servoca plc
- Keolis Amey Metrolink
- SpaMedica Limited
- J Sainsbury plc
Lawyers
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Next Generation Partners
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Practice head
Ed Cotton; Liz Cotton; Amy Stokes
Other key lawyers
Mike Legge; Wendo Chimimba; Katrina Hennessy; Ciara Scanlon; Emma Butterworth; Tom Hasoon; Lorna Croft