The Sheffield employment team at Irwin Mitchell is part of the firm’s wider Northern practice and is led locally by partner Jenny Arrowsmith. With a strong focus on the education and manufacturing sectors, the team supports both regional and national clients on HR advisory work, litigation, and large-scale employment projects. Arrowsmith is highly regarded for her work on equality, inclusion and discrimination issues, and leads national initiatives on workplace culture. Holly Butterworth and Sara Ellison bring deep experience in tribunal litigation, day-to-day advisory work, and managing collective issues, particularly in the education sector.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Detail and thought through legal advice.’
‘Ability to build strong and effective relationships.’
'Sara Ellison - Effortless collaboration.'
'"The Power of The Ellison" is essential to us - Sara is down to earth, yet highly experienced and she understands our business, managers, team culture. From a personal perspective as a HR manager, my relationship with Sara is so appreciated and I cannot sing her praises enough.'
'Excellent people and collaboration.'
'Excellent response to new quote requests. Work is always of a very high quality and extremely price competitive.'
Key clients
- Association of Colleges
- Aston Community Education Trust
- Capita PLC
- Carl Stahl Evita Limited
- Colosseum Dental
- DAS
- Definitely HR
- ERS Medical
- Ed Lounge Limited
- Fioretti Trust
- Headway Group (National Brain Injury Association)
- Hopwood Hall College
- Henry Boot PLC
- Maher Limited
- MJ Gleeson plc
- Newson Health Limited
- North Huddersfield Trust School
- Overgate Hospice
- Queensbridge School
- Wales High School Academy Trust
Work highlights
Advised a multi diverse Multi Academy Trust on the underperformance and conduct of one of its deputy head teacher.
Prepared a single sex policy for a charity client which provides swimming and gym facilities locally including to Muslim women and transgender men and women. The policy is for the provision services and extends beyond employment law as it is a further extension of the Equality Act.
Instructed by insolvency practitioners to defend claims issued by 40 claimants, for failing to inform and consult during a collective redundancy process.
Practice head
Jenny Arrowsmith
Other key lawyers
Holly Butterworth; Sara Ellison