Collingwood Legal is a specialist employment law firm widely recognised as the go-to adviser for employers and senior executives across the North. The team is known for its work on complex, high-value matters, frequently advising on TUPE, collective consultations, and whistleblowing claims. The firm’s expertise in equality, diversity and discrimination law underpins its advice across both contentious and non-contentious issues. Clients benefit from support on day-to-day HR matters as well as large-scale restructurings. Paul McGowan leads the team with standout knowledge of TUPE and whistleblowing issues. Jane Sinnamon and Charlotte McBride are both noted for handling complex tribunal litigation.

Muckle LLP provides practical, commercial employment law advice to a broad client base, including owner-managed businesses, large corporate groups, listed companies, educational institutions, charities, and international clients. The team is adept at handling complex investigations, data protection issues, and business immigration work, with the latter being a growing area of focus. Chris Maddock leads the team, bringing extensive experience in executive severances, TUPE, reorganisations, and post-termination enforcement issues. Lisa Kelly has a strong practice advising on discrimination and equal pay matters, and Amy Sergison is noted for her expertise in complex, often regulatory investigations, particularly within the education sector and across diverse organisational contexts.

Sintons LLP’s employment team delivers pragmatic, partner-led advice across a broad range of sectors, with notable strength in the healthcare, education, charities, offshore and renewables, and construction spaces. The team handles both contentious and non-contentious matters, often involving complex and high-profile work. Keith Land leads the team with over 25 years’ experience advising public and private sector clients, including transport and manufacturing companies. Max Winthrop brings deep expertise in representing both employers and employees. Ailsa Hobson manages key client relationships and advises on TUPE, strategic restructures, and collective redundancies across the public and private sectors.

Ward Hadaway LLP’s employment team offers strength and depth across a range of sectors, with particular expertise in the healthcare, education, and HR Protect spaces. The firm regularly advises on complex employment law matters, including agency worker issues, IR35, business immigration matters, industrial relations, and trade union issues. Jamie Gamble leads the team and is a trusted adviser to employers, known for his tribunal advocacy. Paul Scope brings board-level insight, especially within recruitment, sports, and the third sector. Gillian Chinhengo handles collective consultations and union negotiations, while Graham Vials heads the education team, advising on both employment and specialist education law. Mark McKeever supports clients across varied industries, and Alan Kennedy joined the team in late 2024. The firm also merged with Stockton-based firm Endeavour Partnership LLP in August 2025, which added immigration expert Laura Wilson and Natasha Robson to the firm's bench.

Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP’s employment team advises high-profile global clients and is nationally recognised for its expertise in discrimination and equal pay litigation, financial services regulations, investigations, immigration work, and global employment projects. Clients include banks, pension schemes, and investment funds. Suzanne Caveney is a leading figure in DEI and complex litigation. Recently promoted to partner, David Williams, focuses on high-stakes investigations and misconduct in financial services. Rebecca Houghton advises on employment and immigration issues, including global mobility and migrant workforce strategy.

Weightmans offers a full-service employment law practice, advising a diverse client base that includes major corporates, international businesses, charities, senior executives, and individuals. The team handles high-value litigation and supports non-contentious matters such as executive exits, TUPE-related transactions, and bespoke contracts, often working closely with the firm’s corporate and insolvency teams; it also specialises in post-termination restrictions disputes. Christopher Graham leads the team, advising public and commercial clients on tribunal matters, business protection work, and industrial action. Theresa Carling joined the practice in 2025.

Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP’s employment team offers a full-service practice backed by the resources of a major transatlantic firm, attracting both regional and national clients, as well as growing international work through its US presence. The team has seen increasing demand in business immigration, strategic workforce planning, and litigation in developing areas of employment law, with particular expertise in discrimination and equal pay claims. Hilary du Randt leads the team, recognised for her niche equal pay knowledge, while Lorraine Heard brings national-level expertise in this complex and evolving area of law.

Swinburne Maddison LLP’s Durham-based employment team advises a wide client base, from PLC’s and limited companies to schools, universities, and charities, with a particular strength in the education sector. While primarily representing employers, the team also regularly supports individuals with settlement agreements and exit negotiations. Team head Jonathan Moreland is known for resolving complex disputes and securing senior executive exits. Sharney Randhawa handles tribunal litigation and transactional support, while Phoebe Gogarty advises on disciplinary matters and employment disputes for both individuals and corporate clients.

Burnetts provides comprehensive legal and HR advice to both private and public sector employers, as well as senior employees, covering a broad range of contentious and non-contentious employment matters. Newcastle-based David Gibson leads the team, with particular expertise in corporate support, including TUPE and large-scale redundancies. Anna Lovett in Carlisle advises on discrimination and tribunal claims, while Newcastle-based Elliott Chaplin handles litigation and non-contentious matters such as settlement agreements and HR advisory work.

Hay & Kilner’s employment team supports organisations of all sizes across a wide range of sectors, offering commercially focused legal advice on HR matters including grievances, reorganisations, terminations, and TUPE. Clients include local SMEs and international businesses. Co-head Sarah Hall advises employers across sectors, working closely with directors and HR teams on strategy and compliance. Co-head Sarah Furness has particular experience in care, charity, and tourism sector mandates, while Tom Clarke advises on disciplinary issues, TUPE, documentation, and DEI matters.

Mincoffs Solicitors LLP provides a comprehensive employment law service to commercial, charitable, and individual clients, advising on compliance, reorganisations, grievances, TUPE, and tribunal claims. The team works closely with the firm’s corporate, commercial, and dispute resolution departments to deliver a full-service offering. Team head Nick Smith advises regional and national businesses, as well as individuals facing tribunal proceedings. Laura Liddle handles both contentious and non-contentious matters, with particular expertise in tribunal claims.