Praised by clients for their ‘very efficient and professional’ nature, Blake Morgan LLP is noted for its prowess in the litigation sphere. The group additionally advises clients on a range of senior level grievances, director exits, and the employment and pension aspects of corporate acquisitions and disposals. Noted for being ‘astute, commercially savvy and very knowledgeable’, practice head Rajiv Joshi is routinely entrusted by clients in the tech, health, and social care sectors. Another key team member is ‘highly efficient’ Madeleine Mould, who is experienced handling a variety of discrimination claims before the Employment Tribunal.

Boyes Turner enjoys an esteemed reputation across the tech, leisure and hospitality sectors, and is regularly engaged by a varied client roster, including both start-ups and global companies in a range of high stakes mandates. ‘Standout’ Andrew Whiteaker spearheads the practice, advising international clients across complex strategic mandates, as well as day-to-day support. Barry Stanton regularly advises global medical devices companies, manufacturers and technology businesses on a varied range of issues, while ‘very knowledgeable’ and ‘pragmatic’ Helen Goss leads the leisure and hospitality sector across the firm. Claire Taylor-Evans‘s expertise includes employment law and corporate immigration.

Advising across both contentious and non-contentious mandates, Reading-based CMS offers expertise in matters relating to collective redundancy, outsourcing and the employment aspects of M&A, as well as other issues. ‘Absolute asset’ Gary Henderson helms the department, contributing a wealth of experience spanning employment contracts, tribunal litigation and corporate reorganisations, and is recommended for his ‘expertise in navigating complex legal matters’. Experienced litigator Edward Arnold and Anita Wisby, who frequently handles matters pertaining to employment litigation, restructuring programmes and the removal of senior executives. Rachel Zani is another key name to note in the practice.

‘First class’ Doyle Clayton, which operates across the full spectrum of employment issues for both employers and employees, is recommended for its ‘comprehensive understanding of intricate legal frameworks’ which ‘equips them to tackle even the most complex employment cases with confidence and precision’. New employment lead Kate Kapp bolsters the team with her expertise in high-value exits, discrimination, and harassment issues, as well as day to day employment advice for clients situated across an extensive array of industries. Former practice head Tina Wisener has been promoted to chief executive. Karen Holden fields a strong employment practice, particularly in relation to complex investigations and employment tribunal litigation. Adam Murdoch and Paul Hayward are also recommended.

Recommended for being ‘practical, sophisticated, efficient, and enjoyable to work with’, Draper Lang LLP‘s maintains a broad employment practice that covers the full suite of employment law mandates, including Employment Tribunal cases, TUPE, and restructuring issues, as well as general employment support. Managing partner and department head David Blomfield is a strong choice for clients seeking assistance with high-level terminations, restrictive covenants and TUPE mandates. Nicholas Snowden is well positioned to advise across contentious and non-contentious issues, drawing on nearly two decades of experience as an Employment Tribunal litigator, while Stephen Cates counts individuals, corporate clients, charities and schools in his roster. Emma Griffiths demonstrates considerable prowess across Tribunal claims alongside disciplinary, TUPE and restructuring programmes.

Operating for a plethora of clients across the media and entertainment, financial services, technology, and sport industries, ‘pragmatic and commercially focused’ Lewis Silkin is well-positioned to handle TUPE, employment litigation, and the employment aspects of international projects. The practice is steered by ‘excellent’ Jonathan Carr, who deploys his experience in the employment space to advise on restructuring, TUPE, and green employment policies, while Carolyn Soakell fields a diverse employment practice comprised of both contentious and non-contentious issues. James Storke principally advises on restructuring, senior terminations, TUPE, discrimination and strategic projects, with James Walters contributing his sport sector expertise to the team.

‘First class’ Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP combines its international capabilities with a varied offering which covers the education, technology, life sciences, and financial services sectors. The team is jointly helmed by Oxford-based Daff Richardson, who advises education, charity, and technology sector clients in various employee relations situations, in addition to possessing expertise in data protection issues, and Reading-based Eugene Wojciechowski, who deploys her extensive Tribunal claims experience to handle complex unlawful discrimination and whistleblowing mandates. Gemma Woodhouse is noted for her tech sector capabilities.

Full service firm Shoosmiths LLP is sought out by clients for its ability to handle complex Employment Tribunal cases, senior executive exits, and trade union and industrial relations matters, in addition to a range of other issues. The employment team is particularly praised by clients for its ‘expert combination of legal knowledge and commercial drivers’. Kevin McCavish, who is notably well-versed in the financial services sector, and Jonathan Naylor, who is pre-eminent within the tech and logistics sectors, jointly spearhead the group. Michelle Morgan demonstrates proficiency in managing senior exits.

Highlighted for being ‘in tune with commercial businesses’, Blandy & Blandy LLP‘s broad employment offering includes assisting clients with all facets of the employer/employee relationship, various restructurings, and a host of contentious disputes. Team leader Sue Dowling primarily focuses on employment litigation, regularly advising clients on unlawful discrimination, while Tim Clark fields a considerable workload that encompasses reorganisation, restructuring, redundancy, and TUPE issues. Andrea Corr provides the group with expertise across disciplinary issues, settlement agreements and business immigration mandates.

ESP Solicitors provides ‘practical, realistic advice with a good commercial focus’ to a diverse client roster including independent schools, publicly listed companies, retail corporations, and NHS trusts. The practice is jointly led by Nathan Millard, who handles a broad array of mandates such as discrimination, whistleblowing, and safeguarding across the education and health sectors, and Lisa Harris, who deploys her considerable experience in the employment sphere to advise on mandates arising out of the fields of healthcare, agronomy, and public relations. James Davies is also recommended.

Noted for providing a ‘personalised and authentic service’, Clarkslegal LLP harnesses its bench strength to operate for global clients in various complex industrial relations, organisational change, and outsourcing mandates in the realm of employment, with other streams of work being comprised of TUPE transfers, redundancy programmes, and employee engagement projects. Helen Beech steers the practice, capitalising on more than 30 years’ experience in the field to assist with complex restructurings and an array of other issues such as whistleblowing. Managing partner Monica Atwal is capable of handling sex discrimination and equal pay claims, while industrial action expert Michael Sippitt is noted for his knowledge of global and EU labour relations issues.

Operating across the full suite of strategic employment law matters including employment transactions and various contractual related issues, ‘technically excellent’ Field Seymour Parkes LLP is routinely entrusted by blue chip clients and high net worth individuals across tech, defence, professional services and education. Practice head Katie Burley has recently advised numerous clients in relation to discrimination-based employment tribunal litigation. Ian Machray is regarded by clients as being ‘very diligent’.

Particularly noted for its strong presence in the technology and digital business sector, Osborne Clarke LLP‘s expertise extends to restructuring, redundancies and data privacy issues, with a notable aptitude in cross-border matters. Steering the practice is Danielle Kingdon, who assists clients with a diverse variety of issues, extending from strategic advice through to litigation. Emma Ladley works with tech businesses on employment and HR issues, as well as the employment elements of corporate transactions.

With capabilities that span the technology, entertainment, manufacturing and pharmaceutical sectors, ‘commercial and practical’ BDB Pitmans deploys its experience in the full range of employment matters, including employment litigation and business immigration. Practice leader Caroline Yarrow steers the team, while Nicholas Le Riche contributes his specialism in redundancies and restructuring mandates to the team. Laura Binnie is the name to note in the firm’s Reading office, acting for a range of businesses and individuals in complex strategic employment issues as well as litigation.

Beverley Sunderland leads the Crossland Employment Solicitors employment practice, with strengths in obtaining injunctions on behalf of employers and handling high level investigations. The team, which is recommended for its ‘proactive’ nature and their ability to ‘make employment law easy to understand and navigate’, is entrusted by start-ups, multinationals, charities and NGOs, among other clients, for assistance with a varied range of mandates.

With a client roster which includes prominent corporations, SME groups and private individuals, SE-Solicitors is geared to handle tribunal claims across the logistics, education and software development sectors, among others. The practice is jointly helmed by Carol Shaw, whose experience covers TUPE transfers, discrimination issues and tribunal claims, and Philomena Price, who is notably well-versed in the transport, hospitality, and leisure sectors.

With core strength in the tech and pharma sectors, ‘responsive and professional’ Clifton Ingram LLP Solicitors routinely operates for multinationals, start-ups, and high-net-worth individuals. Alison Gair helms the team, contributing her expertise across the employment aspects of corporate transactions and various contracts and agreements, among others. Robert Cherry leverages his dispute resolution experience to assist with employment mandates.

Gardner Leader LLP maintains a varied employment offering which encompasses tribunal claims, redundancies and the drafting of contracts and policies, with a particular focus on SMEs and the charity sector. Practice head Vicky Schollar, who joined the team in January 2024 from Blake Morgan LLP, manages a varied workload of contentious and non-contentious employment mandates. Peter James and Chris Felton are other key names to note in the practice. Former lead Julie Taylor joined Fenton Elliott Solicitors Limited in May 2023.

Rebecca Ireland is the employment expert to note at gunnercooke LLP. Ireland is recommended for her ability to provide ‘clear and practical guidance’ and ‘timely and credible advice’, and regularly covers tribunal claims, advisory and project work, and restructuring and insolvency mandates.

Rowberry Morris is positioned to assist a plethora of clients with discrimination claims, whistleblowing investigations, restrictive covenant disputes and high-value settlement agreements. Disputes partner Liam Connolly leads the team alongside Anna Illingworth, who has notable experience in handling discrimination and whistleblowing cases.