Ashfords LLP provides clients with support across the full range of employment and HR needs. Its expertise includes immigration, redundancies and restructurings and the team often represents clients before the High Court, Court of Appeal, and the Employment Tribunal in complex claims. Following the retirement of Charles Pallot in May 2023, Bristol’s Stephen Moore solely leads the practice in which Exeter-based Su Apps stands out for her expertise in a variety of areas including TUPE. Clients in the health sector regularly turn to Kirsty Cooke, whose experience sits at the intersection of business immigration and employment; she is also active from the firm’s Exeter office.

Foot Anstey‘s employment practice offers comprehensive support across various sectors, with particular focus on clients active in retail and private equity. The team assists clients with employment aspects of transactions, restructurings, and pensions alongside TUPE-related issues and tribunal claims. Practice head Karen Bates is well-versed in a wide-range of employment matters such as HR risk management and redundancies. Claire Holland‘s proficiency in private equity bolsters the firm’s offering to financial services clients in the context of internal reorganisations as well as domestic and cross-border deals.

Lester Aldridge LLP fields a comprehensive employment law practice which navigates matters regarding employment liabilities, TUPE intricacies and those where transactional support is required. The team demonstrates prowess in both contentious and non-contentious spheres and has a notable focus advising care associations on their employment matters. Kevin Barnett oversees the group and has longstanding expertise in this area; the matters handled by Barnett include disputes as well as contract and dismissal procedure advisory work. The client portfolio of Edward O’Brien spans national trade unions, international businesses, and high-net worth individuals.

Michelmores LLP remains a go-to outfit for clients in both the public and private sector, particularly those active in health, education, and retail. The Exeter-based practice handles matters ranging from high-profile tribunal litigations involving discrimination and whistleblowing to employee relations issues and corporate transactions. Lead partner James Baker is particularly well-versed in contentious employment work, while Andrew Tobey‘s areas of experience include TUPE outsourcing issues, senior executive termination, and breach of covenant injunction claims. Rachael Lloyd's capabilities extend to union-related matters, data protection, and TUPE. Bethan Jones left the firm in December 2023.

Stephens Scown LLP provides its employment expertise in litigation, corporate support, and employer support contexts. Practice head Ellie Hibberd and Verity Slater specialise in employer support matters, including assisting clients with their day-to-day HR needs. Joe Nicholls heads the litigation department, handling diverse cases including whistleblowing and discrimination. Laura McFadyen manages the corporate support team, which regularly handles high-profile deals with a particular focus on the healthcare and hospitality sectors. Chris Morse comes ‘strongly recommended’ and fields expertise in the broad-range of employment work such as senior exits, grievance processes, and restructurings.

Browne Jacobson LLP, renowned for its strengths acting for public sector clients, particularly in health and education, fields a large employment practice that leverages the firm’s multi-disciplinary capabilities to advise clients in both dispute and non-contentious capacities. Tribunal claims, industrial action, and day-to-day HR support form a significant part of the group’s portfolio under the leadership of national head of employment James Tait, South West-based employment lead partner Bridget Prosser, as well as Bettina Rigg, who oversees the firm’s higher education offering.

Ellis Jones Solicitors LLP provides comprehensive employment law services spanning grievance processes, day-to-day HR matters, and disputes; the team goes 'above and beyond'. Practice head Kate Brooks, renowned for her expertise in employment tribunal litigation, also collaborates closely with the firm’s other teams to address the employment aspects of corporate deals. Rebecca Goudy, praised for ‘her quality control of employment law‘, is another key member of the group.

Steele Raymond LLP‘s acts primarily for employers and senior executives, from advising on commercial and HR needs to representing them in disputes. The Bournemouth-based team is led by Peter Rolph, a seasoned litigator with vast experience in the enforcement of post-termination restrictions as well as in executive exit strategy matters. Bella Rolph focuses on advising claimants in disputes and is also well-versed in matters relating to TUPE.

Tozers Solicitors LLP focuses on representing commercial, public, and charitable clients on the respondent side of claims and disputes additionally to providing day-to-day support in employment law. Through specialised teams such as parks, registered providers, and charities, the firm is well situated to advise on both a broad sector and subject matter basis as well as catering to regional and national clients alike. Leading the practice is Stephen Jennings, whose capabilities span TUPE, redundancies, and restructurings, amongst others.

Trowers & Hamlins LLP advises individuals and corporations on their employment issues, ranging from tribunal claims and due diligence to settlement agreements in light of redundancies. With a varied sector expertise including food, housing, and public authorities, the practice is led by John Turnbull, whose advisory portfolio includes TUPE and unfair dismissals. Tom Stephenson is well versed in supporting transactions from an employment law perspective in addition to handling a number of claims, while Stephanie Taylor is another key member with significant employment tribunal experience.

Blanchards Bailey LLP‘s HR and employment division is a popular choice for regional clients seeking support in both contentious and non-contentious employment matters. Managing partner Paul Dunlop oversees the team, which also includes TUPE, discrimination, and complex dismissals expert Stephen Woodman. Clients hailing from sectors such as retail, education, charity and manufacturing regularly turn to Jane Cordner for a broad-range of employment matters.

Frettens LLP saw a number of team changes in 2023, with Michelle Kemp joining the firm in light of its merger with Kemps Employment in December 2023 and taking over as practice head, while previous lead partner Paul Burton left for an in-house position in September of the same year. A specialist employment lawyer, Kemp brings longstanding experience across the full gamut of relevant matters to the practice, including representing clients before the employment tribunal as well as advising on grievance procedures and employment contracts.

Specialising in employer representation, GA Solicitors excels in advising on issues such as redundancy, maternity rights, and disciplinary advice. Paired with providing transactional support as well as acting in employment disputes, the practice is well-equipped to advise clients across key sectors such as hospitality and care. Robert Zacal is the lead partner, dealing with matters pertaining to TUPE transfers, restructurings, and misconduct, amongst others.

Hailed as the ‘dominant force in employment in South Devon’, Kitson Boyce LLP advises employers on a broad-range of issues including TUPE transfers, data subject access requests, and transactional matters. Jayme Nicholson leads the practice from Torquay and, as head of the firm’s business group, excels at supporting clients in employment matters from a corporate perspective in addition to providing support with litigation. 'Delight to work with' Rory Wakeling is a name to note.

At Murrell Associates LLP, clients benefit from the firm’s full-service offering, where the employment practice regularly collaborates with other departments such as commercial property and corporate to assist with the full spectrum of contentious and non-contentious employment matters. Melanie Rowe helms the practice and advises companies and employees on a number of issues including exits, strategic HR advice, and tribunal claims.

Praised for its ‘very client-centred approach’, Wolferstans covers the full gamut of employment law with particular strengths in restrictive covenants, director’s duties, and TUPE transfers. James Twine heads up the practice and has a strong reputation for defending clients against tribunal claims, while Victoria Sargeant is another key member in the team, advising employers in both disputes and non-contentious matters. Steph Marsh left the firm in January 2024.

At Wollens, the employment practice fields a varied workload spanning tribunal and unfair dismissal claims, transactional support, and contractual negotiations. Practice had Jon Dunkley ‘cuts through technicalities and provides commercial solutions’ and has longstanding experience in the employment space, advising clients on day-to-day HR matters and disputes.