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Employment

Efficient and proactive, our employment team offers pragmatic commercial employment advice which is underpinned by their extensive legal knowledge and expertise.

Efficient and proactive, our employment team offers pragmatic commercial employment advice underpinned by their extensive legal knowledge and expertise.

Employment law is continually changing and becoming more complex. Businesses must take this into account when interacting with employees and workers.

Our team is readily available to guide you and your business through the ever-more complex world of employment law. We work closely with you to build long-term relationships and draft bespoke employment documents.

Female employment partner Karen Cole in a Black Dress.

Karen Cole

Karen Cole heads up our employment law team. Karen is an accomplished professional with a wealth of experience in employment law, dispute resolution, and litigation. With a keen eye for detail and a robust understanding of legal intricacies, Karen adeptly navigates the complex landscape of employment matters.

Karen offers tailored advice to both businesses and individuals, addressing their diverse needs with clarity and precision. Whether tackling contentious issues or providing proactive guidance, Karen’s commitment to excellence ensures that her clients receive comprehensive support and strategic solutions to their employment challenges.

Our solicitors have extensive experience advising businesses at all stages of the employment relationship. We offer advice and assistance with all forms of HR and operational support, providing strategic and practical advice.

We regularly defend claims at the ACAS conciliation stage, in the Employment Tribunal, civil courts, the High Court, and through various forms of alternative dispute resolution (known as ADR), including judicial mediation. We can act quickly and obtain injunctive relief on many types of action, such as an employee’s misuse of confidential information or breaches of post-termination restrictions.

Our clients range from SMEs to multinational corporations. They work in various business sectors, including banking and finance, recruitment, professional services, hospitality, education, healthcare, transport, and media. We take the time to get to know your business and offer bespoke, reliable guidance and advice on all aspects of the employment relationship. For example, it is vital that your employment contracts are well-drafted and that you have the correct policies and procedures in place. These documents underpin the employment relationship and ensure your exposure to risk is best mitigated.

Our expertise

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Not a business? View our employment law page for individuals here.

Articles

Ensuring equality: A legal guide to responsibilities and compliance – March 2025
Blowing kisses, not boundaries – March 2025
The importance of regular reviews of employment contracts and policies – February 2024
New sexual harassment rules may signal changes to office parties or a decline altogether – December 2024
What is the Employment Rights Bill 2024? – November 2024
How the Employment Rights Bill 2024 impacts employers and businesses – October 2024
Comprehensive Guide to Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) – October 2024
How to navigate workplace language and avoid discrimination claims – October 2024
Redundancy facts and fictions – September 2024
High temperatures in the workplace – August 2024
Flexible working legislation updates: What employers need to know – July 2024
Fair tips for all: New legislation ensures transparency in gratuity distribution – June 2024
Preventing sexual harassment – June 2024
How should an employer respond to a ‘heat of the moment’ resignation? – May 2024
Working with freelancers – March 2024
Why flexibility and rigid rules won’t mix in the workplace – March 2024
Understanding Dyscalculia: Employer’s Guide – March 2024
What is ESG, and what does it mean for employers? – February 2024
Work-Life Balance: How you can support your employees – December 2023
Overzealous employee monitoring may overstep data protection boundaries – November 2023
Managing the menopause at work – October 2023
Can a UK employee work abroad remotely? – July 2023
Fire and rehire – is it a good idea? – May 2023
A step towards family and maternity leave security – May 2023
Significant duties set to fall on employers – April 2023
Christmas temps – what are the rules? – December 2022
How employment law affects your business – July 2022
Pronouns in the workplace – June 2022
Top five tips for supporting EU workers post-Brexit – June 2021
Companies must be on track for COVID-safe workplace – June 2021
Employment status: It’s a status thing! – May 2021
Vegan beliefs extend beyond Veganuary – January 2021
Enforceability: Post-termination restrictions – January 2021
Can I fire someone with less than two years of service? – June 2019
Avoiding a cracker of a hangover from the company Christmas party – November 2019
Gender pay likely to stay in the spotlight – August 2017
Stripping it back to understand dress codes – July 2017
Whistleblowing and the Public Interest Test – July 2017
Supreme Court rule Employment Tribunal fees are unlawful – July 2017
Good intentions are not enough in wage calculations – July 2017
Employment contracts and working overseas – July 2017
Zero-hours contracts: many questions – May 2017
Publication of Employment Tribunal Judgments – April 2017
Facing up to the social media challenge – April 2017
Employers to pay apprenticeship levy – March 2017
Employment Law: The Basics – February 2017
What is the General Data Protection Regulation? – January 2017
Complex challenges for employers in the year ahead – January 2017
Getting to work amidst travel chaos and disruption – January 2017
Can businesses force employees to take holiday over the Christmas period? – December 2016
How employers can say no, without saying a word – December 2016
Dismissing employees with under two years’ service – December 2016
Termination Payments & Tax – November 2016
Discrimination: from hot air to bra sizes – November 2016

Client success stories
  • Acting for an employer and named individual respondents in a race discrimination claim.
  • We acted for a transferor employer on a collective redundancy exercise, including multiple transfers of employees to various businesses in different jurisdictions.
  • We acted for an employer on the receiving end of multiple coordinated claims for constructive dismissal and sex and race discrimination.
  • After losing a tender process, we advised a nationwide service provider on TUPE and collective redundancy issues.
  • We acted for employers on a claim for springboard relief and enforcement of post-termination restrictions.
  • We have pursued and defended numerous injunctions for and against employees and employers for actual or threatened breaches.
  • We pursued a client’s former finance director for fraudulent invoicing and expense claims.
  • We pursued a client’s former employee and senior management team member for severe breaches of his express and implied terms of employment.
  • We have acted for clients on numerous redundancies, terminations, and TUPE cases, both domestic and international.
  • Successfully pursued the trial of a former employee for secretly servicing the employer’s clients and continued to do so after his resignation.
  • We have acted for clients on numerous restrictive covenant claims, including confidentiality and non-competition (post-termination restrictions).
Costs information and transparency

Click the button below for a full description of our costs and charges under the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Transparency Rules 2018.

Employment and regulatory law retainer package

Unique to the market, our retainer package goes that extra mile by combining employment law advice and services with regulatory law advice, guaranteeing peace of mind in these ever-changing fields of law. Why not add legal expenses insurance, a GDPR gap analysis, or a regulatory risk assessment for additional comfort?

Click the button below to learn how your business can benefit from our Gold, Silver and Bronze level employment and regulatory law advice retainer packages.

Free employment contract review for employers

Employment law is continually changing, and a regular review of your template employment contract is key to mitigating risk and best protecting the business. Out-of-date or unsuitable employment contracts may create problems for your business and lead to expensive employment disputes.

Click the button below to take advantage of our free employment contract review for employers.

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News/Insight

  • Why is clear contract drafting important?
    How simple contract clauses can protect your business.


    Read more
  • Ensuring equality: A legal guide to responsibilities and compliance
    Understanding equal opportunities in the workplace


    Read more
  • Navigating the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023: What it means for your business
    The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (the Act) represents a significant shift in the UK's approach to combating economic crime, improving corporate transparency, and anti-mo


    Read more
  • Blowing kisses, not boundaries
    Tribunal clears air on workplace etiquette.


    Read more
  • Estate planning: How not to make mincemeat of it!
    The High Court has confirmed that a will handwritten on the back of two cardboard food packages is legally binding.


    Read more

What they say...

  • C Smith, March 2025
    “As executor of a will it was a relief for a solicitor to act on my behalf as though no disputes it was still a lengthy and complex process. It was dealt with mostly by Charlotte B. who kept me informed at all times. She explained the process c

  • Marc, March 2025
    “RIAA Barker Gillette were engaged to handle a real estate transaction with unusual circumstances. As a non-UK resident unfamiliar with English conveyancing procedures, I felt completely satisfied with the depth of the information and explanati

  • Leigh, March 2025
    “Instructed Martin on my first property purchase. He was a delight to work with, kept me informed and updated regularly. It was an incredibly smooth and quick process. Couldn’t be happier.”

  • Ms Brownell, March 2025
    “Patrick was amazing from start to finish. He made the process so easy, and explained each step in detail ahead of time so I’d understand what would happen and when. He was incredibly organized and noted every detail, calling out things t

  • Roman Cassini, February 2025
    “Peter Wright – highly recommended solicitor, helped us though a complicated flat sale with consummate professionalism.”

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