Employment: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40

Partner specialising in all aspects of employment law, including co-ordinating mergers and TUPE transfers, drafting employment documentation, dealing with all the issues arising during employment (eg disciplinary and performance matters), director and senior terminations, working time, information and consultation issues and all aspects of tribunal work.

Kevin is the head of Shoosmiths' London and Thames Valley Employment Team and leads its International Employment Group. Kevin has over 20 years of experience in providing legal support on employment related matters to in-house legal departments and HR teams. Kevin has an additional advantage of having trained, qualified and practised as a barrister. Kevin’s practice focuses on resolving employee relations issues, litigation disputes (often complex or with reputational repercussions), providing transactional support and assisting with senior executive hires/exits. He regularly supports international clients on establishing UK operations, managing employee relations, global restructurings and establishing global advice helplines. Kevin’s clients are diverse including start-ups, banks/hedge funds, manufacturers and construction firms. Kevin likes to thoroughly understand his clients’ businesses to effectively manage their employment issues, consistent with their culture. Recent relevant work handled by Kevin includes advising: • a wealth management company in navigating an allegation of serious sexual misconduct brought by one employee against another. • a foreign owned utilities company on a national redundancy exercise including collective consultation obligations. • an international marketing group on the termination of employment of a senior executive with a contract of employment governed by English and Welsh law whilst on secondment to a subsidiary company in California and who also benefitted from Californian legal protection. • a third sector employer on successfully responding to industrial action (including strike action). • on the termination of a partner from an LLP following underperformance and failure to attend the office on a sufficient basis following the ending of Covid-19 restrictions. • a large UK charity in an unfair dismissal and automatic unfair dismissal claim arising out of alleged breaches and whistleblowing concerns related to Covid-19 and health & Safety regulations. • a financial services company (US subsidiary) facing claims for disability discrimination by an employee’s line manager (head of legal) and responding to internal grievance and whistleblowing allegations. • defending a US owned IT company from allegations of race discrimination and unfair dismissal where the employee was claiming in excess of £2m in compensation. • a large employer in a claim before the Central Arbitration Committee for alleged failure to disclose information for collective bargaining purposes. • a US construction company on the employee implications and process of a pre-pack purchase of an IT company from an administrator. • in respect of allegations of sexual harassment and unequal pay brought by a senior member of staff based in the UK against her line manager who was based in the US in a Japanese owned company. • a private equity company concerning alleged inappropriate interactions between a senior member of staff exercising undue influence over a junior employee. • a bank in respect of allegations of A-Class drug taking on office premises by senior members of the HR team. • a train operator on secondment of staff for training purposes to a third party involving contractual variations, TUPE and trade union related issues. Negotiating the terms and conditions with the third party including general and TUPE related indemnities. • a US owned multinational toy manufacturing and entertainment company against claims of sex discrimination by a mid-level manager against senior members of the management team. • conducting an investigation on behalf of a FCA regulated firm (US subsidiary) and reporting to its conduct committee in connection with a whistleblowing allegation made by an overseas employee against a non-executive director of its UK entity. • a BBC production company on its relocation from London to Media City, Salford, including transferring services/production teams between companies. Kevin advised on changing terms and conditions, redundancies and TUPE implications of various proposals. • one of the world's largest communication/publishing and media group company (employing over 60,000 professionals) on the high profile and controversial partial closure of one of its group companies and intra group transfer of client relationships/employees. • a firm regulated by the SRA and a senior member of staff in respect of allegations of, amongst other things, racial harassment. • a firm regulated by the FCA concerning a senior member of staff (with SMF functions) who admitted to use of an A-class drug. • an asset management company on a high profile team hire, the TUPE implications of that hire and restraint of trade issues. • a utilities subsidiary of a Dutch parent company on a sensitive sexual harassment and assault claim lodged against its CEO. • on recognition and collective agreements including negotiating with trade unions and their lawyers. • coordinating an international asset acquisition of an oil exploration company in a number of jurisdictions. • members of a political party in a claim brought by a member of staff for, amongst other things, alleged bullying. Kevin also represented Elaine Day in her claim against HRH the Prince of Wales’s Household (now King Charles III). Kevin regularly provides in-house training on employment law/practices/procedures (including Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) to senior management and In-house Legal/HR. Kevin is ranked as a "Recommended Lawyer" and is in the “Hall of fame" in the Legal 500 and "Band 1" in Chambers, a ranking he has held for 17 years.  He has also been recognised by Acritas as a leading HR lawyer and is a Recommended Lawyer in Who's Who Legal: Labour, Employment & Benefits 2023.

Michael is Senior Consultant in Clarkslegal’s employment team. Michael is experienced in employee relations, crisis management and contingency planning, providing organisations with strategic support that is both commercial and practical. Michael has substantial experience in labour related restructurings and TUPE transfers, collective employment relations law and strategy, trade union issues and industrial disputes. Michael is frequently recognised as a leading lawyer by a number of the legal guides, including Chambers and Partners guide 2019 as the only Eminent Practitioner in Employment Law in the Thames Valley region. Inducted to the Legal 500 Hall of Fame as an elite leading lawyer and winner of the Legal 500 UK Award 2019 as the leading Human Resources individual lawyer outside of London. He is co-author of the Employment Law chapter of the Oxford University Press textbook “The Law and Practice of Restructuring in the UK and the US.” This book is the only work to cover the practical elements of both major systems of law in one place and is now in its second edition.  

James has over 20 years’ experience specialising in employment law and deals with a wide variety of contentious and non-contentious matters for both employers, employees, contractors and partners. He conducts complex and high value discrimination cases in the Employment Tribunal. As well as conducts appeals to the EAT and the Court of Appeal and injunction proceedings in the High Court and overseas. Business he regularly advises include various FTSE and NASDAQ on the full range of employment law issues including the employment and dismissing of senior managers. Other areas he regularly advises on include :- • Unfair dismissal claims generally arising from misconduct, capability, redundancy and constructive dismissal; • Discrimination and equal pay claims which are often complex and sometimes high value; • Fair dismissal procedures and the particular issues involved in dismissing senior executives; • High Court injunctions and the protection of confidential information; • Bonus entitlement and share disputes; • Compromise agreements, COT3s and settlements; • TUPE and other employment issues on the purchase/sale of a business.

Jonathan is a partner and specialist employment lawyer with over 20 years of experience advising on employment law issues. Jonathan's practice has a particular emphasis on restructuring, employee relations issues, TUPE/outsourcing, transactional support and senior executive exits. His clients are similarly diverse from law firms and hedge funds to football clubs and retail brands.Although part of Jonathan's role as a partner involves managing client relationships, he is still very much a hands-on lawyer. His clients range across all industry sectors although in recent years has developed more of a focus on the financial services, legal and pharmaceutical sectors. He has been recognised for his employment law expertise in both Chambers and Legal 500 for a number of years. Jonathan is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association, chair of Lewis Silkin’s TUPE group and Editor of the Sweet & Maxwell Transfer of Undertakings Bulletin. Jonathan's aim is to assist clients in managing employment issues of all kinds in a swift, commercial and pragmatic fashion, consistent with their corporate culture; to add value by properly understanding their business and through proactive engagement; and to form long term relationships built on trust, personal chemistry, and positive outcomes.

Helen is a partner in the firm's Employment team and heads up the Leisure & Hospitality group. She advises organisations in various sectors including technology and hospitality on all employment and HR related issues with the aim of providing a workable solution which is commercial and pragmatic. Helen has particular expertise in complex discrimination, reorganisations and acquisitions involving employees. Helen is a fully qualified and accredited workplace mediator and business coach. She also manages complex investigations in grievances, disciplinaries and whistleblowing allegations.

Please see full biography at osborneclarke.com/lawyers/danielle-kingdon/

Alistair is an experienced employment lawyer with particular expertise in advising on and dealing with recruitment practices, terms and conditions of employment, discrimination and harassment, termination of contracts and dismissals, the enforcement of post-termination obligations, transfer of undertakings on acquisition and disposal of businesses, restructuring and redundancies. With a history of acting for banks, financial institutions, manufacturers, retailers as well as companies in the hospitality, logistics and technology sectors, Alistair is accomplished at providing commercial and pragmatic advice to leading blue chip organisations. Alistair is commercially astute, with an aptitude for negotiation. He takes on work with enthusiasm and a desire to succeed in all matters. This is, however, with the care to ensure he understands his client's aims and problems at the outset so that strategies can be developed to obtain the best outcome possible. Alistair is responsible for leading the Employment Department as it continues to provide high quality and effective advice and assistance to both employers and employees alike.

Partner, Employment Law Darren Smith is a employment law solicitor with a wealth of experience advising businesses and senior executives on Employment Law and HR related issues, focusing on solutions that work for them. In 2015 and 2019 he was named as a “rising star” in the Legal 500 and a “next generation lawyer” in 2017 and 2018. Darren is also an experienced trainer and regular seminar speaker. Darren previously sat as part of the Leisure and Hospitality sector within his last firm and brings lots of experience of working with clients in that industry. He has used those experiences to ensure the right advice is tailored to the culture and needs of clients in the Leisure and Hospitality sector. Clients have previously praised Darren for being “knowledgeable, pragmatic and calm” and that he “provides invaluable support steering them through the complexities of employment legislation” and they “enjoy working” with him.

Partner specialising in employment and discrimination law. Particular interests include age discrimination, equal pay and family rights. Has extensive experience conducting complex discrimination claims and advising law firms on employee and partner disputes.

Managing Director

Tina is the head of Doyle Clayton’s Thames Valley office. She is a highly regarded and experienced employment lawyer with particular expertise in discrimination and whistleblowing cases, senior executive exits, outsourcing and TUPE, restructuring and redundancy programmes. She works predominately with corporate clients and regularly advises senior executives.

Partner specialising in employment law both contentious and non-contentious with a keen interest in all aspects of discrimination law. Since qualification, Gemma has been involved with a significant Court of Appeal decision and a number of Tribunal hearings and appeals to the Employment Appeal Tribunals. She also regularly provides corporate support in relation to  business transfers and reorganisations and day to day HR advisory support for commercial clients. Gemma has also provided guidance to clients on the implications of TUPE and the terms of commercial outsourcing arrangements. Gemma advises a number of independent schools and academies in relation to their employment law issues and was key in starting the 'Independent Schools HR Forums' operated by the firm. She presents seminars internally and externally on a broad range of employment issues and also contributes articles to both external publications and the firm’s regular employment update. She is described by clients as having “a good tactical approach to dealing with HR issues”, being “very swift with her advice” and an adviser who “ acts in the client’s best interests”.

Rajiv has experience in a variety of contentious and non-contentious employment law issues. Rajiv is a supervisor of Employment Tribunal work amongst other matters. Rajiv’s work includes unfair dismissal, discrimination, jurisdictional matters and the employment aspects of corporate transactions. He also drafts and advises on directors’ service agreements, employment contracts, staff handbooks and settlement agreements.

Partner

Andy is a partner and head of the highly regarded Employment team at Boyes Turner. He advises clients in a wide variety of contentious and non-contentious employment matters, including human resources support, providing employment support for mergers, acquisitions, and disposals, employment tribunal litigation and negotiating and drafting executive service contracts. Andy’s clients include national and multination organisations, and he provides international support for clients with cross-jurisdictional issues through Boyes Turner’s network of partner law firms. He focuses on providing practical advice, seeking to identify pragmatic and commercial solutions to his clients’ needs.

Katie is a Partner and Head of the Employment team. She has been ranked as a next generation lawyer/rising star in the Legal 500 for the last 5 years. Katie acts for a wide range of clients, from multinational corporations to smaller owner/trustee-managed organisations. Her areas of expertise include defending employment tribunal claims, senior executive appointment, dismissal management and advising upon restrictive covenants. Katie also works closely with our corporate and commercial property teams on the employment aspects of acquisitions, disposals and investments, as well as providing general day-to-day advice and training to clients on all types of employment issues. Katie is an astute negotiator and always seeks to find practical solutions to client problems, giving informed, tailored advice. Her experience of advising across a range of business sectors means that she is conversant with the challenges her clients face and has an empathic drive for supporting clients through often difficult times. Katie is also the head of the education group and uses her invaluable inside knowledge of the workings of independent schools and extensive experience in providing advice to educational establishments to the full advantage of the firm’s sector based clients. Katie is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association.

Head of Department

Please see full biography at osborneclarke.com/lawyers/emma-ladley/

Claire is a Partner in the Employment law team and also the Corporate Immigration team. She defends complex discrimination claims and managing high-level exits on behalf of corporate clients, many of whom are household names in the Technology and Leisure and Hospitality sectors. Claire leads the firm’s gender pay gap reporting service and supports her clients in their employee diversity and inclusion strategies. A contributing author to Bloomsbury Professional’s annual “Termination of Employment” publication, her articles also frequently appear in business magazines.  

Managing Associate