DLA Piper‘s Sheffield-based team has a strong international capacity, having carried out multiple complex employment-related projects involving multiple jurisdictions. It has particular expertise in handling difficult and sensitive workplace whistleblowing and harassment matters, often involving senior individuals within high-profile companies. The team is spearheaded by Clare Gregory, who advises major PLCs and clients in the public and private sectors, and has extensive experience in relation to high-value and complex tribunal claims regarding diversity and discrimination issues. Gurpreet Duhra is particularly experienced in supporting multinational companies on international projects such as global workforce restructurings.
Employment: Sheffield and South Yorkshire in Yorkshire And The Humber
DLA Piper
Practice head(s):
Clare Gregory
Other key lawyers:
Gurpreet Duhra
Testimonials
‘DLA has a great client resource; however, what I think makes DLA unique is its transparency and reliability. Their advice is commercial, they understand our business, and we have had years of continuity with the same lawyer, which is absolutely huge added value to the legal support we get.’
‘Our solicitors are incredibly professional, taking time to understand the business and context of each case.’
‘Our solicitors care deeply about effective representation and advice.’
‘The team is responsive and knowledgeable.’
‘Clare Gregory is outstanding. She is extremely knowledgeable and exceptionally responsive. She really understands that clients need a commercial solution rather than just a legal one.’
Key clients
Times Educational Supplement
All Saints
Reiss
Croda
Merlin Entertainments
Sony Interactive Entertainment (aka PlayStation)
Block
Verizon
Proofpoint
Zendesk
Mothercare
Dreams
QA
University of Sheffield
Reckitt Benckiser
Puma
Work highlights
- Led a significant restructuring programme for a client, which involved over 2,000 redundancies.
- Led a significant global project for a technology client in over 40 jurisdictions to establish best practices and policies for handling employee investigations into potential workplace misconduct.
- Led an investigation on behalf of an aviation sector client in response to allegations from female pilots about their treatment by male colleagues and the organisation more generally.
CMS
CMS has a breadth of experience across a number of sectors, and the team focuses on providing employment support on M&A and, working closely with the firm's corporate team, managing employment issues arising out of investments in portfolio companies. The group also has expertise in advising employers on the brink of insolvency. Tracey Marsden heads up the team and has particular expertise in managing employment issues arising out of equity transactions. Emma Sweetman closely works with the firm’s transactional teams and has developed expertise in TUPE matters in the context of business transfers, service provision changes and real estate transactions.
Practice head(s):
Tracey Marsden
Other key lawyers:
Emma Sweetman
Testimonials
‘CMS are always readily available to assist and make time for urgent cases. I have worked with various members of the employment team, and their knowledge of the law and process is always exceptional.’
‘Tracey Marsden has always been great to work with, she puts great time in her cases and clearly cares about each of them.’
‘The practice has the best of a large law firm with the intimacy of a smaller firm.’
‘Tracey Marsden has extensive expertise and experience in employment law, successfully handling complex cases. She gives outstanding attention to prioritising my needs and providing personalised attention and solutions. Tracey adheres to the highest ethical standards, maintains confidentiality, and conducts herself with honesty and integrity.’
‘The team are approachable at all levels. They take the time to understand your issues and find the appropriate expert to assist. They are available to you when required and are responsive.’
‘Emma Sweetman is helpful, engaging and down-to-earth.’
Key clients
Agilio Software Bidco Limited and subsidiaries
Forged Solutions Group Limited
Great Portland Estates PLC
Hazy Limited
Guy’s & St Thomas Foundation Trust
Incipio Group
Rackham Housefloors Limited
Sapphire Systems Limited
St George PLC
Solpro Group
Thor Investment Adviser (Europe) Limited
Agility Eco Limited
CFC Underwriting Limited
Ahrend BV
Orchard Therapeutics
Babcock & Wilcox
Mkodo Limited
Richmond Pharmacology Limited
Work highlights
- Advised Alix Partners and Hunter Boot Realisations on the sale of its intellectual property assets and stock.
- Acted for CFC Underwriting Limited, a specialist insurance provider of employment practices liability insurance, representing a number of its insureds in tribunal proceedings.
- Advised Spire Healthcare Group PLC on the employment aspects of its acquisition of mental and physical health services provider Vita Health Group Ltd.
Freeths LLP
Freeths LLP has strong capabilities in the technology, manufacturing, and healthcare sectors, delivering a breadth of employment advice. Tom Draper leads the employment team in Sheffield; he is experienced in a range of employment matters, from advising on TUPE transfers and complex reorganisations to defending employers against allegations of discrimination and whistleblowing. Toby Pochron predominantly provides advice to businesses, with a particular focus on managing employee issues such as defending Employment Tribunal claims, and handling restructurings and executive dismissals.
Practice head(s):
Tom Draper
Other key lawyers:
Toby Pochron
Testimonials
‘Availability and reliability are what I can say about Tom Draper. He is knowledgeable and will provide guidance, which has helped us. He is very open and honest.’
‘We get a personalised service tailored to our business, and it feels like everyone in the team knows our business. Everyone is highly professional. As a team, they keep you updated on changes to employment law and best practices.’
‘Tom Draper is a highly dedicated professional who delivers exceptional service. Tom ensures that he explains things to us and gives us a range of options, including the risks and benefits of each option.’
‘Professional, knowledgeable, quick to respond but with a friendly and approachable touch.’
‘Pragmatic and results focused. The Freeths Sheffield employment team has taken the time to understand our organisation and deliver a service acting as a true business partner, so much so that I view them as an extension of my core operation rather than a third-party service provider.’
‘Toby Pochron is knowledgeable, confident, and friendly when supporting and advising. Working with Toby helps us make business decisions much quicker and understand our options and potential risks. I always feel reassured when I speak to Toby, which gives me the confidence to take action.’
‘The employment team has helped us navigate a variety of HR issues that have arisen within our company. We’re an SME without a full-time HR internal resource, so we look to the team for support when an issue emerges. The advice we’ve received has been excellent, very practical, and clearly lays out the law for us.’
Key clients
NG Bailey Group
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club Limited
Queenscourt Limited T/A QFM
Sheffield City Council
NTT Data UK Limited
St Luke’s Hospice
AESSEAL PLC
Ant Marketing Limited
Progressive Care Limited
Microlise PLC
Cathelco Limited
Inspired Villages Group
Nimble Delivery Limited T/A Nimble Approach
Tessian Limited
Tutora Limited T/A Tutorful
Red Engineering
Blossom View Respite Unit Limited
Ivy Cottage (Ackton) Limited T/A Ivy Care Homes
Boynton Bros. & Hallam (Ranskill) Limited
Abraham Moon & Sons Limited
InfoTrack limited
Equifinance Limited
The Wolf Safety Lamp Company Limited
Irwin Mitchell
Irwin Mitchell‘s Sheffield team benefits from a strong team of associates. Kelly Gibson acts for businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors, conducting complex Employment Tribunal litigation and advising on the employment aspects of project work. Sara Ellison advises on all aspects of HR and employment law, regularly advising businesses, charities and colleges on day-to-day issues. Holly Butterworth works closely with the education sector nationally, advising large multi-academy trusts and the association of colleges.
Other key lawyers:
Kelly Gibson; Sara Ellison; Holly Butterworth
Testimonials
‘Holly Butterworth is a fantastic solicitor who provides very straightforward advice, and cuts through a lot of the complexities when dealing with our staffing issues. She responds quickly and in a no-nonsense manner, which is key when advising those without a legal background.’
‘Sara Ellison ensures that we are consistent in our HR approach across the group of companies; Sara is highly experienced, and our working relationship makes her easy to approach and have in-depth serious conversations whilst having trust and confidence in her ability to support the company and our HR requirements.’
‘Irwin Mitchell understands schools really well; they are up to date regarding any changes in the educational landscape, and they are knowledgeable about the workforce and issues arising that are often unique to education.’
‘The level of support and advice is invaluable. You speak to real people who are invested in you and your organisation and who see any issues and cases through to the end. A bespoke, personalised service, always.’
‘We have benefited from excellent guidance and support from Holly Butterworth throughout the tribunal process.’
Key clients
Arches Housing Limited
Association of Colleges
Capita PLC
Carl Stahl Evita Limited
Colosseum Dental
Costa Coffee
DAS
ERS Medical
Ed Lounge Limited
Headway Group (National Brain Injury Association)
Hopwood Hall College
Henry Boot PLC
Maher Limited
McArthur Glen
MJ Gleeson plc
Newson Health Limited
North Huddersfield Trust School
Overgate Hospice
Pure Gym
Westfield Health
Lupton Fawcett
Lupton Fawcett is best known for advising clients in the education, construction, manufacturing, transport and leisure sectors. Glenn Jacques advises numerous SMEs and large companies on a range of employment issues; he also advises employees, including directors and senior executives, with particular expertise in national minimum wage investigations. Holly Dobson is a skilled employment and data protection lawyer.
Other key lawyers:
Glenn Jacques; Holly Dobson
Testimonials
‘In my opinion, this practice is exceptionally good for listening to the client.’
‘Glenn Jacques is an employment law specialist. He has been an extremely valued professional adviser in a number of employment disputes. I would not use anyone else for employment law issues, and I recommend him to those who need advice.’
‘The employment team at Lupton Fawcett are reliable, efficient and extremely experienced. I felt in safe hands from start to finish.’
Key clients
Gleeson Developments Ltd (and associated companies)
The Symphony Group Plc
Tuffnells Parcels Express Limited
The Philadelphia Network Limited
My Pension Expert Limited
Renovotec Limited
Trupart Limited
Porter Brook Medical Centre
Steel Software Solutions Limited
Skyline Taxis (MIDS) Limited
Birkdale School
Transave Credit Union
DRLC Limited
Your Travel Stop Limited
Clear Links Support Limited
ArcelorMittal Limited
Community Transport
Work highlights
- Advised The Symphony Group in relation to the defence of a claim in the Employment Tribunal (e.g. various discriminations).
- Advised national PLC delivery company Tuffnells Parcels Express Limited in relation to a multitude of contentious and non-contentious HR and employment issues, including litigation.
- Advised ArcelorMittal in relation to various matters including an operational bonus scheme, data protection and an employee with significant mental health issues.