Caroline Field

Litigation, Contentious Employment and Partnership

Caroline is a Partner and head of Fox & Partners’ litigation practice. Caroline frequently acts in high-value and sensitive City disputes arising from a fall-out between (i) employers or professional firms (LLPs and traditional partnerships) on the one hand and (ii) employees, shareholders and directors or LLP members/partners on the other, and in senior executive and partner moves.

Advising partners and firms, typically in the professional services and financial services sector, such as complex hedge fund and private equity structures, is the cornerstone of Fox & Partners’ practice. A great deal of Caroline’s time is spent acting on disputes arising out of breaches of partnership agreements (often relating to actual and threatened expulsions or compulsory retirements, changes to remuneration and decision-making processes), performance and misconduct investigations, unfairly prejudicial conduct, alleged discrimination and whistleblowing.

Caroline regularly advises on business protection cases, providing strategic advice in relation to team moves, restrictive covenants, fiduciary obligations and duties of confidentiality. She has significant experience defending and enforcing such provisions, including by obtaining and defending interim injunctions. With experience acting for employers/firms (former and recruiting employers) and moving employees or partners, she offers a unique perspective and understanding of the pressures on both sides.

Caroline is recognised by the independent guides to the legal profession for her work representing employees and partners before the employment tribunal and courts. Restrictive covenants are a noted area of strength. One client observed: “she is strategically astute and does not neglect any aspect of the case before her…she is also very supportive and empathetic, making her an ideal legal adviser to navigate uniquely complex legal situations” (Chambers UK 2021).

Caroline was included in Management Today’s prestigious 35 women under 35 list in 2018.

University of Newcastle 2000-2003 – LLB Law (Hons) 2:1; College of Law, York 2003-2004 (Legal Practice course).