Employment and Partnership Law

Merrill April is a Partner specialising in employment and partnership law.

Merrill has developed an international employment law practice which covers both contentious and non-contentious matters and has an excellent reputation for advising both senior executives and employers across a diverse client base, spanning key sectors such as financial services and technology, and including both listed and private companies.

Merrill advises UK PLCs on hires and departures at board level, and on contractual and other issues that arise throughout the employment relationship, including in relation to whistleblowing and data protection. Merrill has worked with a number of established private and growth companies to set up their employment and HR structures to support their businesses, working closely with HR consultants and in-house HR teams, finance directors and general counsel to achieve this objective. Merrill is experienced in conducting workplace investigations and in advising investigators, supporting them on common issues that arise including as regards the terms of reference, privilege and data protection matters.

Merrill’s litigator background underpins her knowledge and strategic approach in negotiations and allows her to represent clients in the High Court and in tribunal cases, including advising both employers and senior executives on contentious workplace disputes, high value severance negotiations and managing exits smoothly, and in complex partnership disputes. She has significant experience advising on partner discrimination claims, including for disability, sexual orientation discrimination and age discrimination in the context of retirement. She regularly advises partners on moves between professional accountancy and hedge fund businesses, including the enforcement of garden leave and restrictive covenants.

Merrill is the firm’s lead Partner for international employment law alliance, Innangard.

Merrill was admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales in September 1987.

Partner