Kervin & Barnes

Kervin & Barnes is an established boutique practice based in Mayfair providing first-class employment law advice to senior executives and companies in a range of sectors. The firm provides City-trained/experienced lawyers who develop close trusted relationships with clients.

The firm: Kervin & Barnes was founded by Gareth Kervin in 2009. From that time it has enjoyed sustained growth and developed a strong reputation for its advisory and litigation work.  The firm is regularly instructed on major restructuring/redundancy exercises and high value litigation on issues such as bonuses, restrictive covenants, equal pay, discrimination and whistleblowing.

Its client base has expanded steadily, working with clients such as West Ham United Football Club; Danone Waters (Volvic/Evian); Danone Dairies (Activia/Actimel); Ransomes Jacobsen; Star Actuarial; Nutricia; YouGov plc; Textron; Huntress and Planet Payment UK and a number of financial services companies. The firm is also regularly instructed by senior executives in a range of industries and high-net-worth individuals.

Kervin & Barnes’ lawyers have practised in the City and in-house at financial services institutions. They are highly regarded, known for punching above their weight and being practically and commercially minded.

Types of work undertaken: The firm covers the full range of employment-related work, including general advisory, Employment Tribunal and High Court litigation, regulatory compliance, discrimination and whistleblowing. Recent instructions include implementing a large-scale reorganisation and redundancy process, litigating restrictive covenants for businesses and employees, negotiating significant settlement packages, advising on protected disclosures and advising on the employment aspects of corporate transactions. The firm also provides bespoke training to HR teams and managers.

Financial services: Kervin & Barnes offers expert employment law advice to financial services executives and employers. Its employment lawyers have considerable experience working in this complex and demanding field of law, and regularly advise on both the employment and regulatory issues particular to the sector.

Recruitment: the recruitment industry is another sector in which Kervin & Barnes offers sector-specific advice. Its lawyers have extensive experience working with all sizes of recruiters, and regularly advise on recruitment industry issues such as the Agency Workers Regulations, Conduct Regulations and IR35 led issues.

Retail: the firm also provides employment law advice for the retail sector, from small boutiques to large international enterprises. Retailers frequently face legal challenges from their employees; the team has successfully defended and resolved claims on behalf of its retail clients.

Employers: the firm advises employers on a range of issues, including absence management, bonus schemes, business protection, confidential information, contracts and handbooks, disciplinary and grievance procedures, discrimination, equal pay, FCA matters, High Court litigation, family rights, national minimum wage, partnership, performance management, redundancy procedures, settlement agreements (compromise agreements), TUPE, unfair dismissal and business protection issues.

www.kervinandbarnes.co.uk