Torque Law LLP

Emma is a trusted employment solicitor and co-founder of multi award-winning employment law firm Torque Law LLP. Having focused on complex, strategic and high-stakes employment law issues for over 20 years, Emma set up Torque Law with Partner, Tiggy Clifford, in 2016 with a vision to do things differently. They wanted to guarantee their clients the excellent technical knowledge and expertise they’d come to expect but combine it with a deep understanding of their businesses so they could shape their service delivery around their needs. Skip forward a few years and Emma and Tiggy are now the proud leaders of Yorkshire’s leading niche employment law practice, recognised by Legal500 for excellence in client satisfaction and ranked Band 1 by the Chambers & Partners Directory. They've been recognised as Niche Law Firm of the Year at the Yorkshire Legal Awards and shortlisted for Northern Powerhouse Awards alongside international law firms. To Torque Law, being ‘client focused’ isn’t just something to claim in their firm literature. Relationships are part of their culture, their way of working and central to both their success and their clients’. The firm gathers regular client insight and uses it to develop their services, to ensure they’re evolving with their clients. Emma advises businesses on all aspects of day-to-day employment law through to the most complex of restructures and tribunal claims. She works regularly with Chief Executives, General Counsel and HR professionals and understands what it takes to achieve clients’ commercial goals as efficiently and painlessly as possible. With extensive negotiation experience under her belt, Emma also helps board level senior executives to negotiate new terms of employment and exit packages (under settlement agreements) in a way that gives the best personal and professional outcome. Emma’s clients say: “Emma is easily the best HR lawyer in the Leeds area.” ‘Emma Whiting has masses of experience acting for both corporates as well as individuals, so is able to bring a top-class and pragmatic perspective to issues which can quickly become intractable." “Emma is exceptional. She is professional, courteous and confident." "Knowledgeable, flexible and highly responsive... I felt very well supported and equally confident in both her legal advice as well as her ability to ensure a good outcome for everyone. Always focused, practical and positive, Emma is fantastic and has a refreshingly pragmatic approach.” “Emma is a first class lawyer and has good commercial sense." “Emma gives honest and frank advice to enable efficient and speedy outcomes." "She knows the law, hands down, but she also has a wealth of experience and can adapt her strategic advice to your organisation." ‘As a boutique specialist practice, Torque is a standout in the employment law field. Both Tiggy Clifford and Emma Whiting are well-respected and extremely knowledgeable in the area of employment law and have a great following. The firm is pragmatic and looks at ways of problem solving outside litigation which appeals to me as a fan of ADR and workplace mediation.’

Emma Cousins

Emma is a Senior Associate at Torque Law. She is experienced in providing pragmatic and commercial employment and business immigration advice to employers and board level executives. Emma's knowledge and experience cover a wide range of employment related matters and she regularly advises HR teams and General Counsel on: unfair dismissal and complex discrimination claims, the negotiation of exit packages and settlement agreements, redundancy situations, disciplinary matters, the drafting of contracts of employment / service agreements and policy documents, and other general HR matters. Emma is also skilled at advising clients in relation to TUPE issues, and the employment aspects of commercial property and corporate matters. In addition, Emma advises organisations on business immigration issues, guiding them through the process of becoming a licenced sponsor, issuing certificates of sponsorship to migrant workers sponsors, and providing advice and training about the duties of licensed sponsors. Emma supports businesses with the requirements of compliant HR systems, auditing HR systems and ‘key personnel’ practices to ensure compliance (including mock UKVI audits), and advice regarding business visitors and other immigration routes. Emma uses her extensive experience to advise employers on the prevention of illegal working in the UK, including in relation to the right to work check regime, the provision of right to work check audits, and lawful dismissals by reason of illegal working. Clients describe Emma as a "highly recommendable" employment law solicitor who is “the consummate professional” and who "acts thoroughly and efficiently" with "extensive knowledge and understanding".

Laura Gillhespy

Laura is an Associate and specialist employment law solicitor at Torque Law. She is an approachable and strategic solicitor, advising organisations and senior executives on all aspects of employment law. Laura has a wealth of experience in defending complex employment tribunal claims for employer clients. Providing step by step, pragmatic and commercially sensitive advice, Laura makes the tribunal process as pain free as possible for her clients. Having a special interest in areas of discrimination, Laura is passionate about supporting employers to navigate a more inclusive and diverse workforce, safely and proactively.

Rosie Cowling

Rosie is an Associate at Torque Law and an experienced and personable specialist employment law solicitor. She works closely with employer clients to understand their needs and organisational objectives, enabling her to provide tailored, commercial advice. Rosie advises on the drafting of contracts, handbooks and policies, supports with internal investigations and disciplinaries, and provides guidance on organisational restructures (including redundancies and TUPE). She represents Respondents within Employment Tribunal processes and has a particular interest in complex discrimination and whistleblowing claims. Rosie regularly supports large organisations with mass settlement agreement exercises, using Torque Law’s streamlined process to ensure large volumes of employees receive the required legal advice in an efficient and pragmatic manner.

Tiggy Clifford

Tiggy is a trusted employment solicitor and co-founder of multi award-winning employment law firm Torque Law LLP. Having focused on complex, strategic and high-stakes employment law issues for over 20 years, Tiggy set up Torque Law with Partner, Emma Whiting, in 2016 with a vision to do things differently. They wanted to guarantee their clients the excellent technical knowledge and expertise they’d come to expect but combine it with a deep understanding of their businesses so they could shape their service delivery around their needs. Skip forward a few years and Tiggy and Emma are now the proud leaders of Yorkshire’s leading niche employment law practice, recognised by Legal500 for excellence in client satisfaction and ranked Band 1 by the Chambers & Partners Directory. They've been recognised as Niche Law Firm of the Year at the Yorkshire Legal Awards and shortlisted for Northern Powerhouse Awards alongside international law firms. To Torque Law, being ‘client focused’ isn’t just something to claim in their firm literature. Relationships are part of their culture, their way of working and central to both their success and their clients’. The firm gathers regular client insight and uses it to develop their services, to ensure they’re evolving with their clients. Tiggy advises businesses on all aspects of day-to-day employment law through to the most complex of restructures and tribunal claims. She works regularly with Chief Executives, General Counsel and HR professionals and understands what it takes to achieve clients’ commercial goals as efficiently and painlessly as possible. With extensive negotiation experience under her belt, Tiggy also helps board level senior executives to negotiate new terms of employment and exit packages (under settlement agreements) in a way that gives the best personal and professional outcome. Tiggy’s clients say: “Tiggy Clifford was practical and pragmatic and crunched through the key points quickly and without over labouring the minor ones" "She is a straight-talking, pragmatic and detail-focused lawyer who is supportive and will challenge us as a client when necessary." "Tiggy is a consummate professional." "Keen to understand our needs and talk our language, whilst also managing our expectations, Tiggy's advice is jargon free, grounded and always focused on our end game." "Tiggy is excellent at getting quickly to the heart of the issue and giving pragmatic advice on the do's and don'ts of the situation." ‘As a boutique specialist practice, Torque is a standout in the employment law field. Both Tiggy Clifford and Emma Whiting are well-respected and extremely knowledgeable in the area of employment law and have a great following. The firm is pragmatic and looks at ways of problem solving outside litigation which appeals to me as a fan of ADR and workplace mediation.’

Tori Jackson

Tori is a Consultant employment law solicitor at Torque Law. Tori is a knowledgeable solicitor in both contentious and non-contentious employment matters with experience of working for both larger corporates and SME businesses. Tori advises employers on grievance and disciplinary matters, employment disputes and Employment Tribunal claims and the termination of employment, including the negotiation and drafting of settlement agreements. Tori also drafts effective employment contracts and service agreements, policies and handbooks for employers. Her clients say that "she does a fantastic job" is "clear and supportive" and that they "would recommend her".

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