Appleby‘s employment team spans all three Crown Dependencies, representing financial services companies in disputes concerning directors and other senior employees, with further strengths in conducting investigations on behalf of clients and assisting with redundancies and data protection matters. Richard Sheldon leads the team, focusing in particular on contentious departures of senior employees. Niall MacDonald handles tribunal proceedings in addition to a range of non-contentious matters, from immigration and business licensing, to contracts and employment policies. Having joined from Simmons & Simmons in January 2023, associate James Gallimore handles both contentious and non-contentious employment issues.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'Appleby has provided guidance and oversight on business-wide processes as well as specific support on individual cases. They make themselves available at any time and are responsive and precise with the contribution they make.'

  • 'We work with Richard Sheldon at Appleby. He can be relied on to be quick, responsive and accurate in his dealings with us. Where needed he provides clear direction on key employee engagement and where required takes responsibility for drafting specific communications.'

  • 'Once a file was opened, the speed of response to queries was exemplary. We are a small organisation and Niall MacDonald was mindful to keep us aware of costs and advise where and how we could take steps to minimise these.'

  • 'We were so lucky to be allocated Niall MacDonald. He was responsive to queries and explained everything in a clear, logical manner without the use of jargon. He absorbed the information we gave him rapidly and was empathetic to our concerns for staff members. He was knowledgable and professional but above all kind and calming in a very stressful situation. I couldn't recommend him more highly.'

  • 'Professional, engaging and practical advice given. Billing is clear for services provided.'

  • 'Richard Sheldon - engaging, practical, solution focussed, responsive.'

Key clients

  • Barclays Group
  • Canaccord Genuity Wealth
  • CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang
  • Eversheds Sutherland
  • HSBC Group
  • PraxisIFM
  • Sanne Group
  • States of Guernsey
  • Suntera Global

Work highlights

  • Drafting the official statutory guidance on behalf of the States of Guernsey to accompany the new Discrimination Law following a tender process.
  • Undertaking a number of confidential investigations, including in relation to sanctions and a potential fraud by a director.
  • Advised on a major redundancy programme for one of the largest non-financial services companies on the island.

Lawyers

Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Appleby
Richard is the Managing Group Partner in Guernsey and member of the Dispute Resolution team, specialising in advising clients on employment law and regulatory issues. Richard heads up Appleby’s employment practice across the Channel Islands, advising on all areas of employment law including, strategic advice, litigation, transactional support and director / shareholder disputes, as well as advising on matters such as executive severance, employee share schemes, pensions, restrictive covenants, bonus disputes and trade union issues. In addition, Richard has advised on a number of major contentious regulatory matters including in particular enforcement action by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission (GFSC) against both companies and their directors, and has a particular expertise in the field of complex investigations into regulatory issues. Richard has a growing reputation in the field and has been the lead adviser on a number of regulatory enforcement cases over the years such as Blenheim, Richmond and Artemis, representing those companies through the enforcement process. Richard also regularly represents directors at voluntary interviews with the GFSC. Over recent years Richard has conducted a number of complex investigations for clients, relating to potential employee frauds, breaches of fiduciary duties, compliance around sanctions as well as sexual harassment in the workplace. Richard’s experience includes advising; A global financial services business on the investigation and dismissal of a senior director in respect of allegations of sexual harassment A tech business in relation the exit of a senior employee, and successfully defending claims before the Tribunal of discrimination on the grounds of sex and maternity The successful appellants in the case of Domaille & others v Guernsey Financial Services Commission in overturning on appeal before the Royal Court, regulatory enforcement sanctions imposed by the GFSC. A 50% owner of a professional services firm in relation to a dispute with his fellow owner, including successfully exiting the other party from the firm, as shareholder, director and employee. A former director of a fund administrator in relation to regulatory enforcement action taken by the GFSC, including successfully negotiating a private reprimand rather any form of public censure. A international financial services business on a post-acquisition integration restructure, including harmonisation of terms and conditions.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Richard Sheldon

Other key lawyers

Niall MacDonald, James Gallimore