Harbottle & Lewis LLP excels at managing employment issues that arise in the creative and media sectors. It has recently been advising on video gaming and E-sports, and working with influencers and social media stars. A significant amount of its work relates to advising on internal investigations into serious allegations of bullying misconduct, discrimination and harassment. It has significant experience of working across a range of other industries such as financial services, and technology based companies. The department is jointly led by Yvonne Gallagher and Howard Hymanson.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The team have an in depth knowledge of the niche theatre industry. Marian and her team provide clear, concise and relevant advice at speed.’

  • ‘Harbottle & Lewis are extremely efficient, knowledgeable and professional. Marian Derham has been amazing in her advice and support to us over the years. So knowledgeable, efficient, and valuable in her support of employment issues.’

  • ‘Howard Hymanson always displays a steady hand on the tiller. He is a pleasure to deal with and a skilled tactician.'

  • ‘Extremely knowledgeable and responsive, great client relationship management, timely advice that is considered and practical.’

  • ‘Sarah Verrecchia is able to build excellent relationships with clients from the immediate start of an instruction (or before in exploratory calls). Clients trust Sarah implicitly, and she is able to give full and expert advice with diplomacy and tact to individuals at any level of an organisation.' 

  • ‘Mariam Derham is very knowledgeable and professional. Results-driven. Reassuring when working on sensitive matters. Big-picture vision on outcomes.'

  • ‘Mark Primrose is super personable, able to understand our unique/complex employment situations, and provide us with sound advice. He has also been so quick in responding to anything urgent we send through and help us draft up email replies and documents to people.'

  • 'Sarah Verrecchia gave great advice in a timely manner and was able to understand our needs straight away.'

Key clients

  • Wanis International Foods LLP
  • Complete fiction Limited
  • Delfont Mackintosh Theatres Ltd
  • Nimax Theatres Ltd
  • Marv Studios Limited
  • LAMDA
  • Society of London Theatre
  • Gordon Ramsay Restaurants
  • Wolford London Ltd
  • Amazon Studios

Work highlights

  • Acting for Wanis, a distributor and wholesaler of foods. An employee was dismissed for gross misconduct for theft. He brought a claim for unfair dismissal out of time.
  • Advised on terms for Complete Fiction Limited for a significant senior recruit at very short notice.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Yvonne Gallagher, Howard Hymanson

Other key lawyers

Marian Derham, Sarah Verrecchia, Mark Primrose