The city’s leading employment lawyers offer advice and representation across a broad spectrum of issues, including disciplinary and whistleblowing claims. They are also adept at handling day-to-day HR support work, such as reviewing employee contracts and policies, managing restructuring matters and advising on remuneration schemes. Highlights include defending Barclays in a high-profile employment tribunal case brought by two former employees alleging various forms of discrimination and whistleblowing detriment, and advising GSK on hiring AstraZeneca’s oncology business development head, which included resisting an attempt to enforce a non-compete agreement. Other highlights included advising Pimlico Plumbers on its restructure, as well as a range of private equity and hedge fund clients, and assisting the Kering Group (Alexander McQueen, Gucci, Balenciaga and Saint Laurent) with recruitment matters.

Nicola Rabson heads up the team at Linklaters LLP, which is noted for its ability to handle complex investigations and crisis management mandates. The firm is particularly strong in the regulated financial and professional services sectors, as well as in handling high-value severance arrangements for senior executives. Other key names include the’smart and commercial’ Jean Lovett, who leads the transactional arm of the practice, and the ‘highly effective’ counsel Emma Gray, who handles high-profile disciplinary and whistleblowing investigations.

Spencer West LLP advises public and private sector organisations, including FTSE 100 businesses and investment banks. It recently recruited Sharokh Koussari from Axiom Ince to add further strength to its team, which also includes the ‘creative and tenacious’ Naylah Hamour. The firm’s wider offering is supplemented by a significant focus on workers’ rights matters such as disability claims and hybrid working disputes. employment lawyers London