The ‘pragmatic, commercial’ employment practice at Herrington Carmichael LLP is regularly instructed by leading domestic and multinational employers and employees on complex and business-critical matters. Recognised for his ‘reliable, quality advice’, Alistair McArthur heads the team. McArthur is a key contact on recruitment, discrimination claims, dismissals, and redundancies, particularly within the construction and property sectors. Combining ‘employment law expertise with a pragmatic and commercially minded approach’, Darren Smith is a sought-after advisor within the leisure and hospitality sectors on complex discrimination cases and redundancy procedures. On discrimination issues, restructuring and redundancy, and TUPE matters, Matt Jenkin is a leading authority, while employment status matters, including consultancy arrangements, IR35 and off-payroll working rules are covered by Tom Hyatt.

Paris Smith LLP offers a deep bench across a broad range of impactful employment law matters. A sought-after advisor within employment tribunals, senior-level exits, and TUPE claims, Clive Dobbin heads the employment team, complementing this expertise with a deep familiarity in regulatory proceedings. Coupling ‘extensive experience’ with a ‘straightforward and open approach’, Claire Merritt is a key contact on discrimination claims, sexual harassment prevention, and senior-level exits. Tabytha Cunningham and Charlotte Farrell serve as particular experts on discrimination issues, unfair dismissal claims, and company sale-related employment law issues. With a deep specialism in senior-level exits, discrimination cases, and education matters, Andrew Willshire is a further key contact. David Roath departed the practice in April 2025.

Boasting a ‘well-resourced, specialist’ team with a ‘depth and breadth of knowledge’ Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP  is highly sought-after among major domestic clients in the financial, public, and retail sectors. Jon Hales heads the employment team and Southampton office, acting for a wide range of employers on contentious and advisory matters, while Christina Tolvas-Vincent leads the firm’s retail employment practice. Charlotte Bloomfield regularly assists on employment due diligence and TUPE regulation matters across a diversity of transaction types. ‘Highly competent, knowledgeable and experienced’ on sensitive equality and disability discrimination cases, employment status cases, and restrictive covenant matters, Dan Fawcett is a further standout advisor.

A focused employment and business immigration law practice, DC Employment Solicitors is a key port of call on critical and complex matters. Laurence Dunn, who heads the team, is ‘highly knowledgeable and a powerhouse for complex litigation’. Dunn acts for employers in discrimination claims, employee grievance processes, restrictive covenant issues, and in navigating TUPE regulations. Dunn is also an expert on working visa issues and business immigration restrictions. A further key contact is Laura Jamieson, who has a particular track record on employee-side matters. Daryl Cowan and Darren Tibble left the firm.

Standing out for its ‘knowledge, approachability and unwavering commitment’ to its clients, the employment team at Moore Barlow is highly sought-after among notable companies on day-to-day and contentious matters. Adept at translating ‘complex employment law and regulations into clear, understandable language’, Katherine Maxwell leads the team from Southampton and Richmond. Maxwell has a particular focus on employer-side issues, assisting global companies and SMEs on restrictive covenants, unfair dismissal cases, harassment issues, and restructurings, redundancies, and reorganisations. Maxwell also assists senior executives on high-value exits.

Acclaimed for its ‘realistic and practical’ advice, the employment team at Shoosmiths LLP is entrusted by major domestic and multinational companies through sensitive and complex matters. A key contact among HR teams at major domestic and global retail and manufacturing sector clients, Stuart Lawrenson heads the practice. Combining contentious and non-contentious expertise, Lawrenson advises across organisation and structural changes, discrimination and harassment claims and training, and senior executive appointments and exits. Sian Hoare brings further experience to the team, offering commercial and strategic advice across day-to-day issues, disciplinaries and grievances, discrimination claims, and sensitive and contentious exits.

Trethowans LLP offers tailored, pragmatic, and commercially minded advice through complex employment law matters. On corporate reorganisations, union engagement, grievances, and employee exits, Kathryn Evans is a key contact, counting leading listed and global companies among her clients. Skilled at garnering a ‘thorough understanding’ of clients’ businesses, Andrew Crudge specialises in corporate employment matters, including business M&A, employment documentation, employee exits, and TUPE. Alana Penkethman stands out on employee-side mandates and is a particular specialist in complex and high-stakes employment tribunal claims.

Offering ‘clear and transparent’ advice on business-critical matters, the employment, pensions, benefits, and immigration practice at Blake Morgan LLP is highly sought-after among regional SMEs and education centres. A key contact is the ‘proactive and responsive’ Jane Biddlecombe, who is a leading authority on diverse employment issues impacting the education sector. Biddlecombe leads mandates concerning unfair dismissal, grievances and disciplinaries, recruitment, redundancy, business reorganisations, and TUPE issues.

Clarke Willmott LLP is notable for offering ‘concise, clear and commercially focused’ employment law advice. Marc Long leads the employment and HR teams and assists across TUPE issues, restructurings and redundancies, discrimination claims, and trade union engagement, serving as a key advisor to domestic and global clients. Possessing a strong command of both the legal issues and the ‘culture and dynamics of the business’, Nicole Adams is a further notable contact across employment tribunal litigation and proactive training sessions.

The ‘pragmatic, proactive, comprehensive’ employment practice at Phillips Law is highly sought-after on complex employer- and employee-side mandates. Bringing clients ‘excellent experience’ through employment tribunals as well as HR and board advice, Jacqueline Kendal heads the team. Kendal provides leading employee relations advice on matters including employment contracts, redundancies, dismissals, and discrimination. Other key contacts include the ‘professional and empathetic’ Sarah Filsell, who specialises in settlement agreements and claims relating to unfair dismissal and discrimination. Gill Brown retired in March 2025.