Bevan Brittan LLP excels in catering to clients in government, higher education, and housing, though the firm also counts a number of household names from the private sector amongst its client portfolio. Led by Jodie Sinclair from London, the team handles matters relating to day-to-day HR advice, equal pay, senior level departures, and collective bargaining. Julian Hoskins regularly advises clients in the health sector on employment issues, while Sarah Lamont‘s expertise spans discrimination cases, restructurings, and mergers. James Gutteridge was promoted to partner in 2023 and primarily deals with contentious work, often for NHS clients.

Burges Salmon LLP's robust team is experienced handling both contentious and non-contentious employment matters, particularly in regards to TUPE transfers, Employment Tribunal representation, and compliance audits. The practice acts for a diverse clientele, including blue-chip corporates and major public sector entities, while being the first point of contact for a host of companies in the financial services sector. Adrian Martin leads the team, in which Chris Seaton is a key name for a wide variety of work such as senior executive terminations, trade union relations, and internal investigations. James Green‘s prowess lies in advising financial services clients.

Osborne Clarke LLP undertakes a vast range of employment work in both contentious and non-contentious contexts. The firm regularly handles business critical matters and is particularly well-equipped to advise on trade unions, data subject access requests, immigration, and tribunal claims. National employment head Paul Killen advises prominent players in telecoms, consumer goods, and tech, while Julian Hemming oversees the firm’s South West offering and specialises in diversity and inclusion. Other notable figures include Anna Elliott, who demonstrates strengths in the retail and consumer sector, as well as May 2024-promoted partner Leanne Coates, whose areas of focus include outsourcing arrangements, dismissals, and transactional support.

TLT‘s employment practice is reputed for its broad sector focus which includes retail, telecoms, financial services, and the public sector. Stuart McBride helms the practice and has vast employment law experience with noted strengths in union relations, TUPE, and restructurings. Litigation, transactions, and HR support fall under the advisory umbrella of Esther Smith, while Sarah Skeen is sought after for her expertise in large-scale redundancy programmes as well as whistleblowing and discrimination claims. Siobhan Fitzgerald left the firm for an in-house position in September 2023.

Clients active in retail, financial services, energy, and the public sphere regularly turn to Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP for its full-service employment offering. The firm’s Bristol group collaborates closely with the firm’s other South West and national offices to advise on strategic matters as well as high-profile litigation, including tribunal cases pertaining to discrimination and unfair dismissal. Jo Martin and Tim Woodward jointly lead the team; both are well-versed across the full gamut of employment law and both have experience providing support on corporate transactions. Plymouth-based Emma Doble is a highly active member of the practice also.

Ashfords LLP‘s employment law team delivers counsel across a spectrum of issues including restrictive covenants, TUPE, and restructurings. Notable for its success in tribunal claims and High Court disputes, the team possesses deep sector knowledge spanning public sector, health, energy, and retail. Practice head Stephen Moore excels in whistleblowing cases and boardroom disputes alongside handling a wide-range of non-contentious matters. ‘Excellent employment lawyer’ Hayley Marles fields particular sector expertise in education and charity, while Lorna Hughes is a go-to contact for clients active in care, hospitality, and retail.

With in-depth employment capabilities across the country, Clarke Willmott LLP has a strong South West offering that handles matters related to tribunal claims, corporate transactions, insolvency, and data protection, among others. Under the leadership of Sharon Latham in Bristol, the team also demonstrates vast sector expertise that includes agriculture, sport, and education. Tim Copplestone combines longstanding employment expertise with in-depth knowledge of the sports sector, advising clients including Premier League football players and sports agencies.

Garnering praise for its ‘strong employment team with excellent knowledge’, Foot Anstey acts primarily for employers, in particular those active in the retail and consumer as well as private equity industries. Led by Karen Bates in Exeter, the team includes Joanne Boyle, a key contact in the firm’s Bristol office who counts business transformation projects amongst her areas of focus, where she assists clients with restructurings and redundancies. Private equity companies frequently turn to Angharad Davies for her sector expertise.

Thrings LLP fields a diverse advisory portfolio in employment law. The firm is often engaged by clients to assist with tribunal claims, corporate support, and strategic HR advice provision. Kerrie Hunt leads the team and is experienced representing clients in disputes and advising on matters such as senior exits and restructurings. Promoted to partner in September 2023, Natalie Ward often collaborates with the firm’s agriculture practice to handle work for farming entities and landed estates.