Employment Law

We offer comprehensive and professional legal advice and representation in all aspects of employment law for employers. This support extends to full representation in the employment tribunal. We have a particular expertise in the conduct of complex workplace disciplinary and grievance investigations. The proprietor, Nigel French, a qualified lawyer has over 30 years experience in the field. 

Click through our areas of expertise to find out more.

Employment Status

It is extremely important to know the employment status of those who work for you.  Are they employees or contractors? By the way, what is a ‘worker'? All these questions are important as each of these categories have differing employment rights, and result in you as an employer having radically different obligations to each. 

Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures and Conduct of Investigations

How important are having and implementing disciplinary and grievance procedures?  Very, not least because if they are not properly drawn up, and crucially followed, they have the effect frequently of making otherwise fair dismissals unfair. We can draft and advise on creating best practice disciplinary and grievance procedures.

Defending Employment Tribunal Claims

The Director, Nigel French (LLM)  is a qualified lawyer and a front line advocate in employment tribunal court proceedings with over 20 years experience. If you are facing an employment tribunal claim, gain expert advice from us to reduce your risks. 

Redundancy

In the modern world the notion of 'job for life’ no longer exists, and downsizing is something that most employers have to confront. We can guide and assist throughout the redundancy process, from establishing the need to declare redundancies, the selection criteria, reasonable alternatives, the level of payments, tax implications, and consultation.

TUPE – Transfer of Undertakings and the Protection of Employment

TUPE is not to be confused with redundancy, though it sometimes is, as the effects can be similar.  What are your obligations when you merge/acquire another business?  Unless specific legal exceptions arise, you ‘inherit’ all the employees of the other business on their existing terms.  We can advise on this complex area of law, including consultation with those affected. 

Settlement Agreements

How do you arrange a mutually agreeable exit when there may be no clear cut legal justification for it, or alternatively both parties wish to avoid litigation.  We have extensive experience in negotiating and drafting Settlement (formerly Compromise) Agreements which have the effect of providing something in the nature of an ‘insurance policy’ against claims.

Family Rights and flexible working

 We have seen an explosion in family rights over the last 15 years or so, and we can advise in relation to maternity, paternity, parental, adoption, dependency rights, as well as procedures in relation to the right to request flexible working, which of course is a right going to all workers, not just parents.   

Discrimination and the provisions of the Equality Act 2010

We can help you meet your obligations towards the promotion of a diverse workforce fit for the modern era in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.  We can assist you in eliminating discrimination and poor practices in relation to all 9 ‘protected characteristics.’  This naturally extends to diversity training workshops, as well as production of workplace policies.

'Whistleblowing'

There is no doubt that 'whistleblowing' has taken on great significance in recent years and employers ignore the ‘whistleblower’ at their peril.  Beware that this area of law extends to ‘workers’ as well as employees, and cannot be contracted out of. There is no length of service requirement for claimants, and if those were not enough, there is no cap on compensation for victims of breaches. Let us help you manage this crucial area.