UK Guide 2026 : South West
Ranked Individuals
Provided by Ashfords LLP
People are at the heart of every organisation and will determine its success - whether that’s the senior team taking the business forward, the employees driving change or those delivering the day-to-day operations.
We work with UK businesses, international companies and those looking to invest in the UK with all the legal requirements associated with setting up, building and maintaining a strong and successful workforce. We work with our clients at all levels – providing day-to-day HR advice, employee relations support through to advising on strategic boardroom matters.
Our experience spans the full range of employment law and HR issues that can arise from the beginning of the employment relationship to the end, with extensive experience advising on investigations, sensitive employee disputes, enforcement of restrictive covenants and employment tribunal representation.
We support HR teams by providing strategic advice, preparing employment & HR documents, advising on redundancy and restructures, TUPE, industrial relations action, working time issues and the management and resolution of employment law disputes.
Provided by Chambers
Ashfords acts for clients on contentious and non-contentious employment matters ,with significant expertise in handling business immigration issues. The firm is recognised for its work on litigation for national and international corporations, as well as public sector employers. The team offers additional expertise in restrictive covenants, TUPE issues and the departure of senior executives.
Provided by Chambers
Ashfords advised Ocado Group on a full range of employment matters, including tribunal representation, data protection and business immigration, partnering closely with the in-house team.
Provided by Chambers
They're very, very good.
They are always able to look at issues from multiple angles to get to the best solution.
Each of their lawyers I have met is quite clearly more aware than me of what is happening in the market I operate in.
Provided by Chambers
James Collings has particular strength in employee relations matters, covering redundancy and restructuring issues as well as senior-level exits. He also represents clients in employment tribunal claims and assists with disciplinary and grievance processes.
James is an excellent lawyer who quickly grasps the key points, outlines the options available and observes on the merits of each.
Kirsty Cooke has a practice that covers a range of sectors including finance and technology, with particular strength in the healthcare industry. She advises on HR policies, restructurings and senior-level exits, and has experience handling sexual harassment, whistle-blowing and discrimination claims.
Kirsty continually demonstrates to us her absolute expertise. She always has a clear, methodical, precise approach.
I can't speak more highly of my experience of working with Kirsty. She is an extremely talented individual who gives sound advice.
Stephen Moore maintains a cross-border practice with particular expertise in senior exits, strategic decision-making, restrictive covenants and whistle-blowing claims. He has acted for clients in the Employment Tribunal and the High Court.
He's got a good commercial head on his shoulders and thinks hard about reputational risk.
If anything complicated comes up, he's there with a solution.
Employment
Employment
Employment
Provided by Ashfords LLP
Stephen Moore
Head of Department
Su Apps
James Collings
View profile of James CollingsKirsty Cooke
View profile of Kirsty CookeStephen Moore
View profile of Stephen Moore
Chambers is the leading data and intelligence partner for the legal sector.
