Department profile
Bird & Bird

Employment: Employer: Industrial Relations

UK Guide 2026 : London (Firms)

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Bird & Bird

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About

Provided by Bird & Bird

Bird & Bird's UK Employment department offers domestic and multi-national clients a comprehensive range of legal advice across the full spectrum of contentious and non-contentious employment law. The team is renowned for providing businesses with strategic solutions and leading and coordinating large cross-border projects involving both other jurisdictions and practice groups. Each member of the team is a fully-qualified employment law, dedicated to the practice group, and able to advise on all issues (contentious and non-contentious).

Key areas of advice

  • Policies, practice and in-house documentation​
  • Terminations and disputes
  • Restructuring
  • Conduct and resolution of claims
  • Senior-level appointments
  • Equality and diversity
  • Business immigration
  • Outsourcing
  • Employee incentives and benefits
  • Trade secrets

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Employment: Employer: Industrial Relations - London (Firms)

What the Team is Known For
Bird & Bird houses an established practice offering high-quality employment advice to both employers and senior employees. The firm is widely recognised for its expertise in the technology sector, as well as for its work for retail and life sciences clients. It advises on both employment disputes and non-contentious matters. The team is able to draw upon the firm's global network of offices to advise on cross-border work.
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Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • They have provided accurate advice in a timely manner and have been excellent at giving us practical and commercial advice in difficult and sensitive employment situations.

    Employment: Employer: Industrial Relations respondentUK

  • Bird & Bird lawyers are knowledgeable, pragmatic and provide excellent client service.

    Employment: Employer: Industrial Relations respondentUK

  • They provide compassion and pastoral guidance in a high pressure situation.

    Employment: Employer: Industrial Relations respondentUK

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Tim Spillane
    Tim Spillane

    Tim Spillane

    Tim Spillane is head of the London employment team at Bird & Bird. He continues to serve as a go-to advisor for senior executives from the financial services sector. Spillane regularly handles complex contentious cases involving unfair dismissal, whistle-blowing, discrimination and breach of contract claims.

    • Tim is firstly an excellent lawyer, and also someone we trust to give us timely practical advice.

      Employment: Employer: Industrial Relations respondentUK

    • Tim combines a stellar legal mind with a commercial approach and is highly responsive to his client's needs.

      Employment: Employer: Industrial Relations respondentUK

    • Tim provided superb counsel, combining expertise and commercial awareness with empathy and kindness.

      Employment: Employer: Industrial Relations respondentUK
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  • Elizabeth Lang
    Elizabeth Lang

    Elizabeth Lang

    Elizabeth Lang is a partner at Bird & Bird who offers support to clients on a wide variety of employment matters. She has notable experience in dismissals and restructurings, and has particular expertise in handling trade union disputes.

    • Elizabeth Lang is very outcome-focused and provides straightforward and robust advice.

      Employment: Employer: Industrial Relations respondentUK

    • She is an exceptional employment lawyer.

      Employment: Employer: Industrial Relations respondentUK

    • Elizabeth Lang is an excellent employment lawyer.

      Employment: Employer: Industrial Relations respondentUK
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  • Jonathan Goldsworthy
    Jonathan Goldsworthy

    Jonathan Goldsworthy

    Jonathan Goldsworthy is a partner in the Bird & Bird employment team who assists employers and employees with both contentious and non-contentious issues.

    • Jonathan Goldsworthy is super responsive, commercial and gives great strategic advice.

      Employment: Employer: Industrial Relations respondentUK

    • He's very professional and acts with empathy.

      Employment: Employer: Industrial Relations respondentUK

    • I would work with Jonathan again without any hesitation. He was excellent.

      Employment: Employer: Industrial Relations respondentUK
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Ranked Individuals at Bird & Bird (7)

London (Firms)

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