Employment: Employer - London (Firms)
What the team is known for
Bird & Bird is 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. The firm 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.
Strengths
"They have an in-depth understanding of our business and the law but with a very practical and pragmatic viewpoint. They get our business."
"There are high levels of expertise amongst the firm's lawyers as well as good industry knowledge. The accessibility and response times are consistently good."
"They deliver consistently to our requirements; the team flex to manage very effectively according to our needs. Put simply, they deliver for us."
"They provided very prompt responses throughout and provided good advice which matched my needs. Furthermore, excellent and knowledgeable support was provided throughout."
Notable practitioners
Elizabeth Lang offers support to clients on a wide variety of employment matters, with notable experience in dismissals and restructurings. She has particular expertise handling trade union disputes. "Liz is an outstanding adviser, with great knowledge and a practical approach." "Liz really knows the law, is a skilled negotiator, but also a very perceptive mediator if necessary. She gives clear and strong advice, is fully focused, always available, and responsive. She is exactly the lawyer I needed in a challenging situation." "She is great. She is a real fighter for her client and she is always thinking of the right angle of how to push things forward."
Tim Spillane continues to serve as a go-to adviser for senior executives from the financial services sector. He regularly handles complex contentious cases involving unfair dismissal, whistle-blowing, discrimination and breach of contract claims. "Tim was excellent from start to finish. He was always personable, responsive, and knowledgeable." "Tim has been really responsive and helpful. He gave us very good advice and a good outcome." "Tim Spillane is also very impressive in the cross-border employment law field."
Ian Hunter is head of Bird & Bird's employment team in London. He advises clients on a full range of work and is noted for his ability to advise on multi-jurisdictional matters. "Ian Hunter is a valued partner to the business."
Alison Dixon has a broad and impressive client base of corporates which seek her advice on commercial employment matters. She regularly works with those same clients on employment litigation, including discrimination claims. "Alison provides excellent counsel. She is highly responsive and her advice cuts through to the crux of the issue with a commercial, reputational line of sight, as well as a legal one." "Alison is a pleasure to work with. She demonstrates clarity of thought, a grasp of complexity and sound judgement."
Jonathan Goldsworthy is an associate within the employment team who assists employers and employees with both contentious and non-contentious issues. "Jonathan is a great partner to me and my team." "Jon is my go-to person. I rely heavily on him."
Penny Hunt is commended for her astute advice to employers and senior executives on redundancy consultations, senior exits and whistle-blowing claims. "She is our go-to lawyer for contentious matters. Penny is the lawyer to have on your side in complex or sensitive disputes." "Penny used her significant experience in this area to advise me fairly and realistically. She is also extremely swift in her replies and commitments to deadlines."