Department profile

Employment: Employer

UK Guide 2026 : London (Firms)

Farrer & Co LLP

Rankings

Ranked Individuals

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Employment: Employer - London (Firms)

Band 3

What the Team is Known For

Farrer & Co provides expert advice to employers from the financial, education and sports sectors. The firm is also renowned for its work for senior executives, notably advising on severance negotiations and restrictive covenant-related matters. It regularly advises both sets of clients on discrimination, whistle-blowing and dismissal-related claims. The team has a particularly strong practice for assisting organisations with the implementation of appropriate safeguarding policies. The firm's expertise extends to the employment implications of sensitive employment disputes and shareholder activism.

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Strengths

Provided by Chambers

The team is always very responsive and able to meet deadlines when required.
Employment: Employer respondentUK
The team has such strength in depth in terms of the number of highly capable employment lawyers at all levels who are on-hand to assist during pinch-points in complex cases.
Employment: Employer respondentUK
The team were incredibly supportive, I felt like I had the best people working with me. They were diligent, strong in their responses and clearly the best in the business.
Employment: Employer respondentUK

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Band 1
Band 1
Anna Birtwistle
Anna Birtwistle is regularly called upon by senior individuals to advise on exits and discrimination claims. She is also experienced in assisting clients with misconduct investigations.
She is one of the best employment solicitors out there. I am blown away by her.
Employment: Employer respondentUK
Anna Birtwistle is quite simply the best employment lawyer in the City of London.
Employment: Employer respondentUK
She is a rockstar. Anna is brilliant and practical.
Employment: Employer respondentUK
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Band 1
Band 1
David Smellie
David Smellie has decades of experience and draws widespread praise for his sophisticated representation of senior employees. He is often called upon to advise on team moves and senior exits.
You always feel he’s fighting your corner.
Employment: Employer respondentUK
David Smellie is our go-to employment adviser.
Employment: Employer respondentUK
David Smellie is a leader in his field.
Employment: Employer respondentUK
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Band 1
Band 1
Eleanor Rowswell
Eleanor Rowswell is recognised for her work representing senior-level City of London employees. She regularly works with individuals at financial services organisations and law firms, advising them on contract negotiations, exits and disputes.
Eleanor was extremely knowledgable and clearly an impressively powerful lawyer in her field.
Employment: Employer respondentUK
Eleanor is technically excellent, but is also quick to grasp the commercial reality of the situation and leads a highly strategic response.
Employment: Employer respondentUK
She is extremely responsive, offers very practical advice and is completely client-centric.
Employment: Employer respondentUK
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Band 4
Band 4
Kathleen Heycock
Kathleen Heycock is recognised for her work for both senior employees and employers in the education sector. She is especially well-known for advising executive-level employees in the financial services sector.
She is very responsive and enjoyable to work with.
Employment: Employer respondentUK
Kathleen Heycock has a really pragmatic can-do attitude to problems that clients face.
Employment: Employer respondentUK
Kathleen is an excellent employment lawyer. She can get to the nub of the issues quickly and provides pragmatic and cogent advice which is always to the point and invaluable.
Employment: Employer respondentUK
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Band 2
Band 2
Maria Strauss
A partner at Farrer & Co, Maria Strauss demonstrates versatility across a number of practice areas. She advises employers on issues such as misconduct, harassment and discrimination. Maria is also one of the founding members of Farrer & Co's Safeguarding Unit.
She is highly competent.
Employment: Employer respondentUK
Maria Strauss is an outstanding professional.
Employment: Employer respondentUK
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Band 2
Band 2
Rachel Lewis
Rachel Lewis advises employers from a wide range of areas including the cultural, professional services and financial sectors. She is experienced in discrimination claims and reorganisations.
She is excellent.
Employment: Employer respondentUK
If you have an employment issue then you want Rachel Lewis on your side.
Employment: Employer respondentUK
I find her excellent.
Employment: Employer respondentUK
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Band 4
Band 4
David Hunt
David Hunt is a partner at Farrer & Co who handles whistle-blowing, disciplinary and grievance matters for employers from a range of industries. He has a particular emphasis on the financial services and sports sectors. Hunt also has additional expertise in handling High Court litigation matters.
David has an innate ability to simplify and summarise complex legal matters in a way that you can fully understand the context and explain to colleagues.
Employment: Employer respondentUK
David is a go-to Lawyer in respect of complex and strategically important litigation with a vast array of clients.
Employment: Employer respondentUK
David is absolutely brilliant. He's technically brilliant and one of the best lawyers I've worked with.
Employment: Employer respondentUK
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Up and Coming
Up and Coming
Charmaine Pollock
Charmaine Pollock regularly advises senior executives in relation to internal investigation and allegations made against them, as well as entry and exit negotiations.
Charmaine is a legal eagle with a fantastic ability to both balance all the above with empathy and that deep legal expertise whilst bringing a much-needed sense of humour to the processes.
Employment: Employer respondentUK
Charmaine consistently delivers an exceptional level of client service and experience. Her depth of expertise, responsiveness and pragmatic approach provide real confidence.
Employment: Employer respondentUK
Charmaine Pollock is a pleasure to work with. She adds a warmth to her excellent technical ability.
Employment: Employer respondentUK
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