About

Provided by Fox & Partners

We are engaged by partners/members and partnerships and LLPs, typically within the legal, insurance and financial services markets, where there are not only high-value financial issues at stake, but also regulatory and reputational issues to consider.

Assisting partners looking to retire or exit a firm, or firms looking to achieve such outcomes with minimal disruption and risk to the business, is the cornerstone of our practice. Our experience includes both compulsory and voluntary retirements, and stretches the full spectrum of advising clients from negotiating strategy to representing clients in a more public forum. We receive regular instructions at the cutting edge of partnership law, including those relating to discretionary decision making to expel or retire partners often with the consequent loss of multi-million pounds of carried interest.  We are also seeing a growing trend of older and female partners keen to explore discrimination and equal pay angles.  This work also has an increasing international dimension.

We also continue to be instructed by high profile LLP members facing disciplinary or performance concerns and investigations, or firms conducting such processes. Acting for partners/LLP members and firms bringing and defending discrimination and whistleblowing allegations is a core area of our practice. We are called upon as true experts with unique experience and understanding of the application of (often untested) law, culture and regulatory environment.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Partnership - UK-wide

1
Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Fox & Partners is a respected employment and partnership law boutique that is well known for its focus on contentious partnership matters. The team advises partnerships and individual partners, often on complex and highly sensitive issues such as allegations of sexual harassment, discrimination claims and expulsions. The firm represents traditional professional services partnerships as well as those in the financial services sector, including private equity firms.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Caroline Field
1
Caroline Field
1
Band 1
Caroline Field is well known for her contentious partnership expertise, particularly in cases where there is crossover with employment law and issues of professional negligence.

Caroline provided an invaluable support to us in the circumstances.

Catriona Watt
1
Catriona Watt
1
Band 1
Catriona Watt handles a broad range of highly sensitive and contentious partnership matters, including compulsory retirements, partner exits and sexual harassment allegations.

She is absolutely our go-to when we need advice on partnership agreements.

Catriona gets quickly into the detail and has a strong sense of strategy. She is fiercely loyal to the client and probably feared by employers: an exceptional lawyer.

Catriona is a go-to expert for complicated issues. You can be assured of exceptional care and professionalism when represented by Catriona and her team.

I would recommend her to anyone contemplating a difficult or tense exit. Having her on your side to steer you through seemingly impossible conflicts is the best possible investment you can make.

Dean Fuller
4
Dean Fuller
4
Band 4
Dean Fuller provides partnership advice to clients including traditional partnerships and LLPs. He is noted for his work for firms in the financial services sector.

Dean was extremely responsive and able to advise on the commercial and legal issues in play on short notice.

Dean is strong, experienced and calm. He provides good counsel.

Ivor Adair
4
Ivor Adair
4
Band 4
Ivor Adair has a strong reputation for handling contentious partnership matters such as partner exits and restrictive covenants. He has notable experience working with partners at international law firms.

Ivor was excellent and provided considered, strategic advice.

Shiv Raja
Shiv Raja
Associates to watch

Shiv Raja assists clients on contentious partnership matters, with experience advising international law firms and other professional services outfits.

Shiv is an excellent lawyer. His meticulous attention to detail is unmatched, and his calm demeanour provides great reassurance in complex situations.

Shoshana Bacall
Shoshana Bacall
Associates to watch

Shoshana Bacall supports LLPs, professional partnerships and their individual members on a wide range of contentious matters. Her experience includes investigations into alleged harassment and disciplinary matters.

Shoshana has immense technical focus, relentlessly turning every stone but ensuring the commercial ends are met. She is a real star with very strong client relationship skills.

Ranked Lawyers at
Fox & Partners

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

UK-wide

Partnership: Contentious

Caroline Field
1
Caroline Field
1
Band 1
Catriona Watt
1
Catriona Watt
1
Band 1
Dean Fuller
4
Dean Fuller
4
Band 4
Ivor Adair
4
Ivor Adair
4
Band 4
Shiv Raja
Shiv Raja
Associates to watch
Shoshana Bacall
Shoshana Bacall
Associates to watch

Members

Provided by Fox & Partners

Catriona Watt

Catriona Watt

Head of Department

Claire Plumb

Jackie Thomas

Joanna Whymark

Maree Cassaidy

Industries

Provided by Fox & Partners

Financial Services

Insurance

Legal Services

Professional Services