Employment: Employer
UK Guide 2025 : London (Firms)
Band 1
About
Provided by Herbert Smith Freehills
The HSF Employment Team is recognised as one of the most experienced, pragmatic and responsive full-service employment teams globally. In the UK, we are one of few firms ranked as top tier in both leading legal directories for Employment Law.
The team is adept at advising employers on contentious and non-contentious employment law matters, including restructurings and reorganisations, TUPE transfers in the context of M&A and outsourcings, listed company issues, DSARs and employee data protection, investigations (often involving regulatory considerations), team moves and bonus claims in the High Court and discrimination and whistleblowing claims in the Employment Tribunal. We are the “go-to” firm for complex, high-stakes and reputationally significant litigation. We draw on extensive experience to deploy novel, multi-disciplinary, strategic analysis to achieve our clients’ objectives.
We are at the forefront of legal developments and take a cross-practice approach to address incentives, corporate governance, tax and regulatory considerations.
Chambers Review
Herbert Smith Freehills' employment team is widely recognised for the strength of its employment litigation work and offers a wealth of experience in handling all manner of complex employment tribunal and High Court matters. The firm also works with employers on board-level disputes and investigations. It regularly advises large employers from the retail sector and financial services.
Work Highlights
- Herbert Smith Freehills acted for the Bishop of Derby in religious discrimination proceedings brought against her Diocese in the Employment Tribunal.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"HSF are highly coordinated and produce a very thorough work product."
"The team has an exceptional ability to cut through complex issues and provide commercial advice."
"The team are exceptionally responsive."
"HSF are highly coordinated and produce a very thorough work product."
"The team has an exceptional ability to cut through complex issues and provide commercial advice."
"The team are exceptionally responsive."
Notable Practitioners
Peter Frost is a consultant at Herbert Smith Freehills, where he maintains his reputation as a go-to solicitor for corporates facing high-profile and bet-the-company employment disputes. His deep experience includes defending significant equal pay claims.
"Peter has amazing attention to detail and gets everything right."
Head of UK employment at Herbert Smith Freehills, Andrew Taggart enjoys an excellent reputation for his advice to employers on all forms of complex employment disputes. His expertise encompasses equal pay claims and regulatory matters.
"He provides top-notch advice for board level matters. He understands his audience and how to communicate difficult issues."
"His litigation experience is very impressive."
Partner Tim Leaver has experience advising large employers on transactional and contentious employment matters at Herbert Smith Freehills. He is proficient in discrimination claims and the SMCR. He also acts as a mental health mentor as part of the firm's diversity and inclusion initiatives.
"Tim is extremely reassuring to have on our side, especially for complex, sensitive and urgent matters."
"Tim is exceptionally skilled and adept at offering sensible and pragmatic advice."
"He has an abundance of in-depth employment law knowledge and experience which helps him to navigate complex situations thoughtfully and proactively."
Christine Young advises employer clients on a broad range of issues including business restructurings, team moves and the employment aspects of transactions. She is also regularly called upon to advise on harassment claims and the SMCR.
"She knows the law and when it gets tricky, she is always clear on what we should do."
"Her technical knowledge is very impressive."
Nick Wright is a partner at Herbert Smith Freehills who assists clients with contentious and non-contentious employment matters. He is experienced advising on team moves and discrimination claims.
"Nick is calm, clear and extremely responsive."
"He is very pragmatic, very diligent and a pleasure to work with."
Ranked Lawyers at
Herbert Smith Freehills
London (Firms)
Members
Provided by Herbert Smith Freehills
Clients
Provided by Herbert Smith Freehills
Church Commissioners
Eni
Imagination Technologies
Jefferies Group
Marathon Asset Management LLP
PA Consulting
Stagecoach Group plc
Watchstone Group
Wesfarmers
Industries
Provided by Herbert Smith Freehills
Banks
Commerical and professional services
Construction and Materials
Energy
Financial Services
Food & Drink Producers
Insurance
Mining & Metals
Real Estate
Retail
Technology, Hardware & Electronics
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Transportation
Travel & Leisure
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