Employment

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.

"Herbert Smith Freehills are able to get under the skin of our business. They are at the cutting edge, handling novel issues as well as being a very well-oiled machine, extremely thorough and pleasant to deal with. They have an excellent service ethos."

"They are leaders in their field and my go-to firm for any complex employment law matters."

"You go to HSF for a particular level of service. We take strategically important and complex matters to them, which they are able to handle with great ease. They can bring great intellectual heft and are very good at thinking around problems at all angles."

Herbert Smith Freehills advised Tesco on its defence of equal pay claims brought by over 30,000 current and former store employees.

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 is very calm, measured and knowledgeable." "His real strength is the insight he can bring as he is always up to date on legal procedure."

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. "Andrew is just simply superb; he understands what the client wants and is very calm and measured in any advice that he provides. He is always available and is very strategic." "He is an absolute pleasure to work with - in situations of stress and high pressure, he makes things easy. He is highly responsive and holds things together." "Andrew has a methodical approach to try and see all angles of an issue. He is very good at project managing and thinking innovatively about everything."

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 an exceptional lawyer. He is technically strong, extremely commercial and responsive, as well as attentive, with great rapport." "He is a very good lawyer who takes a sensible and collaborative approach to matters."

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. "Christine is a trusted employment partner who is able to bring her experience to bear for us in practical and pragmatic ways." "We receive an excellent level of service from Christine." "Christine is a very experienced and competent employment lawyer who finds optimal solutions to challenges faced." "She is a super bright and very capable lawyer."

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 a rising star - he is technically excellent with great relationship management skills." "He is highly commercial and adds real value every time."