Department profile
Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP

Employment

UK Guide 2026 : East Anglia


Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP

Rankings

About

Provided by Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP

Our employment law team provides fast, proactive and practical legal support. Approachable and commercially aware, our specialists have in-depth experience of the issues faced by businesses when managing their staff.

We keep clients up to date with the raft of new employment law regulations, highlighting how these could impact on their overall strategy and safeguarding against the potentially huge costs of non-compliance.

Our employment solicitors cover the whole spectrum of employment law issues, including contentious and non contentious matters. We advise major companies through to smaller private and owner-managed businesses in a wide variety of sectors, including financial services, healthcare, recruitment, publishing, media, IT, hotels and leisure, manufacturing, retail and professional services. We also act for public companies, academic institutions and other not-for profit organisations.

Although we are experienced litigators, and frequently represent organisations at employment tribunals and in court, we also offer specialist employment law advice in resolving conflict through alternative dispute resolution. Our package of services to ensure optimum management of human resources includes ongoing support through in-house training, seminars, workshops, newsletters and e-bulletins.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Employment - East Anglia

Band 2

Band 2


What the Team is Known For

Penningtons Manches Cooper advises employer clients in the life sciences, education and technology sectors on a full range of employment matters. The team offers a comprehensive service that sees it working with clients on matters ranging from day-to-day employment issues through to high-stakes litigation. The firm is also noted for its work for senior employees on issues such as contract negotiations at the start of the employment relationship through to exit negotiations at its end. The employment group is based in Cambridge.

Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Penningtons Manches Cooper provided day-to-day employment advice to Flatiron Health on its UK workforce, most recently advising on implementing major changes to the client's pension provision.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • The team handled complex legal contractual issues with aplomb.

    Employment respondentUK
  • The firm is known for its client-focused culture, which emphasises trust, empathy and clear communication, ensuring that clients feel supported and understood.

    Employment respondentUK
  • They are very knowledgeable and also pragmatic, and show an understanding of the business and the industry that we are in.

    Employment respondentUK
  • The team have both a strong sense of empathy and operational understanding, providing guidance that is not only legally sound but also considerate of the real-world challenges faced by our business.

    Employment respondentUK
  • The team gave helpful and detailed advice which was specific to the case.

    Employment respondentUK

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 1Hilary Aldred
    Band 1Hilary Aldred

    Hilary Aldred

    Cambridge-based Hilary Aldred has a respected employment practice and is praised for her work in the education and technology sectors. She is best known for her work with employers and has experience working on restructuring exercises, TUPE compliance and sensitive senior exits.

    • Hilary is very astute and robust when it comes to protecting clients' interests.

      Employment respondentUK
    • Hilary is extremely knowledgeable, candid, and shows you that she is committed and cares on a personal level. She makes you feel like you matter.

      Employment respondentUK
    • Hilary has always provided us with sound advice and navigated us to a good outcome in some very complex cases.

      Employment respondentUK
  • Star AssociatesCharissa Upton
    Star AssociatesCharissa Upton

    Charissa Upton

    Charissa Upton is a managing associate based in the firm's Cambridge office. She has notable experience advising clients on both contentious and non-contentious employment matters across multiple sectors, with particular expertise in the life sciences industry and emerging companies.

    • Charissa has a depth of experience and takes a pragmatic approach.

      Employment respondentUK
    • Charissa is a gem - knowledgeable, responsive and extremely commercial with a keen attention to detail.

      Employment respondentUK
    • Charissa is great.

      Employment respondentUK
  • Star AssociatesSophie Whitbread
    Star AssociatesSophie Whitbread

    Sophie Whitbread

    Managing associate Sophie Whitbread is noted for her extensive experience in employment tribunal matters, including discrimination and contractual disputes, and focuses on education sector clients. She is based in Penningtons Manches Cooper's Cambridge office.

    • Sophie is clear in her communication.

      Employment respondentUK
    • Sophie has good knowledge and is practical getting a result.

      Employment respondentUK
    • She's incredibly versatile and deals with a wide spectrum of litigation.

      Employment respondentUK
    • Sophie delivered perfectly against the brief.

      Employment respondentUK

Ranked Individuals at Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP (3)

East Anglia

Members

Provided by Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP has rankings in the following guides

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