Employment | Global

Baker McKenzie is noted for its exceptionally broad coverage, with top-notch employment departments across the UK, Europe, Asia-Pacific, including China and Australia, and the USA. The law firm offers considerable expertise in advising on group restructurings, mass redundancies, integrations, restrictive covenants and mobility issues. It provides special expertise in handling employment aspects of cross-border transactions. The firm also offers proficient handling of complex employee benefits mandates, advising on pensions and share plans. It has experience in acting for clients across a range of sectors, including automotive, industrial, energy, mining, financial institutions, healthcare and communications.

A&O Shearman is recognised for its notable practice advising on international employment law issues. It has a particularly strong European presence, with recognised offices across the continent, as well as active teams in Hong Kong and China. The law firm offers regulatory expertise that supports the firm's strength in employment matters. It has experience in advising clients from a range of sectors, with a particularly strong following among banks and pharmaceutical and technology companies.

DLA Piper is noted for its broad network across Europe, Asia and the UK, and has additional strengths in the USA and Latin America. The law firm offers experience in advising on the labour aspects of corporate restructurings and post-acquisition integrations, and is noted for its proficiency in assisting with cross-border HR policy alignment and compliance, pensions and globality issues. It provides expertise in global investigations and employment litigation, such as cases concerning allegations of workplace discrimination, and is familiar with advising clients from the technology, life sciences, aviation, financial services and retail industries.

Clifford Chance has a market-leading employee benefits team and a robust employment offering, benefiting from a widespread network of offices that is led by a well-regarded team in London. The law firm offers expert advice on collective employee savings plans and share schemes, and in-depth knowledge of remuneration and incentive arrangements for senior executives. It fields a multidisciplinary team of experts, covering legal, regulatory and tax advice on large-scale global share plans and incentives issues. The firm is noted for its skill in advising an array of clients from the financial services, aerospace, retail, technology, energy and real estate sectors on contentious and non-contentious employment matters.

CMS is experienced in advising across a wide range of employment law matters, and is recognised for its considerable strength across the UK and Europe, as well as displaying a growing presence in Asia. The law firm offers experience in acting for clients from an array of industries, including TMT, financial services and transportation. It provides expertise in advising on senior and collective contract termination as well as restructuring, employee transfer and remuneration matters.

Eversheds Sutherlands has a strong reputation for its global reach and international approach to employment matters. The firm has a broad spread of offices across Europe, with notable strength in the UK. The law firm offers integrated and expert service across multiple jurisdictions, and expertise in advising clients from a range of industry sectors, including finance, tech, manufacturing and retail. The firm is familiar with assisting clients with cross-border HR, employment litigation and contractual matters.

Freshfields has a highly regarded employment and employee benefits practice that has a strong presence in the UK, Europe and Japan. The law firm is familiar with acting for clients on the employment aspects of cross-border transactions, as well as providing ongoing advice regarding bonus plans, terminations and a variety of other HR legal queries. It has excellent capability in contentious employment matters, including litigation, boardroom disputes and industrial relations, and considerable experience in whistle-blowing cases, including for the finance industry. The firm also has growing strength in new employment contract areas, such as the gig economy and zero-hours contracts, and assists with employee data protection.

Herbert Smith Freehills has a well-regarded practice with strength across a range of employment and employee benefits issues. It is particularly noted for its leading teams in Australia, Singapore and the UK. The law firm offers experience in advising on litigation and regulatory investigations, including discrimination claims and whistle-blowing procedures. It provides expertise in assisting with boardroom and executive matters, as well as employment law advice during corporate transactions, such as sales, restructurings and acquisitions. The firm has further considerable skill in drafting employee and executive share and incentive plans and transfer agreements, and is familiar with acting for clients from the financial services, energy, transport, retail and TMT sectors.

Linklaters is recognised for its outstanding employee incentives and share schemes and employment teams, which are highly esteemed by global clients, and boasts particular strength in London. The law firm offers considerable expertise in advising clients from the pharmaceutical and financial services industries. It has experience in advising on employment benefits issues related to M&A and other transactions, such as investor buyouts and business sales and separations, and is proficient in acting on regulatory matters concerning executive pay and benefits.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius is respected for its considerable strength in employee benefits plans and general employment law compliance, and is particularly noted for its significant USA expertise. The law firm offers expertise in advising startups and public companies on cross-border executive compensation matters, and has considerable experience in acting for clients from the pharmaceutical, technology, hospitality and food industries. It can also offer knowledge in the handling of litigation, including strike-related disputes and claims of sexual harassment and discrimination.

Simmons & Simmons enjoys a leading reputation for advising on contentious and non-contentious employment matters in the UK and Hong Kong, as well as notable strength in continental Europe. The law firm offers experience in representing clients from the financial services, TMT and life sciences industries, and provides expertise in handling compliance investigations and employment disputes, including non-competition and business protection litigation. It offers further skill in assisting clients with restructuring, outsourcing and remuneration regulatory matters, and has knowledge of advising on policy reviews, corporate mandates and executive recruitment.

Jones Day is well regarded for assisting clients with both non-contentious and contentious employment law mandates. It has notable strength in the USA and impressive offices across Europe and Asia. The law firm offers special strength in advising on the employment law aspects of transactions, particularly cross-border restructurings and M&A matters. It has experience in representing clients in employment litigation and investigations, including wage and hour class actions, and expertise in acting on executive compensation and employee benefits mandates, as well as health and safety issues.

Proskauer Rose is noted for its considerable strength in advising on a range of employment law matters, particularly across France and the USA. The law firm offers expertise in representing clients from a range of industry sectors, including TMT, banking and finance, and private equity. It is skilled in handling employment litigation, such as employment investigations and discrimination cases, and has experience in advising on multi-jurisdictional redundancies, collective dismissals, employee data protection and whistle-blowing matters. The firm is familiar with acting for sporting organisations on contentious employment agreements and arbitration.