Ranking tables

Employment | UK

West Midlands

This section has a broad scope and firms can submit a wide range of workplace related matters, both contentious and non-contentious.   In terms of disputes, work can include Employment Tribunal claims relating to discrimination, unfair dismissal, equal pay or employee status. It can also include litigation before the higher courts relating to team moves or restrictive covenant. Firms are also recognised for their advisory work on matters such as TUPE, redundancies, gig-economy matters, senior executive issues and policy and HR training. We also recognise firms for their employment work in the context of corporate transactions, however this work is viewed less favourably.  

Rankings overview for Departments

All Departments profiles

1

Band 1

  1. DLA Piper UK LLP
    1
    DLA Piper UK LLP
    Employment
    2026 | Band 1 | 3 Years Ranked

    DLA Piper advises clients on a comprehensive range of employment law issues. Its particular strengths include whistleblowing cases, reorganisations and executive termination agreements. The firm regularly represents high-profile employers from the hospitality and retail sectors. Leveraging the firm's offices across the UK and internationally, DLA Piper is able to assist clients with national and cross-border employment matters.

  2. Eversheds Sutherland
    1
    Eversheds Sutherland
    Employment
    2026 | Band 1 | 3 Years Ranked

    Eversheds Sutherland's Birmingham office handles complex employment matters for a variety of high-profile clients, including organisations from the financial services, technology and energy sectors. The Eversheds team regularly advises on non-contentious matters including TUPE, redundancy consultations and business restructuring, as well as contentious employment disputes and industrial relations.

  3. Mills & Reeve LLP
    1
    Mills & Reeve LLP
    Employment
    2026 | Band 1 | 3 Years Ranked

    Mills & Reeve assists private and public sector clients across a whole range of issues, including discrimination claims, unfair dismissals and whistle-blowing allegations. The firm also advises on employment law in a transactional context, with notable expertise in handling TUPE-related issues. Its lawyers regularly provide expert support to healthcare clients and large universities, as well as clients in the sports, retail, and food and drink sectors.

  4. Pinsent Masons LLP
    1
    Pinsent Masons LLP
    Employment
    2026 | Band 1 | 3 Years Ranked

    Pinsent Masons is a highly regarded firm offering expert advice to employers in the financial services, energy and education sectors on a wide range of employment law matters. The team is especially notable for its work with higher education clients. Its areas of work include advice on equal pay and whistleblowing claims, with added strengths in outsourcing and reorganisations.

  5. Squire Patton Boggs
    1
    Squire Patton Boggs
    Employment
    2026 | Band 1 | 3 Years Ranked

    Squire Patton Boggs advises on the full spectrum of employment law, with experience in complex tribunal cases and restructurings, among other areas. Other areas of expertise include TUPE and large-scale cross-border projects. It regularly assists clients from the financial services, manufacturing and hospitality sectors, and has notable experience advising sports organisations on employment matters. It also provides employment training to businesses as well as offering pensions support.

2

Band 2

  1. 2
    Averta Employment Lawyers
    Employment
    2026 | Band 2 | 2 Years Ranked

    Averta Employment Lawyers is a claimant-oriented firm that advises employees from both the private and public sectors across the whole spectrum of employment issues. Averta has particular expertise in tribunal claims and settlement agreements, as well as restrictive covenant disputes, harassment and discrimination claims. The firm is particularly adept at handling and negotiating exit strategies for senior executives. It also advises on pensions issues, whistle-blowing claims and redundancies.

  2. Gateley Legal
    2
    Gateley Legal
    Employment
    2026 | Band 2 | 3 Years Ranked

    Gateley Legal has a well-regarded employment practice that offers support on both contentious and non-contentious employment matters. Gateley's areas of strength include TUPE, equal pay issues and tribunal litigation. Its clients include large retailers, sports clubs and transport groups. The firm also handles work involving trade unions, including strikes and other industrial action.

  3. Gowling WLG (UK) LLP
    2
    Gowling WLG (UK) LLP
    Employment
    2026 | Band 2 | 3 Years Ranked

    Gowling WLG houses a highly respected team offering advice on day-to-day and transactional employment law, including TUPE work, outsourcing and equal pay issues. Gowling's extensive litigation experience includes complex tribunal work involving whistle-blowing and discrimination claims. The firm regularly acts for both public and private employers. Gowling frequently advises clients in the food and drink, technology and transport sectors. The team also advises on an array of industrial relations issues ranging from industrial disputes through to drafting and interpreting recognition agreements.

  4. Shoosmiths LLP
    2
    Shoosmiths LLP
    Employment
    2026 | Band 2 | 3 Years Ranked

    Shoosmiths' West Midlands office is in Birmingham. It provides expertise across a diverse range of areas including outsourcings, complex grievances and senior exits, and regularly acts for large employers, including household-name clients in the retail and food and drink industries. The team also advises on employment litigation, with notable work on matters involving whistleblowing complaints.

3

Band 3

  1. Browne Jacobson LLP
    3
    Browne Jacobson LLP
    Employment
    2026 | Band 3 | 3 Years Ranked

    Browne Jacobson's Birmingham office has an experienced employment team that provides advice to both public and private sector clients. It has particular strengths in tribunal representation, employment law training and whistle-blowing procedures, as well as executive terminations, reorganisations, outsourcing and TUPE-related issues. Browne Jacobson regularly assists clients from the healthcare and sports sectors, as well as advising local councils. It also advises schools, academies and other education sector clients on a full range of issues.

  2. Freeths LLP
    3
    Freeths LLP
    Employment
    2026 | Band 3 | 3 Years Ranked

    Freeths is a well-reputed firm with a strong regional presence which offers advice to both private and public sector clients on a wide variety of employment issues. Its work includes advice on TUPE matters, whistle-blowing and large-scale restructurings. The team also has extensive experience of tribunal advocacy and provides training on the effective management of employment issues, including equal pay disputes and gender pay gap issues.

  3. Shakespeare Martineau
    3
    Shakespeare Martineau
    Employment
    2026 | Band 3 | 3 Years Ranked

    Shakespeare Martineau provides detailed advice to a wide range of clients on employment law, with regular work for corporate groups as well as third sector and education clients. It has particular expertise in heavyweight litigation and especially assists universities and colleges with unfair dismissal claims, whistleblowing cases and redundancies.

  4. VWV
    3
    VWV
    Employment
    2026 | Band 3 | 3 Years Ranked

    VWV has a recognised employment team comprising highly experienced individuals advising on the full gamut of employment law. It offers expertise in discrimination cases, TUPE issues and large-scale redundancies. The team acts for commercial clients, as well as those operating in the charities sector, and is particularly notable for its work with education clients, including independent schools, academies and higher education institutions. The lawyers are also experienced in advising companies on senior exits.

  5. Weightmans
    3
    Weightmans
    Employment
    2026 | Band 3 | 3 Years Ranked

    Weightmans is an established firm acting for both public and private sector employees across all areas of employment law. It often represents large clients from the hospitality and retail sectors, as well as educational organisations and local councils. The team demonstrates particular expertise in handling large equal pay claims. It also acts for respondents in whistle-blowing and discrimination cases. The firm is further noted for its advice to employers on avoiding union or strike action.

4

Band 4

  1. Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP
    4
    Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP
    Employment
    2026 | Band 4 | 3 Years Ranked

    Anthony Collins is an established firm with standout strength in the healthcare, housing and social care sectors. It also advises clients from the charity and education fields. The team regularly handles TUPE transfers, National Minimum Wage issues, Working Time Regulations, and tribunal claims, as well as issues relating to equal pay.

  2. Irwin Mitchell
    4
    Irwin Mitchell
    Employment
    2026 | Band 4 | 3 Years Ranked

    Irwin Mitchell has a well-established team of highly experienced employment practitioners. The team has in-depth expertise in a range of issues including employment tribunals, TUPE. whistle-blowing, redundancy advice and discrimination matters, as well as unfair dismissal claims. It is also able to provide strategic advice on employment matters arising from sales and acquisitions. The team is called upon by clients from a range of sectors including education and healthcare.

  3. Lanyon Bowdler Solicitors
    4
    Lanyon Bowdler Solicitors
    Employment
    2026 | Band 4 | 3 Years Ranked

    Lanyon Bowdler Solicitors is noted for its non-contentious employment expertise and is frequently sought after to advise on transactions and TUPE transfers, as well as changes to terms and conditions and policies and procedures. The team offers additional capabilities assisting with claims of discrimination and unfair dismissal, as well as redundancy processes. The employment team is based across Telford and Hereford.

  4. Trowers & Hamlins LLP
    4
    Trowers & Hamlins LLP
    Employment
    2026 | Band 4 | 1 Years Ranked

    Trowers & Hamlins' employment team in Birmingham advises public and private sector employer clients on both contentious and non-contentious matters, with particular expertise in pensions law.

  5. Aaron & Partners LLP
    Employment
    2026 | Band 4
  6. George Green LLP
    Employment
    2026 | Band 4
  7. Heminsley
    Employment
    2026 | Band 4
  8. mfg Solicitors
    Employment
    2026 | Band 4