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Employment lawyers
Employment is fundamentally important to both people and organizations. With unparalleled experience acting for individuals, and longstanding relationships with employers of all shapes and sizes, our dedicated global team of employment lawyers can help find the best solution.
We bring a depth of experience and creativity to help solve problems that can arise at any stage of an employment relationship.
As a highly respected global team of employment lawyers, we provide legal services and advice for employers and employees in equal numbers, offering creative solutions that help you get the best from your working relationships.
Renowned for advising senior executives
Our team of employment solicitors stands out for their work with top-tier executives across a wide range of sectors including financial services, advertising, fashion, sport and charities. We are known for our tenacity; whether you are negotiating a golden handshake or a difficult exit, we commit to getting you the best deal in every case.
Trusted advice to employers
We have long-standing relationships with many well-known national and global employers, including Anya Hindmarch, Tate and Winton Capital Management, who call on us for everything from advice on contracts to crisis management when wrongdoing by an employee is discovered.
When disputes do arise, we think tactically, creating a commercial strategy to support your needs using our extensive knowledge of employment law.
Global reach
With offices around the world and employment lawyers qualified in more than one jurisdiction, we are well-placed to help both senior executives and employers with cross-border matters. Recently we coordinated employment legal advice across Europe, the US, Asia and the Caribbean for a global IT company.
As a full-service employment law firm, we can also call on colleagues to help with associated matters including tax, regulatory issues and reputation management.
The UK Employment Rights Bill - what lies ahead?
Read our resources to help you navigate through the key changes and keep up to date with the latest policy announcements.
Learn moreClients include
Track record
Alleged breaches of post-termination restraints
Advised the client on their exit from the company, as well as to attempt to negotiate a settlement for their departure.
Alleged wrongful termination and defamation
Represented the Company and its Chief Executive Officer, who are co-defendants in an ongoing litigation commenced by an ex-employee of the Company.
Complaints of sexual harassment
Represented the client in conducting an independent investigation into complaints of sexual harassment raised by two employees against a manager. This involved reviewing all circumstantial evidence and conducting extensive interviews with both the individual complainants and the accused, as well as with more than 5 other employees who worked closely with the individuals in question.
Regulating takeover of employees in acquisition
Advised Travelodge Hotels (Asia) Pte Ltd on appropriate terms in the Sale & Purchase Agreement to regulate the takeover of the seller's employees, and reviewed and updated the full suite of employment documents.
Social media policy for MatchMove
Advised the innovative e-payment platform on implementing an appropriate social media policy.
Australian-based software development company
Representing an Australian-based software development company, with their various corporate matters, including (i) an employee share option scheme; (ii) general corporate advice and (iii) employment law issues with its employees.
Global marketing and advertising agency
Representing a global marketing and advertising agency in coming to a mutual termination agreement with its CEO who has been in service for more than 20 years and assisting the company in compiling a master employment contract template for its APAC region.
Global sports marketing agency
Representing a global sports marketing agency in compiling a master employment contract template for its Hong Kong office.
Senior executive / co-founder
Representing a senior executive / co-founder in negotiating a service agreement involving share option plans of the US holding entity. The group hiring the individual is a start-up company designing and manufacturing electric vehicles, which is listed on NASDAQ.
Outside general counsel for luxury brand
Represented luxury brand as outside general counsel in all areas of employment including counseling, compliance with employment laws, leave-related issues, terminations, and defending discrimination actions.
Global entertainment conglomerate
Assisted in the transfer of US employees to China for a global entertainment conglomerate.
Advising a senior executive on his partnership exit in Hong Kong
Advising a senior executive on the termination of his employment in Hong Kong and his simultaneous removal as a partner from a UK LLP, including negotiating his severance arrangements and advising on potential claims in both jurisdictions.
Senior banking departure from New York and relocation to Hong Kong
Advising a senior banker in New York on his departure from his US employer and his relocation to work for a competitor in Hong Kong, including advising on the buyout of complex deferred compensation arrangements and extricating him from onerous restrictive covenants.
Winton Capital Management
Winton is a global investment management and data technology company that uses scientific methods to develop intelligent investment systems. The company contacted Withers for advice on internal restructures and mobility issues between its various locations. Our global reach and knowledge of multiple markets meant we were ideally placed to advise on issues in London and Oxford in the UK, and also in New York, Hong Kong and Tokyo.
Advising a senior executive on his partnership exit in Hong Kong
Advising a senior executive on the termination of his employment in Hong Kong and his simultaneous removal as a partner from a UK LLP, including negotiating his severance arrangements and advising on potential claims in both jurisdictions.
Co-op bank CEO, Barry Tootell
When director and CEO of the Co-op Bank Plc Barry Tootell stepped down in difficult and controversial circumstances, we demonstrated our in-depth knowledge of difficult situations to advise and negotiate his exit. Futhermore, our team continued to support him on arising issues and enquiries related to his time at the Co-op, after his exit.
Harriet Green, CEO of Thomas Cook
When Harriet Green stood down as CEO of Thomas Cook, she turned to Withers' experienced team to help her develop and implement an exit strategy. The situation became more complicated while she was on garden leave, and had to deal with an onslaught of negative press coverage around her alleged handling of the death of two children in Corfu (six years before she joined Thomas Cook). We developed a clear strategy and we closed the matter down to our client's satisfaction.
Senior executives at King.com
Candy Crush Saga was one of the major global success stories of the free-to-play mobile device games, with more than 93 million players worldwide. We are proud to have acted for the founders of the company that owned it, King.com, in the high-profile sale of their business to Activision Blizzard for US$5.9 billion, achieving a very satisfactory outcome for our clients.
SSAFA, the armed forces charity
Acting for SSAFA over several decades. We were on hand to advise when the charity went through a redundancy exercise and TUPE transfer in Germany. We successfully negotiated when two senior executive roles were terminated, alongside more junior members of staff, one of whom brought a disability discrimination claim. We also advised an Employment Tribunal in the UK over whether the charity could be held liable for an allegedly discriminatory decision taken by the MOD, securing a ruling in our client's favour.
Winton Capital Management
Winton is a global investment management and data technology company that uses scientific methods to develop intelligent investment systems. The company contacted Withers for advice on internal restructures and mobility issues between its various locations. Our global reach and knowledge of multiple markets meant we were ideally placed to advise on issues in London and Oxford in the UK, and also in New York, Hong Kong and Tokyo.
An international family
Withers represents many successful families who live and work in countries around the world. We are sometimes asked to advise on contracts for personal staff who travel with the family, in this particular case when there were immigration issues to address.
Italian fashion designer Max Mara
Max Mara is a renowned luxury Italian fashion house with stores around the globe, including across the United States. The group approached Withers for help with its employment needs, advising on the implementation of employee policies and risk management strategies. We were also pleased to suggest and develop store manager training sessions, and we successfully assisted in defending the company against wrongful termination claims.
Successful financial services senior executive
Withers was called on to act for a well-known managing partner of an international investment firm when his reputation was under threat. Our robust approach to reputation management prevented the filing of false statements in a form U-5 (Uniform Termination Notice for Securities Industry Registration) that would have had a detrimental effect on his future career and earnings.
Two US senior executives moving to Europe
As a firm, we are best known for helping globally successful individuals to protect their interests internationally - in this recent matter we helped secure water-tight contracts for two C-suite directors as they relocated from the United States to the United Kingdom, while our transatlantic team reviewed their changed tax circumstances.
Global entertainment conglomerate
Assisted in the transfer of US employees to China for a global entertainment conglomerate.
US micro-venture capital fund
Formation and private offering of a US micro-venture capital fund focusing on the business-to-business digital marketplace and advice on its investments in three portfolio companies: a platform providing athletes and parents with a suite of online tools to streamline the recruiting process; a platform providing restaurants with a trained food delivery staff and system as well as an app which communicates orders received by restaurants; and a platform that allows manufacturers and distributors in the IT sector to communicate with resellers of their products.
California–based recreational vehicle company
Our US corporate, corporate tax and wealth planning groups worked to close this deal, which included a purchase price allocation for personal goodwill and post-closing installment payments under promissory notes, secured by underlying shares subject to a voting agreement. The deal pay-out also included employment arrangements, insurance-related payments and a potential dividend payment.
Senior banking departure from New York and relocation to Hong Kong
Advising a senior banker in New York on his departure from his US employer and his relocation to work for a competitor in Hong Kong, including advising on the buyout of complex deferred compensation arrangements and extricating him from onerous restrictive covenants.
Winton Capital Management
Winton is a global investment management and data technology company that uses scientific methods to develop intelligent investment systems. The company contacted Withers for advice on internal restructures and mobility issues between its various locations. Our global reach and knowledge of multiple markets meant we were ideally placed to advise on issues in London and Oxford in the UK, and also in New York, Hong Kong and Tokyo.
Italian fashion designer Max Mara
Max Mara is a renowned luxury Italian fashion house with stores around the globe, including across the United States. The group approached Withers for help with its employment needs, advising on the implementation of employee policies and risk management strategies. We were also pleased to suggest and develop store manager training sessions, and we successfully assisted in defending the company against wrongful termination claims.
The CEO and COO of a publicly held US retail brand
This well-known speciality brand has annual revenues in excess of $400 million. We advised its chief executive and chief operating officer in a complex transaction to structure the buy-out of their equity interests by a private equity firm and allowing them to rollover their remaining interests into a newly formed holding company. We have developed a particular reputation for our ability to protect successful individuals in negotiations with private equity houses.
The CEO of a globally recognized jewelry brand
This well-known, publicly held brand has more than 1,200 retail outlets throughout the US. We negotiated a new package (valued in excess of $2 million annually) on behalf of the incoming chief executive.
Two US senior executives moving to Europe
As a firm, we are best known for helping globally successful individuals to protect their interests internationally - in this recent matter we helped secure water-tight contracts for two C-suite directors as they relocated from the United States to the United Kingdom, while our transatlantic team reviewed their changed tax circumstances.
Recent recognition
Our team
Amarjit Kaur
Partner | Singapore
Ann M. Wicks
Partner | San Francisco
Claire Christy
Partner | London
Daniel Tang
Partner | Hong Kong
Elaine Aarons
Partner | London
Hugh More
Partner | London
Meriel Schindler
Partner | London
Libby Payne
Partner | London
James Hockin
Partner | London
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Typical clients and industries include
Charities and non-profit
Our significant practice in the non-profit sector means our lawyers can handle governance, mergers, commercial projects and day-to-day issues such as employment while you focus on your mission. Find Out MoreFounders
From advising on tax or global expansion, helping company founders realise their vision is an important aspect of our work. Find Out MoreLeaders and senior executives
We help business leaders to manage their responsibilities at work and home – from advising on employment contracts and regulatory matters, to dealing with tax, wills and prenuptial agreements. Find Out MoreHow else can we help?
We offer a full range of services to individuals and businesses. Find out how we can help you solve challenges and maximize opportunities.
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Our website will give you a flavour of the advice we provide - if you would like to talk to us for more information, please contact our client services team who will be happy to assist.