Described by clients as the 'foremost claimant employment law firm', Leigh Day's 'unparalleled knowledge of group litigation' is brought to bear on equal pay, discrimination and workers’ rights mandates. The group is also praised for its expertise relating to actionable collective and individual trade union rights issues and claims related to the prevention of forced labour in the workplace.  The team is co-led by Nigel MacKay and Emma Satyamurti, with MacKay being well regarded for his collective representation of workers in cases related to the gig economy and the latter an authority on discrimination issues and equal pay. Kiran Daurka sports particular expertise in equality cases and in advising whistleblowers, and discrimination claims based on gender critical grounds stands out as a recent area of activity for Elizabeth George. Paula Lee specialises in equal pay matters while Michael Newman frequently takes strategic control of large group claims. Chris Benson acts as managing partner, and continues to provide strategic input on group claims. Annie Powell, Nick Webster and Liana Wood are key names to note.

Noted for its ‘growing reputation in the employment world’, Cole Khan Solicitors LLP has extensive experience in disability claims, hybrid working disputes and worker’s rights cases such as mandates related to the gig economy and the use of fixed term contracts. The team has also seen an increase in instructions from unions, notably strategic litigation mandates. Shazia Khan co-heads the team; her wide-ranging practice spans race discrimination claims and private mediations for clients in cases of unfair dismissal.  Fellow co-head Emilie Cole is praised for her ‘brilliant legal mind’ and commitment to ‘ensuring social justice in the workplace’.  Thomas Moore and Colin Davidson are further names to note.

Irwin Mitchell‘s employment and professional discipline team is well placed to advise on complex discrimination and whistleblowing claims, pay and bonus disputes, and restrictive covenants and post-termination restrictions. Clients include senior executives, employees and unions. Additionally, the team is well known for advising senior executives from the medical, banking and legal services sectors. Team head Shah Qureshi is equipped to handle contentious and non-contentious matters and is described as ‘a force of nature in the field of discrimination claims.’  Deborah Casale is well placed to advise on whistleblowing and equal pay issues, while acting for employees in relation to professional and regulatory and disciplinary proceedings stands out as a recent area of activity for Danielle Parsons. Shazia Shah is a further key contact.

Acting for a number of police officers and the Police Federation, the ‘assiduous’ team at Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP is trusted by clients from unionised work places, or workplaces with a staff association, to advise on issues such as industrial action, police law, collective bargaining issues and pension rights. Team head Binder Bansel has longstanding experience of representing a diverse range of trade unions and staff associations. Anthea Christie's broad practice includes a niche focus on regulatory issues affecting police officers, while Clare Walsh is well placed to handle disability discrimination test cases.

‘Passionate about representing employees’, Slater and Gordon acts for trade union members, private clients and staff associations with mandates such as race discrimination cases, sex discrimination and sexual harassment claims. The practice is well regarded for its handling of high-profile whistleblowing complaints. Practice head Edward Cooper has significant experience of representing employees from both the public and private sectors. Head of private employment law and ‘stand out star‘ Doreen Reeves is highlighted for her bulk settlement agreement know-how. TUPE specialist Laura Thompson is the head of organisation and membership services and frequently assists clients including police officers, seafarers and retail workers on a range of employment matters. Jo Mackie departed in October 2022.

Led by Bernie Wentworth from the Liverpool office, Thompsons Solicitors LLP advises a wide array of unions such as UNISON, the NUJ and the POA, and is praised for having ‘intimate knowledge of how unions approach litigation’. Brian Wilson is adept at handling mandates involving detriment and dismissal due to whistleblowing. Emma Game has a strong track record in unfair dismissal, discrimination and redundancy cases. Richard Arthur is described as ‘a leader in the field of union employment law, including industrial action litigation’. Rakesh Patel retired in April 2023.

Anthony Gold Solicitors LLP represents trade unions, their members and employees, notably in matters relating to equal pay, whistleblowing claims and restrictive covenants. The firm is also well regarded for its work on discrimination claims and has a a strong track record of litigating stress at work cases. Joy Drummond joined the team in December 2022 from Simpson Millar LLP; Drummond has longstanding experience in acting on behalf of trade union backed claimants in individual and collective claims. 'Stellar negotiator' Inbar Rabinovitz  maintains a particular focus on discrimination matters, while Aneil Balgobin spearheads the team’s offering.

Bindmans LLP‘s employment practice is noted for its expertise in matters involving whistleblowing, discrimination at work and trade union victimisation. The group also exhibits expertise relating to the use of NDAs in sexual harassment claims. Interim team head Krishna Santra is well versed in complex discrimination claims and settlement agreements. Tina Din's employment expertise extends to unfair dismissal and agency workers' rights. Yavnik Ganguly is well placed to advise on issues such as protected disclosure detriment claims.

Curzon Green Solicitors is active across a broad range of issues faced by employees, encompassing equal pay complaints, disguised disability claims and shared parental leave issues. The firm advises a number of clients from the recruitment, financial, and media industries. Practice head Jennifer Sole leverages her ‘wide knowledge and appreciation of the law’ when representing employees before the Employment Tribunal, EAT and the High Court in whistleblowing and discrimination cases. Lauren McLaughlin focuses on equality matters such as equal pay and sex discrimination, while Uzair Zafar is well versed in whistleblowing detriment and race discrimination claims.

The core pillars of didlaw‘s practice are disability discrimination and health issues at work; the team is also handling an increasing number of cases related to women’s rights involving sexual harassment and sex, and maternity and pregnancy discrimination. Practice head Karen Jackson is an authority on disability discrimination matters, frequently speaking and delivering training on the matter. Elizabeth McGlone is well versed in the field of women’s rights, while her disability practice know-how extends to learning disabilities and neurodiversity. Anita Vadgama, who frequently acts for women of colour in senior positions, is another name to note.

Described by clients as a 'stand out firm', Rahman Lowe Solicitors' areas of expertise encompass whistleblowing, unfair dismissal, and restrictive covenant issues, in addition to collective labour law matters. The firm handles litigation at all levels including appellate courts. Practice head and founder Jahad Rahman is well regarded for his handling of employment tribunal whistleblowing claims. Zillur Rahman is an authority on reputational risk issues, including defamation claims in the High Court. Both lawyers are praised for having the ‘tenacity and skill to take on complex cases‘.

Noted as being ‘a strong choice for employees with substantive claims against their employers’, Ronald Fletcher Baker LLP acts for a variety of clients including headteachers, police and civil servants on issues such as sexual harassment, whistleblowing and unlawful deduction from wages. The team is jointly led by Rebecca Roberts and Michael Michaeloudis, with Michaeloudis being praised for his ‘particular strength in employment litigation’ and ‘attention to detail’. Gerard Airey departed the firm in March 2023.