Birketts LLP has one of the largest employment practices in the region and it ‘always provides pragmatic and practical advice, explained in straightforward terms‘. The ‘simply outstanding‘ Jeanette Wheeler leads the cross-office employment practice from Norwich, where ‘legal genius‘ Matthew Newnham ‘provides exceptional service and is always commercially aware'. ‘Very thorough‘ senior associate Lucy Churchill is also a key practitioner. Catherine Johnson who is ‘calmness personified and has an incredible memory bank of legal knowledge‘ and the ‘approachable, empathetic‘ Sonya O’Reilly are the lead partners in Ipswich. Abigail Trencher is the standout partner in Cambridge, where legal director Olivia Toulson is recommended. Tom Sharpe in Norwich defended an unfair dismissal claim for The College of West Anglia.

Cambridge Employment Law LLP's focused practice, which has a strong reputation for its expertise in the health and life sciences sector, is noted as being ‘approachable, personable, pragmatic and commercially-focused whilst sensitive to workplace cultures and values'. The experienced partners in the team are the ‘professional yet very down-to-earth‘ Oliver Pryke, who frequently acts for technology companies and research institutions; Eleanor Freeman, who focuses on work in the biotech and tech sectors; and Mandy Lyne, who supports clients in the engineering, manufacturing and education sectors, as well as numerous SMEs. The team's advice is described as being 'quick, spot-on and practical‘.

The national employment and labour practice at Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP has a hub in Cambridge which is well-equipped to handle local, national and international-level employment matters, ranging advising on restructurings and redundancies to handling litigation. Practice head Simon Tytherleigh, who ‘listens and delivers’, stands out for his Employment Tribunal work. Key partner Elizabeth Graves advises on employment matters in the life sciences, technology and financial services industries. The ‘very client-friendly‘ Matthew Kelly specialises in advising education sector clients, as does ‘thorough and prompt’ principal associate Alice Townley Smith. Constanze Moorhouse, who handles cross-border matters, is ‘very responsive and provides spot-on advice‘. Legal director Rachel Bennett has numerous clients in the pharmaceutical, transport and water sectors, whilst principal associate Sasha Willmott focuses on life sciences and technology.

Greenwoods Legal‘s team ‘continually provides a high-level of customer service’. The firm has a large cross-office practice that operates from London, Peterborough and Cambridge, respectively. It frequently acts for blue-chip and nationally recognised organisations, among them, Cambridge University colleges. Practice head John Macaulay and key partner Keith Williams in Peterborough, along with senior associate Natalie Williams in Cambridge ‘demonstrate their knowledge and experience when exploring practical options’. Cambridge-based team members Joanna Scally and senior associate Siobhan Thomson are described as being ‘knowledgeable, approachable and flexible‘. Managing partner Robert Dillarstone also plays a central role in the practice.

The Cambridge office of Mills & Reeve LLP is a key hub nationally for the firm’s employment work. The ‘open and friendly‘ David Mills leads the practice, wherein Nicola Brown heads up the firm’s work for national higher education, and charity clients, specifically. Stuart Craig focuses on advising health sector clients in the East of England and London, and Melanie James is a key adviser to large private employers. James Kidd leads the employment, pensions and immigration practice in the Norwich office, where ‘expert in his field’ Alex Russell focuses on supporting educational institutions; Russell notably acted for Royal Veterinary College in the successful defence of an unfair dismissal claim.

Mishcon de Reya LLP's practice in Cambridge is an important extension of the wider national employment group, and it is noted as being ‘highly responsive and highly attuned to the needs of technology businesses'. ‘Excellent employment lawyer and astute strategist‘ Kim Wedral-Rooke and Rachel Ashwood, who ‘provides an exemplary service, are the key partners in East Anglia. Wedral-Rooke and associate Jessica Pinto assisted u-Blox Cambridge Ltd with UK and global strategic hires, including overseas secondments, and complex ER matters. Senior associate Alix Beese is also recommended.

Ashtons Legal‘s employment team has particular specialisms in claims of discrimination, employment and worker status, and of statutory protections such as unfair dismissal; it alos operates an established HR consultancy for its employer clients. Notably, it acts for numerous longstanding clients in the food sector, including Premier Foods PLC and Hovis Limited. Norwich-based practice head Ross Strowger is highly knowledgeable in regards to employment issues arising in insolvency and business rescue contexts. Also based in Norwich are Robert Hickford and former HR manager and experienced employment practitioner Oliver Brabbins. Clare Sleep in Cambridge is an expert on education sector-related work. Colin Makin left for an in-house role in July 2022.

Ellisons Solicitors‘ team in Ipswich has ‘good employment law knowledge and experience in the field‘ and the four-lawyer team is regarded as being ‘pragmatic in its approach’ with an ability to give ‘varied advice to suit the business circumstances‘. ‘Kind and sensitive‘ practice head Julian Outen handles complex TUPE and corporate support matters, and high-stakes litigation and discrimination issues. Associate Tina Maxey has a broad practice that includes advising employers on exit strategies and negotiating termination payments.

Gotelee Solicitors' Ipswich-based employment practice is a major player in Suffolk, frequently acting for corporate clients, public sector bodies and high-ranking employees. Practice head Marie Allen is highly regarded for her 'willingness to consider different points of view‘. She recently assisted East Suffolk Council with redundancy, TUPE, disciplinary issues, long-term ill-health, collectively agreed terms and other contractual issues, and she is considered to be ‘highly responsive and knowledgeable'. Managing partner Andrew West also plays a key role in the practice.

Greene & Greene in Bury St Edmunds has ‘a very friendly and professional team that is accessible, flexible and quick to grasp an understanding of the context when giving advice’. The firm’s work for large regional employers encompasses complex discrimination and whistleblowing claims, equal pay disputes, TUPE matters, redundancies and restructuring, disputes relating to post-termination restrictions, senior exits, data protection issues, and more. ‘Truly outstanding‘ practice head Selene Holden ‘has a very quick and intuitive mind‘. ‘Great listener’ Greg Jones is noted as being ‘able to empathise and calmly advise’. Specialist employment barrister Angharad Ellis Owen  and senior associate Katie Harris-Wright also play key roles in the practice.

HCR Hewitsons' employment offering has cemented its standing in the Cambridge market. Key practitioners in the team are Valerie Lambert, who is regarded as being ‘totally committed to her clients, for whom she leaves no stone unturned' and the 'knowledgeable, objective and personal' Elizabeth Swinburn, who is noted as providing 'impeccable' advice. The team's workload includes handling High Court litigation work, restrictive covenants, breach of fiduciary duty disputes, business reorganisations, Employment Tribunal disputes and TUPE transfers. Associate Charlotte Herrington ‘shows great attention-to-detail in HR-related legal matters‘.

Howes Percival LLP provides an ‘efficient, communicative and personable service' to its clients across East Anglia and further afield. Practice head Matthew Potter in Cambridge has extensive experience in board-level disputes and exits. Norwich-based legal director Laura Brown is valued by clients for her 'honesty and excellent problem-solving skills'; she also provides ‘superb client management with consideration and instinctive understanding' in both domestic and cross-border matters for clients in the leisure, technology, education, energy and renewables, motor, manufacturing and food sectors.

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP in Cambridge is noted as having impressive ‘commercial pragmatism‘. The Cambridge office is a key hub in the national, firm-wide employment practice, and the local team is a key advisor to major clients in the technology and education sectors in particular. ‘Pragmatic and decisive‘ practice head Hilary Aldred recently settled long-running, high-profile tribunal claims for Christ Church, Oxford concerning its former Dean. Managing associate and ‘very logical thinker’ Sophie Whitbread is described as ‘providing clear and succinct legal advice‘, and ‘responsive, indefatigable, innovative and supportive‘ senior associate Charissa Upton are highly recommended team members.

Prettys Solicitors LLP‘s Ipswich team has a growing roster of high-calibre clients and matters of increasing value in its gamut. ‘Realistic, honest and trustworthy’ practice head Matthew Cole acts for some of East Anglia’s largest employers within the region, as well as both national and overseas companies and ‘offers great solutions’ therein. Vanessa Bell acts for a wide-range of clients in both East Anglia and London, among them, Call Assist and Chelmsford City Council. Senior associate Sheilah Cummins has a particular interest in the ecclesiastical sector. Bell and Cummins are both noted as ‘taking the time to get to know their clients and provide an outstanding service’.

BDB Pitmans has a large employment practice in London with one partner, the ‘extremely practical and solutions-focused‘ Caroline Yarrow, also working from the Cambridge office. Yarrow recently acted for Smurfit Kappa UK Ltd in the successful defence of a claim for unfair dismissal brought to the Cambridge Employment Tribunal by a former employee who had allegedly been dismissed during the pandemic for coming to work with COVID-19 symptoms. The firm acts for both claimants and respondents in litigation cases, and also provides HR support to corporate clients.

Buckles Solicitors LLP's employment team in Peterborough works closely with the firm’s London and East Midlands offices, as well as its overseas affiliates, to advise a growing regional and international client base on HR and contentious employment matters. In Peterborough, 'excellent' senior associate Nicola Cockerill is the key contact for contentious and non-contentious work for businesses and senior employees. The services the team provides are noted as being ‘high-quality, trustworthy and personalised'.

Fosters in Norwich has an effective employment practice led by experienced senior associate Doug Frame, who experienced advising international and national companies as well as local businesses. Frame’s workload includes advising the manufacturer of fans and motors ebm-papst UK Limited on day-to-day matters including employment disputes in the workplace, discussions and advice on business reorganisations, and employee exits. The firm also provides an the retainer-based in-house service.

Keystone Law's team is highly regarded for its provision of ‘unique insight' into clients' businesses in relation to employment. Key names in Cambridge are Kelly Sayers, who is ‘an absolute expert in this field', and experienced employment practitioner Tim Tyndall who are both known for their ‘excellent negotiating skills and exceptional levels of client service‘. Key partner Rachel Flynn also works from East Anglia and has an industry-leading specialism in the horseracing and equine world.

Quantrills Solicitors in Ipswich is a niche employment law practice wherein ‘the lawyers take the time to understand clients' businesses'. Lead partner Simon Quantrill provides a ‘personal and attentive service', supported by associate Ola McGhee who joined the team in September 2022 from Palmers' Thurrock office. The firm’s work is predominantly advising employers in complex cases, namely being disciplinary matters and grievance-related investigations.

The Norwich office of Spire Solicitors LLP has ‘a dedicated, experienced employment team that is attentive to client needs‘. The firm frequently handles Employment Tribunal litigation, including prosecuting and defending cases of alleged unfair dismissal, whistleblowing, and discrimination. Senior associate June Salmon leads the practice and is noted as being ‘an experienced, diligent and creative lawyer with excellent client care’. Litigation specialists, Norwich-based Jane Liddle and Dereham-based Sarb Gosal frequently support accredited mediator Salmon in contentious matters.

The Cambridge office of Woodfines LLP's key name in employment is experienced practitioner Nick Sayer, who works closely with the firm’s Bedford and Milton Keynes offices to advise both employers and employees on the full spectrum of related issues, both contentious and non-contentious. Sayer frequently handles business protection matters, including restrictive covenant, and confidentiality and data theft cases, on which he has been instructed by national companies.