Hall Of Fame

Leading Individuals

Next Generation Partners

Employment in Jersey

Carey Olsen

Carey Olsen‘s Channel Island employment practice is well-placed to advise both onshore and offshore employers and trust managers on matters concerning pension schemes, as well as assisting with the structuring of large-scale pension plans and associated regulatory matters. The team is also able to advise on exits of senior employees and employee incentive schemes, as well as handling discrimination claims. Huw Thomas, who was made partner in January 2023 and focuses on mediation, leads the team alongside pensions specialist Alexa Saunders, who also heads up the firm’s trusts and private wealth team. Counsel Julie Currie is an experienced pensions practitioner, advising on transfers, scheme restructures, risk transfers and benefit changes. Senior associate Tarina Le Boutillier is noted for her work on immigration, in addition to contentious and non-contentious employment work.

Responsables de la pratique:

Huw Thomas; Alexa Saunders


Autres avocats clés:

Julie Currie; Tarina Le Boutillier


Les références

‘Carey Olsen’s pensions team is thoroughly knowledgeable and well respected in their field, clearly keeping up to date with industry developments, legal updates and regulatory developments.’

‘Julie Currie is thoroughly professional, knowledgeable and very responsive.’

‘The advice Huw Thomas provides is always clear and proportionate to the size and sector of the client.’

Principaux clients

Committee of Management of the Public Employees’ Pension Fund


Management Board of the Jersey Teachers Superannuation Fund


RBS International Employees’ Pension Trustees Limited (Trustee of the RBS International Pension Trust)


RBS International Employees’ Pension Trustees Limited (Trustee of the RBSI Widows and Orphans Purpose Trust)


Trustees of Aberdeen Asset Management Pension Scheme


Nedbank Private Wealth


Ports of Jersey Limited


Rossborough Financial Services Limited


Fairway Pension Trustees Limited


Alex Forbes


Principaux dossiers


  • Advising the Committee of Management of the Public Employees’ Pension Fund and the Management Board of the Jersey’s Teachers Superannuation Fund on an ongoing basis.
  • Advised Nedbank Private Wealth on the sale of its Channel Islands trusts businesses, Nedgroup Trust (Guernsey) and Nedgroup Trust (Jersey) to Suntera Global.
  • Advising on the Jersey and Guernsey law issues relevant to the RBS International Employees’ Pension Trustees, a large multi-jurisdictional pension scheme.

Mourant

Mourant‘s ‘responsive and pragmatic’ employment practice is instructed by financial services employers and senior employees to handle the spectrum of employment issues, including discrimination, contentious exits, M&A and restructuring. Team leader Carla Benest assists employers with immigration matters, business and employee licensing, and data protection issues. Counsel Laurie Child represents clients in employment disputes, covering matters including discrimination and collective employment issues. Associate Katie Phillips focuses on dismissals and tribunal claims on the contentious side, while on the non-contentious front she advises on contractual matters and the establishment of new businesses in Jersey.

Responsables de la pratique:

Carla Benest


Autres avocats clés:

Laurie Child; Katie Phillips


Les références

‘The team is very responsive. Always approachable and highly knowledgeable in their field.’

‘The employment team at Mourant understands the issues that HR are facing, and as such, gives practical advice which is easily translated into action.’

‘Carla Benest’s approach is excellent – she takes the time to listen and fully understand the issue. Carla has extensive experience in her field and provides first class advice which is clear, concise, balanced and communicated in a way which none of her competitors are able to do.’

Principaux dossiers


  • Defended a tribunal claim brought against an analytics company by a former senior employee.

Ogier

Ogier provides ‘very commercial, comprehensive and timely’ advice on a range of employment issues, including relevant M&A deals, employee benefit schemes, data protection issues and workplace injuries, as well as acting for employers and employees in tribunals concerning dismissals, breaches of contract and discrimination. Practice head Helen Ruelle is sought after for her experience in both contentious and non-contentious employment and discrimination matters, with further expertise in immigration and business relocation matters. Having been made counsel in February 2023, Will Austin-Vautier continues to advise on discrimination, data protection and employment relations matters.

Responsables de la pratique:

Helen Ruelle


Autres avocats clés:

Will Austin-Vautier


Les références

‘Helen Ruelle is always a pleasure to deal with. Her extensive experience and knowledge ensures you are in a safe pair of hands. The quality of Helen’s advice is second to none, cementing her position as a Hall of Famer, a real powerhouse in the employment world!’

‘Ogier provided sound advice on employment matters involving Jersey, including their excellent strategic review of issues and considerations. Their advice and direction transitioned seamlessly to strong advocacy on behalf of the client at the statutory tribunal and eventual resolution of the matter.’

‘My experience with Ogier has been excellent, including prompt answers to my questions and detailed analysis of my case. The practitioners were sympathetic and took the time to listen and understand my case and goals.’

Appleby

Appleby’s pan-Channel Island employment team advises financial institutions and senior executives on employee exits and has been increasingly instructed on investigatory matters, including those concerning regulatory misconduct. Employee share schemes are a further area of expertise. Practice head Richard Sheldon, whose practice encompasses both Jersey and Guernsey, advises on complex severance matters where employment, directorship and shareholder issues intersect. Niall MacDonald regularly handles contract drafting, immigration and business licensing issues, and the enforcement of post-exit obligations. Associate James Gallimore joined the firm in January 2023 from Simmons & Simmons, and is well versed in both contentious and non-contentious employment matters, including unfair dismissal and discrimination claims.

Responsables de la pratique:

Richard Sheldon


Autres avocats clés:

Niall MacDonald; James Gallimore


Les références

‘Richard Sheldon and his team put the client relationship and understanding of their needs at the forefront of their advisory practice. The advice therefore reflects the culture and commercial needs of the business, rather than just interpreting legislation and the facts of any matter.’

‘Richard Sheldon is a trusted business partner and feels like a part of the team when providing advice. He consults thoroughly with the business to ensure he is clear on the brief and requirements, provides nuanced recommendations and partners the company throughout any process, adapting any advice in real time to respond to given circumstances.’

‘Appleby understand the importance of our work in delivering high quality, safe and effective services. They are responsive and supportive and always work in our best interests, often finding ways to reduce resources and costs without compromising on quality.’

Principaux clients

Barclays Group


Canaccord Genuity Wealth


CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang


Eversheds Sutherland


Family Nursing & Home Care


HSBC Group


PraxisIFM


Sanne Group


Suntera Global


Principaux dossiers


  • Advised an international institution on the exit of a chief executive based in Jersey who was also shareholder of group entities elsewhere.
  • Advised an international financial services business on issues concerning a senior executive on garden leave.

Viberts

Viberts‘collaborative’ employment team is adept at representing both claimants and defendants in claims concerning negligence and discrimination before tribunals, and also regularly handles subsequent appeals to the Royal Court. The firm also handles M&A-linked employment matters, contractual and regulatory issues. Vicky Milner leads the practice, supporting senior employees and employers in complex matters concerning claims of discrimination, negligence and psychiatric injury. Giles Emmanuel, who heads the firm’s dispute resolution team, regularly handles compromise agreements, breaches of contract claims and personal injury cases. Chris Hendry specialises in advising clients from the financial services sector on employment law.

Responsables de la pratique:

Vicky Milner


Autres avocats clés:

Giles Emmanuel; Chris Hendry


Les références

‘Vicky Milner is an expert in employment law and provided excellent, pragmatic and sensitive guidance to address an unusual scenario for us.’

‘Viberts has an excellent team of employment lawyers who are able to work collaboratively to provide sound advice on matters which are outside the usual HR issues. I note their diligence in keeping on top of an issue, which in the case of my company, was ongoing for over a year. I was also impressed with their compassion, as the case involved a sensitive issue.’

‘My experience was one of a collaborative and good-humoured approach between partner and associate who worked together to provide me with high quality advice which was also both practical and pragmatic in approach. Such an approach can be particularly important in employment-related matters, which often involve both sensitive and emotional issues and client reactions.’

Principaux clients

ROK Construction Limited


Institute of Law


Unite the Union


Principaux dossiers


  • Appeared as independent adviser to the Royal Court of Jersey in a matter concerning the autonomy of Jersey’s employment law systems.
  • Represented a senior lawyer in proceedings brought against him by the Law Society of Jersey.
  • Represented the Institute of Law in litigation brought against the client by its former Director of Studies.

Walkers

Walkers‘highly regarded’ employment team notably supports the financial sector across the spectrum of employment issues, and is well versed in handling all aspects of senior employee exits on behalf of employers. Beyond this, the firm also advises on immigration, data protection and pensions issues. Daniel Read leads the team, specialising in employment disputes, including claims of discrimination and misconduct. Associate Jenny Brunton supports clients with tribunal proceedings, and has particular experience in the charity and trust sectors.

Responsables de la pratique:

Daniel Read


Autres avocats clés:

Jenny Brunton


Les références

‘The Walkers team are professionally recognised across the islands and highly regarded. They act with utmost integrity and deliver solutions in a timely manner. The advice they provide goes beyond following the law and best practice, they factor in all human aspects of dealing with a situation to ensure the there is a best outcome for all parties in an expedient, cost effective and empathetic manner.’

‘Daniel Read and Jenny Brunton provided very timely and helpful advice.’

‘Daniel Read is charismatic, an excellent communicator, accessible and responsive.’

Principaux clients

Clarivate PLC


Vistra


KPMG


Advocate Davida Blackmore

Davida Blackmore of Advocate Davida Blackmore is a data protection specialist, advising clients on issues revolving around GDPR and the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2018 in the employment context. Blackmore also offers further expertise at the intersection of employment and personal injury law, handling cases of workplace harassment and bullying, in addition to acting in claims relating to restrictive covenants and unfair dismissals.

Responsables de la pratique:

Davida Blackmore


Les références

‘Adv. D Blackmore maintains a very current and future-thinking knowledge of data protection legislation, rulings, changes, interpretation and international activities to ensure we are kept current in the application of DP as a regulator. She operates in a very transparent and communicative manner.’

‘Great personality and commitment to our organisation.’

‘Davida provides a personal yet professional touch, demonstrating her detailed knowledge of the subject matter from both a technical and commercial point of view.’

Principaux clients

Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust


D’Houet Limited, t/a FCJ School


Marbral Advisory


Jersey Office of the Information Commissioner


Myerson


Principaux dossiers


  • Acted for a number of senior individuals in employment exits, including claims for unfair constructive dismissal, unfair dismissal, redundancy, ill-health grounds and sexual harassment.
  • Acted for a senior employee in a claim for psychiatric injury, discrimination and constructive unfair dismissal against a former employer.

Bedell Cristin

Bedell Cristin’s ‘extremely well-rounded’ cross-Channel Island practice handles the gamut of contentious and non-contentious employment matters, including the departure of executives, contractual issues and business reorganisations. Practice head Carly Parrott is also qualified as a workplace mediator. Associate Heather Watters is noted for contentious employment work.

Responsables de la pratique:

Carly Parrott


Autres avocats clés:

Heather Watters


Les références

‘Carly Parrott is an exceptional individual who was proactive, commercially focused and delivered.’

‘Heather Watters is very personable and delivers to client needs.’

‘I came across Carly Parrot and instantly I knew that we were going to have the kind of working relationship I was seeking. She is sharp, understanding of my business needs and is able to provide the expertise and peace of mind I require.’

Principaux clients

JT Group


Principaux dossiers


  • Advising JT Group on the full spectrum of employment matters, including the exit of senior and junior level staff, restructuring of operations, data protection and health and safety matters, staff absences, capability and conduct issues, and policy re-drafting.
  • Defended a major agricultural employer in Jersey in three employment tribunal claims, as well as advising on exit of employees from the business, the transfer of employees, the re-drafting of employment-related documentation, and the re-structuring of seasonal working arrangements.

Seymour Law LLP

Seymour Law LLP specialises in handling employment matters on behalf of senior executives and key stakeholders, whom it advises on arrivals into and exits from positions in Jersey, including those where disputes arise. Under the leadership of Jean-Marie Renouf, the group has experience in handling tribunal proceedings, as well as assisting employers with the drafting of workplace policy and procedure documents.

Responsables de la pratique:

Jean-Marie Renouf


Les références

‘They’re professional, approachable, capable, patient, and forgiving.’

‘The team is very reactive.’

‘Jean-Marie Renouf is very agreeable to work with. Reactive, always to the point, an excellent team player.’