Catering to a base of national and international clients across the retail, education, and charity sectors, the Blake Morgan LLP employment department has vast expertise in providing HR legal support and managing employment tribunal proceedings. The team is well placed to deal with complex data protection issues for employers, with the interim head of employment in the south, Rajiv Joshi, contributing extensive experience in assisting businesses within the technology industry from the Thames Valley office. Southampton-based Tim Forer is known for his broad practice advising on contentious and non-contentious employment law matters, while senior associate Vicky Schollar focuses on restrictive covenants and TUPE transfers. Ron Burgess heads up the national employment department, and splits his time between the London and Cardiff offices.

The DC Employment Solicitors team specialises in high-profile employment tribunal litigation, large-scale business reorganisations, and collective redundancies. The three Southampton-based heads, Darren Tibble, Daryl Cowan, and Laurence Dunn, bring in-depth expertise on all aspects of employment law matters, boasting national and international clients across the manufacturing, transport, and local authority sectors. Senior solicitor Claire Helling regularly represents high-level individuals, SMEs and large global companies in complex tribunal cases, as well as advising on senior manager exits. Louis Howlett focuses on business immigration work, while Laura Kelleher regularly handles disciplinary procedures.

Paris Smith LLP fields a team of ‘very well-known and respected lawyers’ who are well placed to handle restrictive covenant actions, employment tribunal cases, and senior level exits. The group demonstrates considerable strength in the transport, recruitment, and education sectors, with Southampton-based practice head Clive Dobbin bringing extensive experience in complex discrimination and TUPE claims to the practice. David Roath is a specialist in business protection and director exits, while Claire Merritt routinely supports clients from the education industry with contentious issues, including restrictive covenant disputes in the High Court.

Counting financial institutions, retail, and education companies amongst its key clients, the employment team at Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP provides a comprehensive service spanning outsourcing and acquisitions advice, tribunal litigation, and transactional assistance. Christina Tolvas-Vincent and Jon Hales co-head the group, with the former specialising in employee relations issues, business transfers and discrimination matters, and the latter focusing on the TUPE implications of outsourcing agreements, particularly in the retail space. Charlotte Bloomfield was promoted to partner in May 2022. Legal director Dan Fawcett deals with the drafting and enforcement of restrictive covenants, while associate Ben Duxbury reviews employment documentation. The whole team is based in Southampton.

Clarke Willmott LLP’s employment team is highly experienced in handling both contentious and non-contentious matters, ranging from drafting director level service agreements, to defending complex sexual harassment and discrimination claims. Marc Long leads the Southampton-based group, using his skills as a qualified barrister and tribunal advocate to represent public and private sector clients in international disputes. Senior associate Nicole Adams regularly handles complex tribunal cases, as well as delivering training to clients and HR professionals. The ‘very efficient’ Gina McCadden focuses on disciplinary and grievance procedures.

Counting SMEs, NFPOs, and publicly-listed companies amongst its client base, the ‘commercially savvy’ team at Moore Barlow has vast expertise in handling High Court and employment tribunal claims, as well as restructurings and redundancies. The ‘phenomenal’ Katherine Maxwell leads the group, operating out of both Southampton and Richmond, and specialising on TUPE transfers and post-termination restrictive covenants. Emma Edis regularly deals with the employment aspects of M&A and reorganisations. Associate Stephanie Clarke left the firm in November 2022, moving in-house.

Operating out of Southampton, the Shoosmiths LLP’s employment team is well equipped to handle complex tribunal claims and senior level exits for major national clients. The department shows considerable strength in the heavily regulated sectors, including financial services and healthcare. Group head Stuart Lawrenson brings extensive expertise in HR issues arising from organisational changes and discrimination cases to the practice. Associate Sian Hoare boasts over 15 years’ experience advising on TUPE matters, and also plays a leading role in the firm’s immigration offering.

The ’collaborative, solution-focused’ employment team at Trethowans LLP covers all aspects of employment law, demonstrating particular skills in resolving complex employment disputes. As well as advising clients across a wide range of industries on restrictive covenant issues, the group is also well placed to handle senior level exits and discrimination claims. In Southampton, Kathryn Evans heads up the department, using her ‘laser-like focus’ to assist with TUPE transfers and absence management matters. The ‘brilliant’ Andrew Crudge focuses on the commercial elements of employment law issues.

BDB Pitmans’ ‘very competent, skillful and knowledgeable’ group specialises particularly in managing employee relations issues, in tandem with providing full day-to-day HR support to employer clients. The Southampton-based department works closely with the firm’s corporate and commercial divisions, delivering employment support for asset and share purchases, and contract provision changes. Practice head Caroline Yarrow splits her time between London and Southampton, bringing extensive expertise on contentious employment matters and central government outsourcing projects to the team. Associate Chris Greep focuses on assisting with employment litigation and TUPE queries.

The Basingstoke-based Phillips Solicitors employment team has in-depth expertise in handling issues relating to restrictive covenants, TUPE processes, and complex litigation claims. The group has recently enhanced its offering across the business immigration and data protection spaces, with practice head Jacqueline Kendal specialising in GDPR advice and multi-party employment claims. Gill Brown routinely defends claims in the employment tribunals and courts. Sarah Filsell joined the firm in January 2023 from Rowberry Morris.