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> Experience > Our practices > Employment > Disputes, discrimination and severance

Disputes, discrimination and severance lawyers

Employment cases can be extremely stressful for all parties – not least those involving disputes, discrimination claims or high-profile departures. We regularly act for employers and senior executives, helping us to resolve things quickly and effectively.

When navigating the difficult terrain of disputes or claims of discrimination, it can sometimes seem impossible to locate a solution.

Whether you are an employer or a senior professional, we offer tactical and strategic legal advice to break the deadlock.

Senior executives

For executives, this can be a very difficult time and people often come to us in an enormous amount of distress. In light of this, we always do our utmost to find an effective solution. 
 
Our lawyers are strategic thinkers with experience acting for senior executives and directors from privately owned firms and major FTSE and NASDAQ listed companies. 

In one high-profile case in the UK, we handled the departure of Harriet Green, the CEO who had transformed the fortunes of Thomas Cook, as inaccurate press coverage emerged of a crisis that predated her employment at the travel operator. We were instrumental in salvaging her exit package and reputation.
 

Employers

Employers rely on us for our tactical handling of commercially sensitive situations, as in one case where we acted for a gallery that suspected a senior employee of selling artworks privately, in breach of his contract. We helped the gallery to gather proof so decisively that the executive, when called to a meeting, admitted his activities, apologized and offered a repayment.

We act on both sides of discrimination claims, for example acting for the female partners of several law firms who believed their careers had been held back by their gender, and successfully defending an employer in an unusual case where marital discrimination was alleged.

A number of our cases involve bullying and we derive a great sense of achievement for standing up for our clients, because they have not been able to do it for themselves.
 

Global reach

Withers’ global reach means we often help with cross-border employment matters. In our Hong Kong office, we recently acted for an American client who was being dismissed from a British company in Hong Kong, advising on their rights in all three jurisdictions.

Where possible we aim to avoid the financial and personal costs involved in going to trial. However, should litigation become necessary, we have an excellent track record in court and the employment tribunal.

Track record

Our team

Amarjit Kaur

Amarjit Kaur

Partner | Singapore

Amarjit Kaur

Partner | Singapore

Litigation and arbitration

Claire Christy

Claire Christy

Partner | London

Claire Christy

Partner | London

Employment

Deborah Barker, S.C.

Deborah Barker, S.C.

Partner | Singapore

Deborah Barker, S.C.

Partner | Singapore

Litigation and arbitration

Dean R. Nicyper

Dean R. Nicyper

Partner | New York

Dean R. Nicyper

Partner | New York

Litigation and arbitration

Elaine Aarons

Elaine Aarons

Partner | London

Elaine Aarons

Partner | London

Employment

Emma Sanderson

Emma Sanderson

Consultant | London

Emma Sanderson

Consultant | London

Employment

Mana Kinoshita

Mana Kinoshita

Senior Associate | New York

Mana Kinoshita

Senior Associate | New York

Litigation and Arbitration

Jayna Tan

Jayna Tan

Senior Associate | Singapore

Jayna Tan

Senior Associate | Singapore

Insurance Litigation

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