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Disputes, discrimination and severance

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.

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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.

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Track record

CEO and MD of a brokerage company

Acted for the former CEO and MD of a brokerage company in his claim in the High Court and Court of Appeal against the company involving numerous factual and legal issues including restraint of trade and the legality of provisions prohibiting solicitation of employees. The Court of Appeal decision is the leading case in Singapore on restraint of trade.

Anya Hindmarch (t/a A.S.H.S.)

A.S.H.S. is a well-known English fashion house. We have provided strategic advice to the luxury brand on a number of high level employment issues.

Renault Sport F1 Team

Since Renault Group's cross-border acquisition of Lotus F1 in December 2015, our employment team have provided continual support to the Renault Sport F1 Team. This work has included: advice in relation to a TUPE transfer of employees; drafting and negotiating employment contracts/consultancy agreements with senior employees and key contractors - many with cross-border elements; advising on the disciplining and/or exit of employees; and advising on arrangements with contractors and the termination of such arrangements.

Co-op bank CEO, Barry Tootell

When director and CEO of the Co-op Bank Plc Barry Tootell stepped down in difficult and controversial circumstances, we demonstrated our in-depth knowledge of difficult situations to advise and negotiate his exit. Futhermore, our team continued to support him on arising issues and enquiries related to his time at the Co-op, after his exit.

Harriet Green, CEO of Thomas Cook

When Harriet Green stood down as CEO of Thomas Cook, she turned to Withers' experienced team to help her develop and implement an exit strategy. The situation became more complicated while she was on garden leave, and had to deal with an onslaught of negative press coverage around her alleged handling of the death of two children in Corfu (six years before she joined Thomas Cook). We developed a clear strategy and we closed the matter down to our client's satisfaction.

SSAFA, the armed forces charity

Acting for SSAFA over several decades. We were on hand to advise when the charity went through a redundancy exercise and TUPE transfer in Germany. We successfully negotiated when two senior executive roles were terminated, alongside more junior members of staff, one of whom brought a disability discrimination claim. We also advised an Employment Tribunal in the UK over whether the charity could be held liable for an allegedly discriminatory decision taken by the MOD, securing a ruling in our client's favour.

Recent recognition

Leading firm for employment - employers

Top ranked for employment - senior executives

2023 Chambers Leading firm for employment - employers

Top ranked for employment - senior executives

Leading lawyers for professional negligence

Leading firm for employment (Singapore)

Highly recommended for employment law

Top ranked for employment: senior executive

Recommended firm for labour and employment

Leading firm for labour and employment (Singapore)

Leading firm for employment: employer

Top ranked firm for employment: senior executive

Our team

Amarjit Kaur

Partner, Withers KhattarWong* | Singapore

Amarjit Kaur

Partner, Withers KhattarWong* | Singapore

Litigation and arbitration

Email Amarjit

+65 6238 3340

Claire Christy

Partner | London

Claire Christy

Partner | London

Employment

Email Claire

+44 20 7597 6170

Deborah Barker

Partner, Withers KhattarWong* | Singapore

Deborah Barker

Partner, Withers KhattarWong* | Singapore

Litigation and arbitration

Email Deborah

+65 6238 3308

Dean R. Nicyper

Partner | New York

Dean R. Nicyper

Partner | New York

Litigation and arbitration

Email Dean

+1 212 848 9815

Elaine Aarons

Partner | London

Elaine Aarons

Partner | London

Employment

Email Elaine

+44 20 7597 6525

Deborah E. Greaves

Partner | Los Angeles

Deborah E. Greaves

Partner | Los Angeles

Intellectual Property and Technology

Email Deborah

+1 310 277 9958

Emma Sanderson

Consultant | London

Emma Sanderson

Consultant | London

Employment

Email Emma

+44 20 7597 6017

Mana Kinoshita

Senior Associate | New York

Mana Kinoshita

Senior Associate | New York

Litigation and Arbitration

Email Mana

+1 212 848 9885

Insight

21 July 2021 | article

Blowing the whistle. What's wrong with corporate culture?

30 September 2019 | article

LGBTQ+ rights in Hong Kong: Evidence suggests attitudes are changing

16 October 2018 | article

The Great Transatlantic Bake-off: dealing with competing civil rights

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Disputes, discrimination and severance

Senior executives

Employers

Global reach

Track record

CEO and MD of a brokerage company

Anya Hindmarch (t/a A.S.H.S.)

Renault Sport F1 Team

Co-op bank CEO, Barry Tootell

Harriet Green, CEO of Thomas Cook

SSAFA, the armed forces charity

Recent recognition

Our team

Amarjit Kaur

Claire Christy

Deborah Barker

Dean R. Nicyper

Elaine Aarons

Deborah E. Greaves

Emma Sanderson

Mana Kinoshita

Insight

Blowing the whistle. What's wrong with corporate culture?

LGBTQ+ rights in Hong Kong: Evidence suggests attitudes are changing

The Great Transatlantic Bake-off: dealing with competing civil rights

Join the club

You may also be interested in

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Leaders and senior executives

Private companies

Public companies

How else can we help?

Get in touch